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New_Insect_Overlords t1_jda0eih wrote

Also the 1960 extension cord for plugging in your cigarette would have been ridiculous

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Tenpat t1_jdb1zfc wrote

I think people really don't understand how shit technology was in the 60's.

The cost to make e-cigarettes was probably far more than the cost to just make old fashioned cigarettes.

Also there was this: >Inhaling the extract, however, was downright dangerous. Battelle’s monthly report from September 1963 stressed that “reactions were so violent and throat irritation was so strong that smoking could not be carried out under regular conditions.

and this: >This lack of commercial viability certainly had to do with the remaining shortcomings of the device described by Hughes.

Long story short. The technology sucked.

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Different_Bake_7 t1_jdrbulf wrote

The first simplest transistors were invented, which is basically a tiny voltage driven electric switch, but they weren't that small, considering today the smallest of integrated circuit chips, can contain millions of transistors ! They were however smaller than vacuum tubes, hence the first portable transistor radio. uniac and ENIAC were the first mainframe IBM computers, that ran on both tubes and solid state components, yet filled up an entire room !.... And about a tenth as powerful as a Commodore 64 !

so yeah..... Technology was stone age back in the 60s.

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Different_Bake_7 t1_jdrc9u2 wrote

Jump to the latest cell phone smart phone..... A super computer 🖥️ comparatively speaking !

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VegaSpec t1_jdbhc37 wrote

They were probably using like 50% nicotine extract because they hadn't thought to dilute it down to around 1% like we do now.

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therealmattsteimel t1_jda0hqv wrote

You mean, a product was invented, but it threatened a major industry, so it was shelved? I know there was a very functional electric car about 20ish years ago. They were leased out, and then customers weren't allowed to keep them after whatever time frame. Then they were all crushed. We will never know the amazing things that could be if mega companies would allow it

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Sometimes_Stutters t1_jdadmng wrote

They mention this in the book “Barbarians at The Gate”. It has less to do with protecting the tobacco industry and more to do with the product development being over budget and the product itself being shit. It was actually developed by RJR / Phillip Morris.

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DustyDavos t1_jdane30 wrote

Another good book along these lines is “The Devil’s Playbook” by Lauren Etter which covers the rise of Juul and its ultimate acquisition by Altria/Phillip Morris. Great read.

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Yah_OK_ t1_jday5xo wrote

Thanks for the flash-back.

I read that book during daily commuting circa the mid nineties and remember loving it. And in the early days of the internet I remember looking for a picture of the product mentioned in that chapter and that I never found any.

edit: Also Anecdotally , years later I read Golden Holocaust from a kindle and it was a terrifically interesting "history of , the evolution of, the business of" smoking.

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sponge_bob_ t1_jdassan wrote

How functional was the battery life? Ms made tablets earlier than Apple but they had short battery lives and weighed like bricks

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Nunyazbznz t1_jdaq2mo wrote

I think you're speaking of this: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a32944084/tested-1997-general-motors-ev1-proves-to-be-the-start-of-something-big/

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FestiveSquidBanned t1_jdb5w3k wrote

On a related note, The very first electric car to be made was made in 1832. So the technology is close to 200 years old at this point.

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xauching t1_jdb7xw0 wrote

people always think that profit will encourage progress.

more often than not, profit stumps progress.

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Skunkdunker t1_jdbx8m8 wrote

And also, as we all know, a total lack of reward/extrinsic motivation is the best way to encourage progress.

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WalkerBRiley t1_jde9e7a wrote

You can see that in any "scientists discover" thread where the main complaint and argument against any further research is how expensive it would be.

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Spot-CSG t1_jdceavr wrote

Man look up what batteries looked like in the 60s and tell me this product would have been viable. Look up 70s batteries too before you say "well the tech would have evolved".

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WalkerBRiley t1_jde9m1n wrote

.....And look what they look like today after, you know, the tech has evolved.

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Skunkdunker t1_jdbwyja wrote

I mean everything you said is true, but also, pretty much the only reason you can buy either of these now is because a company became successful enough to be a 'mega company.' I agree with your criticism of a bloated capitalism stifling innovation, but it doesn't help to include every large company with no differentiation when it is possible for them to cultivate and drive innovation.

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therealmattsteimel t1_jddat75 wrote

Agreed. Not all companies are created equal. I really do hate lumping things into a convenient little box. My statement was more general, but thankfully, there are exceptions.

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Papichuloft t1_jdecvel wrote

Always a pattern of corruption if you noticed. Electric and water powered cars are made to disappear by the oil companies. Or how suspicious products are passed by the FDA and within a matter of a few years, the same people on the FDA panels, are suddenly employed by the pharma companies that wanted their shit FDA approved.

​

Not saying e cigs are any better.

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Icy-Teaching-5602 t1_jdelnkk wrote

Just like a lot of other things the big company throws money to make it go away

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dudewiththebling t1_jdnjq3w wrote

If they were sold and innovated on since the 60's, they would be super advanced by now I bet

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herbw t1_jde3yyp wrote

the latest data suggest that e cigs are just as toxic and life taking as reg. cigs. I knew a narciss. PD who smoked an e cig. I asked him for the scientific stats which showed e-cigs were safer than reg. cigs. He got angry, as predicted.

It's fun to tweek the NPD around here. It's predictable as night following day. and they are oblivious to it.

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xauching t1_jdb7qo3 wrote

Yep, that is how "market forces" work. Technology is never "natural". There's always some interest at play, and you're not a part of it.

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Ok_Cut1802 t1_jdakgpd wrote

Idiots. Vape is so much more addicting.

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