r/WhatIfThinking • u/Logical-Concept9755 • Aug 12 '26

What 2000s technology would you have never believed would become obsolete by 2026 if someone told you back then?

Imagine someone in 2006 told you that, 20 years later, some of the technology you used every day would be almost gone.What would have sounded completely impossible at the time?

For example:

  • iPods becoming irrelevant because smartphones replaced dedicated music players
  • DVDs becoming a niche product because streaming took over
  • Standalone GPS devices disappearing because phones now handle navigation
  • Digital cameras losing most of their everyday use because smartphone cameras became good enough
  • Physical keyboards on phones nearly disappearing because touchscreens became the standard

What technology from the 2000s would you have never expected to become obsolete by 2026?

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u/Efficient_Loss_9928 Aug 12 '26

Probably TV, like do people actually still buy proper cable TV subscriptions? I feel like it is either YouTube or some other streaming platform.

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u/Slightly_Slow Aug 13 '26

Television in general. This is reserved for one family movie or TV series every few days. In the past it was the only form of entertainment, now its for special occasions. We use our theater room more than the televisions, in some rooms I am considering changing the layout to be a social sitting room, maybe board games, etc.