Are You A Good Judge Of Gadgetry?

[barry1010]

I love gadgets and have been an early adopter of all sorts of gadgets and tech - I learned my lesson and am a lot more cautious these days.

I bought a Betamax. Fantastic bit of kit so not a total failure but of course short lived.

I bought a video recorder that used the remote control to control to scan a barcode printed in the newspapers tv listings to set the record timer function - remember what a faff it was to input the date, channel, time on / off on manually? Of course the scan function didn't work very well and was soon phased out (I think it was a Panasonic, I know it was expensive).

A rotisserie to cook chicken was so dangerous that it caused a nasty burn and soon went in the bin - it could only handle very small chickens.

I bought a Pocket Surfer in 2008/9- I think I was the only one that fell for the blurb. For those interested it is this https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/pocket-surfer-2-free-mobile-internet-unbelievably-fast/

All sorts of kitchen, garden, tech gadgets have promised so much and delivered so little.

What amazing gadget have you bought and been sorely disappointed with?

[Tilly2]

A plastic egg slicer. It broke after the second use. :-)

[jno]

you can't get the plastic eggs these days

[Tilly2]

Here's one, Jno.

https://www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-mechanical-timer-duck-egg-blue?gcshp=1&;fo_c=1344&;fo_k=22e130809bcf7cabf04b3f6611c20014&;fo_s=gplauk&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7GYBhB7EiwA0d8oexvoj3BYkeNr7tVoVS9WfmkilN2NOSh914JPyGpjHp02k9W53HGp3xoCfVEQAvD_BwE

[Tilly2]

An electric can opener. I couldn't get it to fit on the tin. Sent it back.

[jno]

ah, I know where they come from

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-181626/The-plastic-chicken-thats-51-meat.html

[FatticusInch]

To answer the OP headline I wouldn’t say I’m a good judge as such, more that I researched all my gadgetry beforehand and can’t say I’ve been disappointed with any of it.
Most has performed to expectations and some have turned out to be cheap and cheerful as opposed to cheap and nasty(these being brilliant in comparison to ridiculously priced AirPods)


I especially liked the added security of the ear hook, as one ear canal is marginally a different size to the other.
Bar that, nothing much springs to mind, I’ll post again if it does.

[jno]

sorry, barry, I've wandered off topic. I'm not an early adopter myself, usually wait for someone else's recommendation. Indeed I still don't have a mobile phone.

[sandyRoe]

No. When I first got a mobile phone I needed help from my 8 year old great niece to learn how to send a text message.

[barry1010]

Don't worry, jno - it's chatterbank and chat does wander :D

I've thought about earpods but I know I'd lose the blerdy things. I'd have to attach them somehow to something like those spectacle chains - totally defeating the object

[douglas9401]

I managed it myself, Sandy, but I know what you mean.

I still remember my first text. :-)

[barry1010]

That's what children are for, Sandy. I am in awe of the speed my grandchildren can text on their phones.

Many years ago my mother bought a mould for making square boiled eggs. I must have caught the gadget bug from her.

[barry1010]

I rely on timers a little too much, not just for cooking. Alexa is good for that sort of thing - as many timers on the go at once.

[FatticusInch]

barry1010
//I've thought about earpods but I know I'd lose the blerdy things. I'd have to attach them somehow to something like those spectacle chains - totally defeating the object//

Not if you get yourself the ear hook type and one of those very thin and unobtrusive cloth-style spectacle retainers?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261352955415?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1iIrd4hnRrK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=NbYLHbmYSSO&;var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Bazile]

jno

//I'm not an early adopter myself, usually wait for someone else's recommendation. Indeed I still don't have a mobile phone.//

You'll be alright .
The mobile phone has been thoroughly researched and is recommended by quite a few people - honest :-)

[Redhelen72]

I buy lots of gadgets and use them for about 6 months then get rid.
However my MIL buys lots and lots of tat from those Sunday magazines and it’s all rubbish

[LadyCG]

My all-singing-all-dancing Kenwood. It chops, slices, minces, juices, grates, mixes, etc, etc. It's a right faff trying to put the different parts together to achieve the function you want and when I tried to mince a leg of lamb it was next to useless. We paid a fair bit for it if my memory serves me correctly.

[barry1010]

I'm very surprised about the Kenwood - heard nothing but praise for this 'queen of the kitchen'.
I'm much the same as you, RedH.
I've also been tempted to buy an air-fryer but am resisting. Same with halogen ovens, was tempted for a while.

[Bobbisox1]

My George Foreman Grill , Lay collecting dust same as the Skillet ( same function as the GF) dunno why I bought it tbh

[barry1010]

Bobbi, I caved in and bought a GF grill because it had removable, washable plates. It didn't grill the steaks, it sort of poached them in their own juices, tender but unappetising. My good quality frying pans do a much better job.