The ’90s were a fun time of transition, as items like cassette tapes were replaced by CDs, cell phones were introduced, and by the end of the decade, kids and adults alike were gearing up for the new millennium.
Some of the most iconic gadgets of the 20th century were introduced in the ’90s, including ones that paved the way for the technology that dominates today. After all, the smartphone would not have existed without the PDA, while the Walkman was a portable precursor to music streaming. Some of these products, albeit in modified and/or updated form, can still be purchased from Amazon today and make the perfect gift for that ’90s kid you know, and Amazon Prime makes buying and delivering even better.
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Sony digital walkman
List Price: $369.99
While the Walkman was introduced back in 1979, Sony released its first digital audio players (DAP) in 1999. The first was called the MS Walkman and used a memory stick to store music for listening once the cassette and CD became legacy media.
The version of the Sony Walkman that you can still buy today includes the fully digital models with built-in storage and Android operating system for playing stored digital files or content via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The Sony NW-A105 Walkman has only 16GB of storage, runs on Android 9.0 and comes with a 3.6-inch touchscreen. It’s a far cry from yesterday’s Walkman and not as sophisticated as today’s other streaming devices. But it remains a nostalgic device that brings back memories.
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List Price: $129.95
Listing Price: $95.95
In the 90’s, before cell phones became commonplace, many teenagers carried pagers. Today these have become forgotten gadgets that children today will not recognize. These have been used to communicate with friends, as a means for parents to contact them (although it still required a quarter to call home from a payphone when called), and even to send cryptic numeric messages that only a select group could understand (think Telephone Number Plus). “911” means “Call me, it’s important”).
Nowadays, smartphones are small computers in your pocket. But a simple pager is still available for fun, now reserved for doctors and other on-demand professionals. The Apollo 202 numeric pager operates on the 900 MHz frequency and requires nearby paging service to function. It comes with three months of free local paging.
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Nokia phone
List Price: $49.37
Nokia was once one of the most dominant mobile phone manufacturers. In 1992, Nokia released the Nokia 1011, the first mass-produced GSM phone. The handset was long and rectangular with a monochrome LCD and an antenna that was lengthened to offer a better signal. It had memory that could store up to 99 phone numbers and it could also send and receive text messages.
While the Nokia 1011 is long gone, Nokia still makes mobile phones, including the likes of the Nokia 225, which is as similar to a modern Nokia 1011 as is available now. With a similar form factor, albeit much thinner, and with a better touchscreen and access to 4G, it has a few other advanced features, like a built-in camera and games. It’s an entry-level phone by today’s standards. But compared to the Nokia 1011, it’s a high-tech innovation.
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Nintendo 64 game console (renewed)
List Price: $195.55
The Nintendo 64 video game console was introduced in 1996 and was the first to solidify Nintendo as a serious competitor in the video game space. With cartridges, children and adults could play countless video games that are simple by today’s standards, but remain timeless. The most popular at the time was Super Mario 64.
Today, while the Nintendo 64 has been replaced by other consoles like the Wii followed by the Nintendo Switch, it’s still possible to buy the old console through the Amazon Renewed program. Shipped with a remote control, look for old games or find some in the attic or storage closet and enjoy some retro games.
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Portable DVD player
List Price: $99.99
Offer Price: $69.99
As DVDs became the dominant medium for movies, devices such as portable DVD players became popular. The first was introduced by Panasonic in 1998. These devices made it easy for kids to watch movies and TV shows in the back seat during car rides or just about anywhere on the go.
While Panasonic has now moved away from portable DVD players (although Panasonic portable DVD players are still around) and tablets have taken the place of portable DVD players, the technology is still very popular. There are models such as the DBPOWER portable DVD player, which has a built-in five-hour rechargeable battery and a 9-inch swiveling screen, and can play CDs and DVDs, as well as media from SD cards and USB sticks. It comes with a remote control, car charger and even a car headrest.
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IBM (now Lenovo) ThinkPad
List Price: $799
In the ’90s, IBM introduced its ThinkPad computers with fold-out keyboards, an early version of what we know today as a laptop. It was thick and clunky, but back then the engineering was something to marvel at.
Today, the ThinkPad is still available, although the brand has since been acquired by Lenovo. One of the newest models in the lineup is the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 3, which packs far more advanced features than it did in the ’90s, including a 15.6-inch 60Hz Full HD IPS screen, AMB Ryzen 5- Processor and 16 GB RAM , 512 GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth and more. It runs on Windows 10.
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George Foreman Grill
List Price: $29.99
One of the most successful small household appliances of the 90’s and arguably the most successful of all product types, the George Foreman Grill was a staple in many homes at the time. When heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman made the switch to entrepreneurship, it was a huge success. More than 100 million devices have been sold worldwide since 1994.
More than 25 years later, the George Foreman grill is still going strong. The Classic Plate George Foreman 2 Portion Grill is perfect for smaller homes and apartments or individuals or couples. It can be stored vertically, doesn’t take up much space, and offers the same non-stick coating that the grids have become known for. From burgers to toasted paninis, the versatile grill remains a favorite.
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Sony PlayStation
List Price: $99.92
The first PlayStation was launched in 1995 and became a dominant force in the console gaming market, giving Sony a reputation as a company that not only made big electronics like TVs and then DVD players and boomboxes, but also gaming devices.
Now in its fifth iteration, the Sony PlayStation 5 console is so popular it’s hard to find. Amazon is offering units to customers by invitation only and only while supplies last. But customers interested in acquiring older versions, including the PlayStation Classic, can do so too. The throwback Classic console comes with 20 preloaded games, two wired controllers, a virtual memory card and an HDMI cable, and is almost half the size of the original.
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Palm Pilot
List Price: $265.01
Before smartphones, there were so-called personal digital assistants, or PDAs, which served as portable notebook devices designed to combine both a cell phone and a computer. They were far more rudimentary than a smartphone, but a stepping stone to the devices that have become popular today. Palm Pilots were one of the gadgets that defined the ’90s.
The original PalmPilot Personal device was introduced in 1997 and although it can only be found on auction sites these days, Palm still sells some later iterations of it. One such option is the Palm TX handheld, which comes with a 320 x 480 screen, 128MB of flash memory, built-in Wi-Fi, and memory card support. It works with Palm Desktop software for Windows and Mac.
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robot dog
List Price: $54.97
Offer Price: $46.99
Sony’s Aibo robot was way ahead of its time, boasting what was considered artificial intelligence (AI) at the time of its launch, just before the Millennium in 1999. It came in the form of a dog, ideal for those with allergies or simply loved being on the cutting edge of technology and had the exorbitant sums of money it cost to buy one.
Interestingly, Sony’s Aibo is still around today, albeit in a much more advanced form and costing thousands to realistically replicate the pet. In addition, there are many other robot dog gadgets that mimic Aibo and act as children’s educational toys. The Contixo R3 Robot Dog, for example, works with a remote control and can do everything from dancing to responding to voice commands like sit, lie down, walk forward or even do a handstand.
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