TIME technology editor Peter Ha picks the 100 greatest and most influential gadgets from 1923 to the present ---- (2010)

Time Magazine ^ | Oct. 25, 2010 | By Peter Ha

[shadeaud]

The Shamwoo

[PerConPat]

I could have predicted that...

[Bonemaker]

Propofol, martinis and Olds Rocket V8.

Seriously, jet engine,TV, PC, smart phones, chemotherapy, MRI.

[Prince of Space]

The list was too specific, it was like a walking advertisement. I also didn’t see Zip-Lock baggies on the list, so it’s lame.

[HandyDandy]

In automotive: GPS Navigation.

[HandyDandy]

Also, the “solves all” (sawzall).

[NetAddicted]

I haven’t tried one yet. I haven’t been interested. I read one book at a time, so opportunity to carry thousands of books with me ain’t a big draw.

[Fresh Wind]

Likewise the 15C, which I used, still have, and it still works fine (though a bit shabby). That replaced my dead 45, bought new back in the day.

I was happy to see they are making the 15C again. I also have a nice working 35 which I bought for nothing at a flea market.

All HP calculators are great in their own way, but as the first scientific pocket calculator, the 35 started the ball rolling, and sent the slide rule to the trash bin of history.

RPN rules!

[Fresh Wind]

The zip tie (aka Ty-Rap, cable tie) is one of man's greatest inventions, with a myriad of uses...

[dennisw]

Zip ties are can solve a 1000 problems, like duct tape. In the last week I saw them used to tie down netting around a Lacrosse field. To tie down thick netting, onto a chain link fence, that hides the machinery for a swimming pool.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yes, the 35C started the ball rolling. I remember when it was introduced in 1972 — I was a junior in Mechanical Engineering at the university and lusted for the 35C more than any girl (well, I exaggerate a bit there). It sold for $395 (equivalent to $2,800 in 2022) and was way out of reach of a poor student. The used of postfix notation (RPN) instead of infix notation (later called “algebraic” notation) and a stack was absolutely brilliant.

[Oystir]

Bread slicing machine

[Nik Naym]

“Is looking at a Kindle in your hand so different from looking at the paperback in your hand?”

I’d like to see you try to hold 500 paperbacks in your hand.

[ansel12]

When I was in Junior High I was reading almost 500 books a year (about 1.5 per day), but doing it one at a time.

[OrioleFan]

Bass-O-Matic - another good one.

[OrioleFan]

Ronco claims the pocket fisherman now.