So far in my blog series on the early 80s, I've written a post introducing the period and covered my favourite movies and television shows. But the 80s wouldn't have been without the 80s without the popular technology and toys of the time. With that in my mind here's a list of my favourite tech and toys from 1980-1985:
VCRs.

Merlin
In 1980 and 81 (possibly even 1982!) I was pretty much inseparable from my Merlin, a handheld device the size of a mutant phone that contained 6 different games. I can't imagine how many batteries I must've gone through or remember whatever happened to my Merlin, but I'd love to stumble across one of these again and see if I still remember how to play the tune Molly Malone on it in electronic chirps.
Rubik's Cube
You knew that was coming, right? I think everyone who lived through this period probably had a Rubik's cube in their hands at some time during the early 80s. Its runaway popularity led to a sort of 3D handheld puzzle fad and I probably had ten different games inspired by the Rubik's Cube at one point. But the Rubik's Cube was my first and favourite. I became sort of obsessed by it and worked on it for hours at a time, until I finally figured out how to solve it. I still can't explain the process in words and don't know exactly how I can do it but a part of my brain recognizes the patterns that come up while you're shifting the cube and also knows how to turn the various sides accordingly until the six sides each show a solid colour. There was a time during the early 80s when I could do the cube in 2 minutes but when I tried about five years ago it took much longer.

Pac-Man (arcade game)
The 80s was a hot time for arcades and before Atari really took off the best way to get your Pacman fix was to throw a quarter in the machine. This and Burgertime were my favourite arcade games of the time.
Burgertime (arcade game)
You can check out what Burgertime was like
at Shockingly
Fun! Games. And if you ask me what I found so compelling
about a game centering on a tiny chef who must assemble
burgers by walking the length of buns, meat patties, tomatoes,
etc.), while being hunted by an egg, hot dog and pickle,
I confess that I have no idea, but then, most arcade games
didn't make much sense! Better not to apply logic to them.
MTV
MTV
You may wonder if I should've stuck this
under TV shows but the idea of a channel dedicated solely
to pop music felt like a technological breakthrough too.
As did the newly popular artistic medium of music videos
and their role in selling music.
MuchMusic (1984 and onwards)
MuchMusic (1984 and onwards)
Canada's very own version of MuchMusic hit
airwaves in the summer of 1984. After the free trial of
the channel was over my main birthday gift the following
December was a subscription to MuchMusic.
Atari
Atari
The first mainstream videogame console!
Obviously the thrill wasn't dependent on cool graphics.
Those didn't exist yet. So the sense of fun in Atari games
like Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Pitfall! and Missile Command
was more along the lines of what you'd experience playing
something like pinball. You can see a list of top-selling
Atari Games here.
I never played RiverRaid or Atlantis but most of the other
titles are familiar and I can't tell you exactly how many
times I saved E.T. by sending him home during the early
80s but for awhile saving E.T. was kinda one of my hobbies.
Smurfs

Sony Walkman
As a music format, tapes sucked they'd
get tangled up and warped if you listened to them too
many times (as a result I had to throw out most of the
favourite albums that I'd purchase on tape from this time).
But the coolest thing about tapes was that they allowed
you to carry your music with you. Portability! From the
moment I got a Walkman my favourite music went everywhere
with me (Goodbye, Merlin). Bliss!


Just one more eighties post left. Drop back in next week and read my fav music from 1980-85 entry.
Read the Rest of the

* The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there
* The past is a foreign country: 80s TV
* The past is a foreign country: 80s Movies
* The past is a foreign country: 80s Music