The ThinkPad has been around for 25 years. Here’s some tech which, um, hasn’t.

As the Lenovo ThinkPad brand reached the ripe old age of 25, the brand has gained a reputation for reliability and high performance. With the red trackpoint button and eye-catching logo, a ThinkPad is instantly recognisable. Whether your customers are after a slim and light device, an ultra-powerful portable workstation or a versatile 2-in-1, there’s a ThinkPad for them.

To celebrate the huge 25-year milestone, we decided to reflect on some tech that, in contrast, hasn’t quite stood the test of time…

MiniDiscs and MiniDisc Players

Despite launching the same year as the ThinkPad, MiniDiscs couldn’t quite knock portable CD players off the top of the tree. When MP3 players launched, MiniDisc players were doomed.

Acorn Computers

It’s with a tear in our eye that we added the trusty Acorn Computers to this list. If you were born in the 80s then chances are that you used one of these glorious machines at school.

Zune

A shock release in a market that was already utterly dominated by the iPod, the Zune was last seen as a retro cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Google Glass

Marred by price and privacy concerns, Google Glass is absolute proof that even the biggest tech companies in the world can have absolute disasters.

Sega Game Consoles 

Ah Sega… Despite bringing Sonic the Hedgehog into our hearts, they were pushed out of the market by the dominance of Sony and Nintendo. Their last console released was the Dreamcast.

HD DVDs

There was only room for one HD video format, and, despite sticking with a familiar name, it was Blu-Rays that triumphed.

Nokia’s N-Gage

Back when their phone business was booming, Nokia tried to make a grab at some of the video game market. It didn’t go well.

The Office Assistant

Whether you knew it as Clippy, Clippit or just ‘the Microsoft Paperclip’, there was a time when this little guy was never far away from casting a helpful/patronising eye over your work.

Amazon Fire Phone

Remember how we said that Google Glass was evidence that tech giants can have disasters? Here’s exhibit B.

MySpace

There was a time, around thirteen years ago, when it seemed like every teenager had a MySpace page. Though it’s technically still around, the social network which made us hate auto-play is now a shadow of its former self.

In conclusion…

So what do you think? Have we been unfair with some of our picks? Are there any glaring omissions that need to be added? Let us know in the comments below.

The thing is, in the world of technology, 25 years is a really long time. All it takes is one blip, and your reputation can be in tatters. Yet the ThinkPad brand is still here, and each device is a testament not only to its stalwart standing, but also to its constant innovation year after year.

To find out more about the current excellent range of ThinkPad devices, get in touch with Westcoast or click here to view all SKUs on offer.