This is the Modem World: Why we go retro

Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology. So I was listening to Howard Stern on my way home from work the other night. Satellite radio came with my car and, whether you like him or not, Stern’s a pretty good companion in LA traffic. I happen to like him. Anyway. “You know Gary,” he prodded, “I’m gonna use a horse and buggy instead of a car, just because it’s cool.” Turns out he was giving Producer Gary Dell’Abate a hard time about his love for vinyl. Gary did his best to defend the hobby, saying it has been scientifically proven that analog sounds better than digital, that it’s just something people do for fun and that it’s a really interesting subculture. Of course, he didn’t win.