The 50 Worst Fails in Tech History

[Scrythe]

Whoever made this list is clearly under the age of 25. There were a LOT more tech fails out there that were worse than half this list, the the #1 doesn't even deserve to be up there. Hell, the Nokia N-Gage is way too high on that list.

Where's the Nintendo 64 hard drive system? The Sega 32X? The Game.Com? The fucking "clit mouse" on old laptops? Hell, if you want to go slightly newer, you can even throw UMD and MD on there.

A lot of that stuff looks like it's up there because they pop up on other "tech fail" lists.

 

[winter2]

I'm not a grammar nazi by any means.. But that list contained so many grammatical and spelling errors that it made me wonder if anybody bothered to proof read it. And then they claim "fail" on top of everything else.

 

[chuckman1]

I was suprised by this list especially number 1.

 

[brinvixen]

I rather enjoyed the list, especially since a lot of the things I thought that would make the list did, like the Zune and (of course) Windows Vista. Some of the funnies were AOL (because looking back on it, AOL was only functional because there was no other option, but it was lacking) and DigiSmell (I wonder what scents The Escapist would give me?). Although I agree without a few of the previous posters in saying that the website itself (complex.com) was a headache to navigate.

 

[PiOfCube]

I would have to add the Amstrad PCW 8256 and 8512. Although I wrote and sold quite a bit of software for it back when they were about, it was really bad... Absolutely awful! Clunky, slow and for some strange reason it must of had a software-based protection for *read* (oops I meant to say "write") protected floppies... If you "poked" certain memory addresses it would overwrite random locations on the floppy even if the little write-protect tab was used.

On the other hand I still have fond memories of CP/M plus... Oh and anyone remember BT Merlin terminals, I think they were made by Acorn?

Edit: Another thought... You could turn the Amstrad's printer into a scanner by sticking an optical thing on the print head. LOL

 

[SoulSalmon]

You can't stretch an already set image size over a bigger screen without it losing quality.

To be completely fair, you can't stretch a set image size over a larger area without quality loss, but that isn't what the DSiXL does.
If what you were proposing was true then large screen TVs would be a blurry mess and everyone would be using old 10" screens for optimal quality.

There is more to screen technology then "size" (although the resolution was not upgraded from the DSi... the DSiXL could have had BETTER images then the DSi if it did but it would have raised the price :/)

On top of that the XL has a better viewing range and battery life then the DSi and the larger stylus is MUCH more comfortable for people like myself with large hands.
It also sold pretty ell and all-up it's impossible to call the DSiXL a fail if you aren't also under the impression that the DS itself was a fail.

Oh, and it prints money.

Edit: Whoops, forgot to mention the benefits to precision... ah well, too late now

 

[Count_Zer0]

What an awful website. I hate sites that put a paragraph or sentence on each page in order force the reader to constantly load a new page of advertisements. Fifty separate page-loads to read that superficial, poorly-written and highly subjective tripe. Just to add insult to injury the text is peppered with hotlinks that rickroll you with with irrelevant advertisements if your mouse should accidentally stray over them. Complex.com really doesn't deserve having any more traffic directed their way via The Escapist.

 

[Wintermoot]

My mom uses AOL and refuses to try other things because she thinks its the best LMAO I need to show her this.

didn't AOL suspend it services years ago?

 

[Veldel]

My mom uses AOL and refuses to try other things because she thinks its the best LMAO I need to show her this.

didn't AOL suspend it services years ago?

Nope iv had to go and use her crappy computer before and it had AOL and IE6 so i loged on my old account from when i was a child



Captcha: turnpike toptie

Dunno what that is but i want it

 

[hooksashands]

In the context of a sentence

Shit, sorry for the link in the article heading directly to the number-one fail - I've edited things so future readers won't get slapped in the face with it. So don't spoil it for them!

And no, "fail" is not a noun. I realize this. But that's how it works as part of the internet lexicon and so that's what we're going with. Actually, that's what Complex is going with. Take it up with them if you don't like it.

"Fail" is a noun.

fail n. 1 failure -- usually used in the phrase "without fail;" 2 a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fail

In order for it to be a noun, it has to be written in proper context. For instance, 'Without fail' or 'Fail-proof'. The article writer is using it as a plural, whereas that dictionary link is describing 'Fail' as a singular noun. In other words: No, 'Fails' is a verb. The right usage would be 'Failures'.

What are you talking about?! If we start from the indisputable premise that "fail" is a noun, then what is the plural of that noun? I'd imagine it is "fails."

And is in: It's 5:00PM and I haven't yet received delivery of the XYZ stock from my broker. That makes three fails this month.

If I can correctly speak of "three fails this month," then it stands to reason that I can also correctly speak of "fifty fails this month" and "the worst fifty fails this month" and "the worst fifty fails in the history of mankind."

Say again, there is no such thing as a noun called 'Fails'. The plural is 'Failures'.

FAILS is a verb in the present tense.

Just in case you're still having trouble reading:

FAILS IS A VERB IN THE PRESENT TENSE, NOT A NOUN.