The top ten tech flops of 2007

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 20 Dec 2007 at 15:19

As well as some fantastic innovations, 2007 saw some truly terrible product releases. Here are the biggest disappointments of the year:

1. AMD "Barcelona"

There's nothing inherently wrong with AMD's new quad-core Opteron processors - except for the fact they're rarer than punchlines on CrimeWatch.

Although delays have also beset the desktop version of the chip, the Phenom, Barcelona (the server version) has been a particular problem - there are still none available to buy in the country, despite the fact they were launched in September. Perhaps AMD uses the same couriers as Customs and Revenue?

2. Cre8txt keyboard

This tiny keyboard lets you type on a PC as you would on a mobile phone. Yes! No longer do you have to reach for that convenient "e" button - you can press the 3 key twice instead.

As if teachers didn't have it tough enough already, it's designed for use in schools. First text messaging taught children to write in barely legible slang, and now comes the cre8txt to destroy the last vestiges of the English language in schools.

WLL GV THS 1 A MSS

3. Datawind PocketSurfer2

Datawind promised mobile internet browsing with the PocketSurfer2, but made no mention in its promotional literature of the irritating delays and stress the frustrating interface and lacklustre screen would provide.

Using it to send emails was more difficult than running all the way to the intended recipient and reciting the message in person.

4. Samsung Flash Solid State Disk

Solid state drives are the future of mobile computing, and promise to be lighter, faster and more robust than traditional hard disks.

Unfortunately, Samsung's offering was actually slower than a mechanical hard disk and, at £9 per megabyte, considerably more expensive - it's like buying a Ferrari, only to be overtaken by a Ford Fiesta.

5. Wrist Donut

We've seen our fair share of idiotic solutions to RSI, but one look at the Wrist Donut left us wondering if the crippling pain was really that bad, after all?

The brightly coloured mouse mat that you wear like a bracelet would look ridiculous in a 1980s workout video, let alone an office. The company behind it insists there are hundreds of happy, pain-free customers, but this is one donut we believe needs dunking. In the bin.

6. LaCie Hub

The very definition of form over function, the LaCie Hub looks eerily like Medusa's Head, with expansion ports sprouting from sprawling metallic arms.

The problem is the unit has all the natural balance of a hippo on ice skates, leading the thing to topple over the second you plug something into it. Not exactly £40 well spent.

7. Griffin iSqueez

Awful stocking fillers like this are the bane of every gadget lover's Christmas. This pointless blob of foam rubber keeps your iPod snugly wrapped up in your car's cup-holder, instantly cancelling out Apple's inspired design. Think of it as wrapping Kylie in a sleeping bag.