http://news.cnet.com/8301...870-1.html

Update 7/20: After reader feedback, I have dropped Windows Media Center and Nintendo's Game Boy Micro from the list and added Apple's Power Mac G4 Cube and Microsoft's Smart Display initiative (codename Mira). Thanks for all the comments.

Here we are just months away from closing out the first decade of the 21st century, which means a lot of publications will soon be in look-back mode, taking stock of all the good--and bad--things that happened over the last 10 years. While we've still got a few months to go before hitting 2010, I thought I should get a head start on the whole best/worst roundup fad that's about to flood the Internet (Time magazine has already done the 10 Biggest Tech Failures of the Last Decade, but it was pretty lame; this one's much better, I swear).

The Gizmondo in its heyday.
(Credit: ImageShack)

Before we get to the list, let's get the parameters straight. This isn't a list of all the most spectacular tech failures. I chose to exclude dot-coms, corporate debacles (AOL-Time Warner), search engines (i.e., Cuil), and assorted other Web 2.0 flame outs (I'll let Webware handle that). No, this is a roundup of gear, the stuff that turns on and off, the stuff I've been covering for almost 10 years at CNET (yes, I started in 2000).

It's also important to define just what a flop is. In my book it's simply something that was really hyped but didn't live up to its promise or expectations. And while the word "flop" has a negative connotation, we here at CNET have a lot admiration for the designers, engineers, and everybody else who put their heart and soul into bringing these products and technologies to the world. Some of them didn't deserve their fates. They were ahead of their time or just marketed poorly. Whatever the case, we appreciate the vision, risk taking, and hard work that went into creating these things.

But enough sentimentality (I meant it, really). Let's get to the biggest tech flops of the decade. If you disagree with any of them or have more to suggest, please post a comment. If we missed any clear candidates, we'll modify the list.

You can view the list here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/2...=mncol;txt

1. Dreamcast (1998-2001)

Don't get us wrong. We loved the Dreamcast, which was originally released in 1998 and discontinued in the U.S. in 2001 (it was still sold in Japan until 2006), and still miss it. But it didn't make it.

I actually wasted $ on 3 of those.

I was just talking today about those little instant cameras that were like Polaroids, only the pictures for some reason were the size of postage stamps.

I can't believe those didn't last!

The Game Boy Micro definitely didn't belong on there. Nintendo wasn't promoting it like a new product, but a smaller rehash of an old one

Wait a minute, the Dreamcast is on there?

Yeah, it didn't last long in the states, but it was still selling strong in Japan

DVD audio discs were the only things on that list I bought. Listening to albums in surround sound is cool!

The only two I had were satellite radio (which I liked) and a DVD recorder (which comes in very handy for making copies of praise band concerts and other people's concerts).

I didn't own a single one of those!

I have to say I am seeing more & more Segways lately

Mini discs never really took off did they what with MP3 players and all.

My TiVo HD has a cable card in it and I bought an HD-DVD player once they were dirt cheap.

sextonseven said:

Crowded House's debut on DVD-A is one of my favorite purchases. Love it!

LOL! I remember when my hubby made a BIG deal about the "N-Gage"

That thing sucked balls like nobody's business and the reception was horrible. I think he only had it for about 3 or 4 months before he admitted that it was a waste of money


Smooches;)

Oh, and I still want a Cube...

I still have satellite radio


Smooches;)

MsMisha319 said:

This list is bullshit I love my Sat radio and for the record Mini Disc is the shit

NDRU said:

pays to be a late adopter sometimes

MsMisha319 said:

I remember when it came out around the time the Game Boy Advance and a bunch of people were saying it was gonna outsell the GBA