There were many practical problems concerning the vacuum tube. It was not only expensive, but also bulky. These two factors meant that any devices that made use of the vacuum tube would also be large, clumsy and expensive. The vacuum tube also heated up very quickly, which was a major contributing factor to the next major problem: unreliability. The first computers were made with vacuum tubes, but the vacuum tubes burned out frequently. Moreover, due to their bulky nature, such computers would occupy several large rooms. Another bizarre problem was also encountered. The vacuum tube's lights attracted moths, which short-circuited the computer. Something better was needed, and that something eventually came in the form of the transistor.

The transistor was the perfect replacement for the vacuum tube. They were not only cheaper, but also smaller, and more reliable. The invention of integrated circuit in 1958 allowed literally millions of transistors to be packed together on a single silicon chip, allowing components to work at lightening-fast pace. The better and more compact transistor also allowed for the invention of later electronic devices such as radios and hearing aids, revolutionising the electronics industry.