The history of technology has continually taken that which absurd one day and made it practical or necessary the next. No doubt, you may have your own stories of embarrassment where you tried to predict the future of technology.

Not to worry, you are in good company. Here are a few famous (or infamous) quotes that may salve your pride, or at least make you crack a smile.

"Who in their right mind would ever need more than 640K of ram!?"
   --Bill Gates, 1981

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
   --Popular Mechanics, 1949

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
   --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM 1943

"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year."
   --Editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
   --Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

"This 'telephone' has to many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communications. The device is inherently of no value to us."
   --Western Union internal memo, 1876