New definition of "roundie"

[Phil Nelson]

I was stumbling around an electronics store the other day, and noticed that they still sell a few CRT televisions in a dusty aisle off to the side from the dozens of flat-screen TVs.

Each pricetag for a CRT set identified it as a "round tube" television.

Which struck me as funny, since none of them are round by any stretch of the imagination.

OK, I'm easily amused :-)

Phil Nelson

[jpdylon]

I tried to give away a CRT (tube alone) and everyone kept thinking I was giving away an actual tv set.

There is definitely a discrepancy in the language

[RetroHacker]

And then all those people that call computers "modems". Or "modem tower". I used to work in a computer store. Many times people would come in asking for a modem. You'd hand them a modem, and they'd stare at the card, and say, matter-of-factly "This is just some kind of part. I want the whole modem. I already have the screen, keyboard and mouse, I just need the modem." More than once someone would bring in their monitor because they wanted to have the RAM upgraded, or because it was running slow. And some people you have to explain to them what the computer is, and what it does, and they still don't get it. You have to describe it - "that metal box, the one with the lights and the CD drive in it".

And it gets worse with this new display technology - too many manufacturers refer to monitors with flat faced picture tubes as "flat screen" monitors. And, while technically true, the public has decided that "flat screen" means LCD.

-Ian

[Sandy G]

Down here in the old days, a refrigerator was invariably referred to as a "Frigidaire", even if it wasn't. But most of 'em were/are...

[ChrisW6ATV]

Here is my personal favorite dumb term: "analog" watch.

[bgadow]

I've noticed in Worst Buy they have big, lighted signs that say "Tube Televisions" over some of the displays. Would be kinda neat to grab one when they finally toss them all in the dumpster.

This change in terminology makes it tougher all the time to explain to someone what type of old TV set you are looking for. The other day I get an excited email from someone on freecycle, letting me know of an "old time wood set with big rabbit ears, sitting out on the curb, it's at least 35 years old" and when I get there it's another 12" bw from the late 80s.