Ancient Computers in Use Today

February 20th, 2012 by Benj Edwards

Ancient Computers In Use Today - Kevin Huffman's Apple IIeKevin Huffman and his trusty Apple IIe.

The unrelenting pace of computer technology boggles the mind. For some individuals, businesses, and governments, it boggles the wallet as well. That’s one of the reasons a surprising number of organizations refuse to continuously upgrade their computer systems — even though every salesman in the industry tells them it’s the right thing to do.

I have often wondered how many of these vintage machines are still in use around the world. In the course of crafting history pieces for various publications, I encounter some entertaining stories of digital dinosaurs here and there (and I ask for them), but they are mostly light fare about a cousin who uses a Pentium I for word processing or a hacker buddy who won’t let go of his VT100 terminal.

I decided to dig a little deeper and found some individuals and organizations that truly depend on vintage computers, day in and day out, and I compiled the resulting stories into a new piece just published over at PC World.com.

You’ll read about one video game programmer’s reliance on a Tandy Color Computer 3, a company that uses a circa-1948 IBM machine for accounting, an Apple IIe that organizes a warehouse, and an entire national military/industrial complex so dependent on 1970s DEC minicomputers that it will still be using them halfway through the 21st century.

Read “Ancient Computers in Use Today” at PC World.com

Amusing Tidbits

What you read in my PC World article is not the end of the story. There are thousands of computers out there still chugging away in dusty corners, dark basements, and back rooms almost as if someone simply forgot to unplug them years ago.

  • For example, a bus terminal in Brisbane Australia used a Commodore 64 for arrival announcements as recently as 2010. The terminal has since changed to a more modern system, however.
  • The US Secret Service is known to use a mainframe computer system from the 1980s that only works 60% of the time. Not good. Supposedly this helped a couple crash a White House party a few years ago.
  • Some organizations rely on old software that most PC users would consider obsolete. For example, many ATMs created in the 1990s still run IBM OS/2, an operating system that competed with Windows. The New York Subway system’s MetroCard service runs on OS/2 as well. San Francisco’s citywide transportation system switched from OS/2 to Windows as recently as 2008. Good choice?
  • And finally, some traffic construction signs supposedly still use TRS-80 Model 100 laptops to control their massive lighted displays. But don’t go digging around in them expecting to find a relic. You might cause an accident.

Even if no remaining traffic signs use the Model 100, the very possibility imparts a sense of optimism among those familiar with technology. After all, most of those systems weren’t designed to last more than a decade, and yet they continue operating, despite strong commercial and cultural tides flowing against them.

It’s satisfying to see good engineering at work. And on a deeper level, I suspect many of us can personally identify with those old machines because we all want to be useful as long as life will allow.



7 Responses to “Ancient Computers in Use Today”

  1. Jim Leonard Says:

    There is at least one piano roll manufacturing company that still uses an Apple IIe to drive the puncher. It would be much more costly to retrofit all of the equipment than to just replace the IIe.

  2. Bard Says:

    The Expo and Millenium line skytrains in Vancouver BC runs on 3 XT’s.

  3. A Fan Says:

    Old hardware is appealing from a paranoid perspective as well as avoiding software bloat. A spinning disk hard drive gives you a good idea if something nasty is using your system (when you’re not!) it also limits the amount of spyware and other malware that runs undectably before slowing performance. Since most computer users really have no need for the power of modern systems these considerations will grow in relevance as time passes.
    Of course running any system for years means not giving into bloated and continually degrading software, which means no Windows for a start.
    Happy hacking!

  4. Ronald Says:

    Great article and website. I love old stuff. Thanks.

  5. ComannderrX Says:

    madness, this is

  6. TentativelyTandy Says:

    So I don’t think I’m actually old enough to qualify for this post, but I saw this Tandy 1500hd in an antique shop the other day and I was thinking of picking it up for use at trade shows and events instead of taking my macbook, which is probably overpowered (not to mention incredibly distracting). Help a millennial get into retrocomputing. Any shove in the right direction is greatly appreciated.

  7. Holger Says:

    Great article!
    I used an Apple II clone for many years and was happy with it Hope you will have fun with yours for a long time!

    all the best from germany
    H.

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