Yeah, the last time I saw 8 inch floppies was in 1987 when I was writing software (the only time I've done that for pay) on an Apple ][ system.? They were out of date even then.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Supporting multiple obsolete media types, interfaces, etc. is a big reason why I don't strike out on my own.? My nightmare is getting stuck spending most of my time fighting those fires....? ? ? ? ? Jim Ford?
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On Sun, May 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM, Greg Muir via groups.io<big_sky_explorer@...> wrote: Thanks to all who suggested purchase of a used computer instead of a new one.? Been there, done that.? Had good and bad experiences.? Some people don’t mention that there may be intermittent problems or other issues with a unit.? For new Dell’s offerings range around $500 to $700 for a new machine.? That doesn’t necessarily include some of the extra bells and whistles (rapidly approaching $1k).
But this doesn’t address the elephant in the room…? having to either upgrade (sometimes purchase) legacy software or purchase new at a cost.? That is the big chunk of money.
I relation to this there is the client issue who may have equipment operating in the field that is supported by legacy software that may now no longer be available due to the manufacturer no longer in business.? I can’t tell them to purchase new equipment if they cannot afford it.? I recently inquired tech services at one company for a legacy software upgrade that was no longer available to find out that one of the agents remember having that upgrade stashed in his software collection he saved from the dumpster. Problem solved when a 3-1/2” floppy arrived in the mail (had security stuff embedded on the disk to prevent copying or downloads).
Some of the legacy software media I am exposed to include floppies, PCMCIA cards, even Casio cards & ZIP media, and a few other very esoteric items.? Equipment interfaces frequently include RS232 requiring laptops with mating ports (USB dongles don’t necessarily work).? I have a small laptop running WIN 3.1 to help one client who has some DOS/WIN control software.? Tried emulators to get that to operate under later WIN OSs with no success.
In all many of these systems have been operating for many decades with few problems and people don’t really have an incentive to change until something really catches fire.
(Speaking of real legacy, I might also add that the US Air Force finally migrated away from using 8 inch floppies in their Minuteman missile launch control facilities five or so years ago.? Legacy?? A bit.)
Greg
