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Sneaking into the auditorium for the Windows 2000 launch rehearsal (devblogs.microsoft.com)
32 points by ibobev 2026-11-02 | 6 comments | side by side | 0 rewritten | show 1 removed | updated 19:59 UTC
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yodon 2026-11-02 18:46 | removed0/10low_effort | next [–]

Raymond Chen is one of the great treasures of the web.

Raymond Chen is one of the great treasures of the web.

Generic praise that doesn't engage with the story.

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Of course I remember IR file sharing! And contact beaming from Palm devices.

Of course I remember IR file sharing! And contact beaming from Palm devices.

A short but real bit of nostalgia that ties IR file sharing to Palm contact beaming.

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> The sketch demonstrated infrared file sharing and other mobile scenarios. Remember infrared file sharing? Of course you don’t.

Oh hell yes I do. Dog slow but at least it worked decently well, something I can't say about Bluetooth.

> The sketch demonstrated infrared file sharing and other mobile scenarios. Remember infrared file sharing? Of course you don’t.

Oh hell yes I do. Dog slow but at least it worked decently well, something I can't say about Bluetooth.

A short first-hand memory comparing how reliable infrared and Bluetooth were for file sharing.

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jeffrallen 2026-11-02 19:173/10first_handlow_effort | prev [–]

I remember waiting for IR file sharing. It was SLOW.

I remember waiting for IR file sharing. It was SLOW.

A short but real first-hand memory of how slow IR file sharing was back then.

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netsharc 2026-11-02 19:526/10first_handinformative | parent | next [–]

Huh, now I remember a 90's or early 00's watch that has data, and the way to upload data onto it was by running a special Windows program that would flicker an area of the screen black and white. You'd point the face of your watch to it and the flickering had data encoded onto it.

Since it's 2026, googling brings me nothing... had to ask Gemini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCHHzw4s5W4

Huh, now I remember a 90's or early 00's watch that has data, and the way to upload data onto it was by running a special Windows program that would flicker an area of the screen black and white. You'd point the face of your watch to it and the flickering had data encoded onto it.

Since it's 2026, googling brings me nothing... had to ask Gemini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCHHzw4s5W4

A real memory of a related optical data-transfer gadget, with a link; the aside about Google is mild and harmless.

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For those that don’t feel like watching a video, it was the Times Datalink.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink

For those that don’t feel like watching a video, it was the Times Datalink.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink

It names the device and gives a reference link, so readers don't have to watch the video.

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I mostly remember infrared transfers in the context of beaming contacts between PalmPilots. It was pretty fast for that, and actually, much more reliable than modern AirDrop.

I mostly remember infrared transfers in the context of beaming contacts between PalmPilots. It was pretty fast for that, and actually, much more reliable than modern AirDrop.

A first-hand memory of IR beaming on PalmPilots that compares it with AirDrop, which adds real perspective.

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