Introduction – When Old Tech Becomes New Again
Retro tech seems to be back! Really?
Back in the 486 PC days, we used to tinker with our PC to derive performance. Because the technologies at that time were a little clunky. We always hang around Sim Lim Square to find the latest PC peripherals and upgrade our devices to keep up with the latest technological versions. I remembered I have to take part-time tuition as a side hustle to earn extra pocket money to keep up with this upgrade hobby. Tough, but it was such a joy then!
Fast forward to today: smartphones seem more expensive than a typical laptop, cloud services force us to take up multiple subscriptions, and AI tools multiply by the day. It makes you wonder, maybe some retro tech ideas still have value today.
So, I attempt to look at the crystal ball: maybe some retro tech culture we used to have could make a comeback.
Here’s my argument…
1. Removable Batteries: Power on Demand, the Retro Tech Idea!
Remember the days when our mobile phones came with removable batteries? I remembered I used to carry a couple of spare batteries in my jeans pocket. You might think it’s inconvenient. Guess what? Ironically, we are carrying an extra power bank these days.
Removable batteries give devices extended life. If a battery wore out, you replaced it. It’s that simple. Phones and laptops lasted longer, and you weren’t compelled to buy a new gadget just because the battery failed or degraded.
Today, smartphones are more powerful but sealed tightly. Batteries degrade in two to three years, leaving many users with expensive but underperforming devices. Only a few years ago, smartphone costs were still very much manageable. Naturally, some people will opt to just upgrade to a new device.
Now, the cost of a smartphone can seem pricier than a laptop. Taking the hassle of replacing with a new battery in the repair market may be a good option compared to investing in a new device. Of course, the OEMs may not like it. After all, there’s still an element of the hardware business in their revenue model.
At the same time, electronic waste is piling up. And if we could extend the device life, while still ensuring the device maintains its performance, we could really help out with this global sustainability challenge.
The prediction? Removable batteries could make a comeback. Companies like Fairphone already show it’s possible to build modular, with a removable battery and sustainable devices. With rising costs and pressure for greener practices, the market may push bigger brands to revisit this retro tech idea.
2. Modular PCs: Configurable for AI at Home
For those who remember the 486 era, building or upgrading your own PC was part of our culture then. Adding RAM, graphics card, a sound card, adjusting jumpers, and experimenting with overclocking made us feel techy and at the forefront of innovation.
Fast forward to today, as we enter the AI age, the use of AI tools is prevalent, and it’s probably the most important tech innovation since the invention of the smartphone. However, subscription fatigue is real. AI tools running on the cloud are powerful but expensive if you rely on them daily. Moreover, the number of AI tools is growing by the day. To date, we already have 40,768 AI tools at the date of writing!!!
How do we even keep up?
Maybe, the possibility of using SLM AI (Small Language Model vs Large Language Model) might just be the way in the future. SLMs are lightweight, affordable, and efficient, making it possible for anyone to run AI at home. They balance cost, privacy, and customization without needing high-end hardware.
Why SLM vs LLM
- Lower cost: Runs on regular laptops or PCs, no expensive GPUs.
- Privacy: Data stays local, not sent to cloud servers.
- Faster response: Smaller models = quicker interactions.
- Customisable: Easier to fine-tune for personal tasks.
- Eco-friendly: Uses less energy, reducing waste and cost.
- Accessible tools: Open-source models and platforms make setup easier.
SLMs could be a sweet spot between capability and practicality. As we continue to immerse ourselves in AI tools, and with rising costs, having small, efficient models to generate content, help with writing, support tasks, etc., even at home, could become feasible and attractive.
The prediction? We could make a comeback in configurable PC if Home SLM took off. People may want better performance for their Home SLM. Hence, this retro tech may just make a comeback with modular home PCs configured to run small, open-source AI models locally.
Disclaimer: We still need more use cases. Currently, the market seems to focus on motivating businesses to adopt SLMs. Personally, I hope to build my SLM at home!
3. Floppy Disk Spirit: Local Storage Strikes Back
For those who know, we used to save a lot on floppy disks in yesteryear. That is because it is the only way we can store and back up our data.
Today, the culture changes quite a bit.
Now, we tend to have data auto-save online, especially when we are using the SAAS platforms. As a result, we hardly “press save” now. And if we want to save, there is the option of cloud storage, which is convenient.
But as we are also now in the content economy, the amount of data we own will continue to increase. And these data need storage to house them. Cloud storage is a fantastic option, but as data explodes, the cost will also increase. And with data privacy concerns, demand for local on-prem storage will continue to grow.
The prediction? Already, in the current state, I am sure everyone should have a few SSD external drives and many thumb drives to support their local storage. Moreover, AI will lead to a creativity boom, thus generating even more content data. Demand for local on-prem storage is bound to grow. It’s not so much about bringing back the floppy disk tech, which I believe we shouldn’t, it’s more about the floppy disk spirit of saving on-prem. This form of retro tech spirit will be practical, considering the cost of cloud storage is rising, and also giving people the security of owning their data without monthly fees.
Final Thoughts – Retro Tech as Tomorrow’s Solutions
I always believe technology is often capable of making a comeback, probably in a better form or shape.
For instance, there is a rumour of Apple iPod making a comeback, but maybe in a different form. Here’s the patent rumour.
Removable batteries, modular PCs, and local storage are not just memories from the 486 days; they are reinventions that offer solutions for cost, sustainability, and control in today’s digital world.
The lesson? Retro tech may not stay retro forever. Sometimes, the past offers the best blueprint for the future.
