The 2000s were a transitional era between the mostly offline 1990s and today's highly connected digital world. Technology was becoming a huge part of everyday life, but smartphones, modern social media, streaming, and constant internet access did not exist yet. Computers were common in homes, schools, libraries, and offices. Most families used bulky desktop computers with large CRT monitors, wired keyboards, wired mice, and speakers. Windows XP was one of the most recognizable operating systems. Desktop computers commonly cost around $500–$1,500, while laptops could cost $1,000 or more. Internet access was usually through a home computer. Dial-up was still used in the early 2000s, while DSL and cable broadband gradually became more common. Websites were simpler and often had colorful backgrounds, animated GIFs, pop-ups, tiny images, and basic layouts. Google, Yahoo!, AOL, MSN, forums, chat rooms, and instant messaging were popular. AIM and MSN Messenger let people chat with friends online. Screen names, away messages, and silly usernames were extremely common. Cell phones were becoming increasingly popular, but they were mainly used for calls and texting. Flip phones, slider phones, and candy-bar phones were common. Motorola RAZRs, Nokia phones, Sony Ericsson phones, LG phones, and Samsung phones were popular. A basic phone could cost around $50–$200 with a contract, while fashionable models could cost several hundred dollars. Phones had physical keypads, small screens, ringtones, simple games, wallpapers, and sometimes cameras. T9 texting was common, meaning users repeatedly pressed number keys to type letters. Music was dominated by CDs and portable players. A new CD usually cost around $12–$18. Portable CD players were popular, although CDs could skip while walking. MP3 players became increasingly common, especially Apple's iPod. Early iPods often cost around $300–$400. People downloaded music through iTunes or file-sharing programs and transferred songs onto their computers or MP3 players. DVDs were gradually replacing VHS tapes. New DVDs often cost around $15–$25, while movie rentals could cost only a few dollars. Blockbuster and similar rental stores were extremely popular. People physically went to stores to rent movies and games, and returning them late could result in annoying late fees. Video games were a major part of the decade. Popular systems included PlayStation 2, original Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. New games generally cost around $40–$60. Used games were cheaper, and many consoles required physical memory cards to save games. Televisions were usually large, heavy CRT sets. Flat-screen LCD and plasma TVs existed but were expensive, often costing $1,000 or more. Cable television was extremely important. MTV, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, VH1, Comedy Central, and other channels were watched according to scheduled programming. DVRs existed but were not in every home. Digital cameras were becoming popular, although disposable film cameras were still common. Digital cameras often cost around $100–$400. Photos were transferred to computers using USB cables or memory cards and were often printed at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or similar stores. Shopping was mostly done in physical stores. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sears, Kmart, malls, and department stores were popular. Amazon and eBay existed, but online shopping was not nearly as dominant. Malls were major social hangouts for teenagers, who would browse stores, buy CDs, eat at food courts, visit arcades, or simply hang out. Prices were low. A fast-food meal might cost $5–$7, a soda around $1–$2, and a movie ticket around $6–$10. Gasoline was often around $1.50–$3 per gallon, although prices rose toward the end of the decade. Basic T-shirts could cost $10–$25. 2000s fashion included baggy and low-rise jeans, cargo pants, graphic T-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, trucker hats, studded belts, chunky sneakers, colorful accessories, and later skinny jeans and layered clothing. Emo, scene, goth, punk, skater, and alternative styles were popular among teenagers. Communication was much less instant than today. People used landline phones, texting, email, instant messaging, and face-to-face conversations. Parents might call the family's house phone to reach their children. People often memorized phone numbers or kept them in address books. MySpace became hugely popular during the mid-to-late 2000s. Users could customize profiles with music, backgrounds, glitter graphics, pictures, and friend lists. Before modern social media, people spent time on forums, blogs, personal websites, chat rooms, and instant messaging. Overall, the 2000s were a mix of old and new. People were discovering digital music, texting, online friendships, gaming, and social media while still relying on CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, landlines, CRT televisions, physical stores, paper maps, printed photographs, and scheduled television. The era was defined by chunky electronics, colorful technology, mall culture, pop music, early internet culture, and rapidly changing fashion.