SLIDESHOW

The 25 Funniest Vintage Tech Ads

My oh my, how things have changed. These 25 vintage tech ads are guaranteed to take you back -- and, in most cases, remind you how truly terrible our tastes once were.

, IDG News Service |

The 25 Funniest Vintage Tech Ads

Ads are kind of like your awkward teenage years. Think about it: When you're actually experiencing them, every second feels an angst-ridden eternity. Look back a couple decades later, though, and it's damn near impossible not to laugh.

Now, I'm not suggesting you go out and start bragging about that mullet you were sporting in the 80s (sorry,Uncle Jesse, but that kind of confession may never be advisable). No siree -- with antiquated ads, you can revisit the comedy of bad choices without suffering a single ounce of personal humiliation.

We've compiled 25 of the funniest vintage tech ads we could find. Some will make you laugh; others will make you cringe. But nearly every one will make you wonder what the hell we all were thinking.

Click ahead, and enjoy the shame-free trip down memory lane.

Ampex Cassettes

Unfortunately, there's no rewind button to put the Bee Gees back in the box.

Apple Computer

This ad would have been far less impressive with an iPod.

Wang Calculators

Who knew a Wang could do so much?

Radio Shack TRS-80

Is it just us, or is the TRS-80 a dead ringer for Asimov's sideburns?

Bell & Howell Projector

Sabrina not included with projector purchases.

TI Home Computer

Cardigan and goofy grin not included.

Odyssey 2

Unlimited vocabulary, and "geewizbang" is the best you can do? Come on...at least give us a "hullabaloo" or "brouhaha".

Penril Modem

Tsk, tsk -- you'd better not be looking at her sexy modem. I'll tell Sabrina.

Technico SS-16

Sheesh...talk about deceptive advertising.

Burroughs Angry Young Computer

Chill out, dude. You'll be obsolete in a few years, anyway.

Vic-20 Friendly Computer

Not to be confused with that hot-headed jerk from the previous page.

Royal McBee High-Speed Computation

Alternate tagline: "High-speed computation, three times the size of your desk."

Thermador Kitchen Appliances

And here I thought the double-entendre didn't come into style till the 90s.

Commodore Executive 64

Who's keeping up with Commodore? I'll tell you who. Middle-aged men who need to button up their freakin' shirts.

Parker Brothers Star Wars Game

Single for years.

Panasonic Cassettes

I think this is what they mean when they talk about "bad acid trips."

Tandy 2000

Less revolutionary: Bill's choice of eyewear.

LBMS

I'm not entirely positive what they're selling, but I'll take two.

Interlude Adult Game

You can think of it as really boring Internet porn.

Spectravideo

New standards, that is, for binky-like joysticks being held by James Bond.

Commodore Vic-20

If Shatner says so, it must be true.

Daisy Guns

Family values just aren't the same these days.

Honeywell Electronic Mail

Evidently, it's Tinkerbell on crack.

Pitney Bowes Postage Meter

Shame the expression "WTF" wasn't around back then.

Motorola TV

It's the second best thing to a brand new Daisy rifle.

Slideshow courtesy ITWorld.com, an "open exchange" that allows IT professionals, technology vendors, and other industry luminaries to participate in creating content around specific topics.

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