Windows 95, Snake, and the 64-Pack of Crayons: Welcome to the 90s
An interview with Grant Stimmel of The '92.
One of my favorite newsletters is The ‘92, which is a free weekly newsletter for 90s kids. The newsletter is fun to read, and the writer, Grant Stimmel, also shares posts on LinkedIn about building a newsletter from 0 to 130,000+ subscribers quite quickly.
Today Stimmel was nice enough to stop by Beck on Tech for an interview. I also added links to some of my questions if you want to go down some internet rabbit holes today!
Enjoy the interview!
How did you become interested in writing about the 1990s?
I think most people are obsessed with the era they grew up in. As a December ‘92 baby, I’ve always loved the 90s, especially the late 90s when I started forming core memories. (Like that time my mom forgot me at the roller rink. 😅)
What do you think was the ultimate status symbol in 90s tech - a beeper or a Palm Pilot?
I gotta go Palm Pilot here! I remember my dad using one of those old Nokia phones. They were literally bricks. But he let me play Snake on it, which was pretty cool!
If you had to explain the struggle of connecting to the internet in the 90s to Gen Z, how would you do it?
First off, I’d get a perm. Then Gen Z would think I’m one of them. Everything is so instant now, they have no idea what turning on the family desktop was like and waiting for everything to boot up. I miss those sounds of the computer finally turning on — it was like an angel singing!
What was the best (or worst) thing about using Windows 95?
Windows 95 (or maybe it was 98) was my first experience with the internet. I remember playing games on Disney’s website and talking with friends on AOL Instant Messenger.
What was the biggest "tech flex" in an elementary school in the 90s?
I’m not sure if it was considered tech, but the other kids did double takes if you showed up with the 64-pack of Crayola Crayons with the pencil sharpener on the back. Now THAT was high tech!
How long did it take to download a single song on Napster or Limewire?
I missed the Napster phase, but was definitely into Limewire. My family computer definitely took on its fair share of viruses because I was downloading the Backstreet Boys. I feel like it took forever, definitely like 15 minutes, right??
What’s a tech habit from the 90s you still find yourself doing today?
Obviously there weren’t really cell phones that everyone was addicted to back then. I remember playing Mavis Beacon typing games. That’s how I learned the “Home Row Keys,” which I’m using right now!
If you could bring back one 90s gadget that no one uses anymore, what would it be?
Probably the floppy disc. They were a STAPLE at my school.
What was the most frustrating video game level of the 90s?
I remember playing Oregon Trail and bringing WAY too much food with me on the quest. Our wagon capsized in a river and everyone died of dysentery, I think.
Do you think Tamagotchis secretly prepared us for the responsibility of smartphones?
In a way they did! Giga Pet, too! Taking care of these virtual creatures definitely prepared me for raising 2 kids under 2 in 2025. (Actually, NOTHING can prepare someone for that!)
What’s a 90s gadget that seemed futuristic at the time but is hilariously outdated now? I feel like it has to be car phones, right?!
Car phones for sure. Flip phones seemed NEXT LEVEL at the time. I remember having to hit the key 3 times to type the letter “C”. I think each text cost $0.10, but now we’re getting into the early 2000s.
What ‘90s celebrity would have been an amazing influencer on social media?
Britney Spears would’ve crushed it! Christina Aguilera, too. Justin Timberlake would’ve had a billion TikTok followers!
Where can someone go to learn more about The ‘92?
All the best 90s stuff happens in our free weekly newsletter!
Thanks so much for stopping by Beck on Tech, Grant!
-Molly Beck
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