What is the greatest product of the last 20 years

fivestring · Aug 20, 2003

Well, if it's not GPS, it's gotta be laser vision surgery.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 21, 2003

Herb,

I agree with you on three out of four. Personally, I think caller ID and automated answering systems (press 1 for this, press 2 for that, etc.) are about the two WORST things in the past couple decades.

Gatorboy · Aug 21, 2003

( I think caller ID and automated answering systems (press 1 for this, press 2 for that, etc.) are about the two WORST things in the past couple decades. )

I agree on the Automated Answering Systems, but Caller ID is the FANTASTIC!

RobS · Aug 21, 2003

The lowly fax machine. When I first started work we'd send hardcopies of prints to customers/suppliers by snail mail. Took days. With the fax those days shrank to minutes.

We've since taken those minutes down to seconds with PCs and the internet but that first quantum leap in cycle time reduction was all due to the fax.

Personal historical note: I recall in my early days cutting E-size drawings into 8 1/2 inch wide strips to feed into the fax. The guy at the other end would tape his strips together and we'd have an inteligent phone conversation about the print. I don't miss those days /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Wood_Butcher_Dav · Aug 21, 2003

Another rumor about the fax machine is that it hurt the Taxi service. Before faxes they would deliver (messenger service) hard copies in metro areas. It's great to have access to 'E' size laser printers and scanners.

Dave

herbenus · Aug 21, 2003

I must disagree. It is awsesome knowing if a caller is my mom, or some jack#@s salesman. Now I do agree with you on the automated answering systems. And they would not even be so bad even if you could eventually actually talk to a human. But some go into this endless loop. But some go into this endless loop. But some go into this endless loop...

CountryBoy · Aug 21, 2003

I agree on that caller ID,makes screening calls so much easier,not only that if mom calls or a friend calls while we are out,you know they did call and just call them back and find out what they need.

Turfman · Aug 21, 2003

( It is awsesome knowing if a caller is my mom, or some jack#@s salesman. )
Yea, the caller ID is great. When it's a salesman we switch to Spanish and it blows their minds.

I think one of the greatest products is yet to be released, the National Do Not Call List . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

wroughtn_harv · Aug 22, 2003

The biggest problem with the do not call lists is commercial accounts have no protection. I have my office line forwarded to my cell. I just love being up to my but in alligators and the phone ring. Then it's someone acting like they're my best bud from years back and he's got the deal of a lifetime on abrasives, insurance of all kinds, or it's some charity.

My usual response is along the line "gawd, I'm glad you called."

I don't know why but people with a sense of humor never seem to work as phone solicitors. Probably along the line of people with morals not becoming prostitutes or tv preachers.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 23, 2003

Caller ID is the FANTASTIC! 

I don't agree at all. I have to do a fair amount of collections work in my business and, trust me, Caller ID is NOT a good thing.

Of course, as collections become more difficult for businesses dealing with bad debts, they'll just get more from you and me to compensate for the deadbeats from whom they can't collect.