Oldest piece of computer tech you are still using.

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mattwnz

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#306601 7-Aug-2023 01:43

On the back of some of to other threads on best and worst tech people have purchased, I thought I would start a thread on what the oldest piece of computer tech is that people still use on a daily basis and still works on modern computers. Or just the oldest piece of tech you still regularly use.

Mine is a Microsoft Office Keyboard like this https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-E17-00002-Office-Keyboard/dp/B00005NVBO . I think it is now 22 years old, luckily it was USB. Most of the of shortcut buttons including cut copy and paste still work, except for the scroll wheel. It is just a really nice keyboard to type on , even though it uses rubber domes. The letters haven't worn of either, even though some keys are quite worn. Better than any new membrane keyboard I have used. Just shows the quality of some MS products back then.

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#3112572 7-Aug-2023 06:27

Still have and occasionally pull out, a Logitech G5 mouse I purchased on release - may only be 2005, but for a mouse, its a pretty impressive lifespan :)

In my cupboard, I have an old 120MB SCSI HDD (Quantum maybe ?) from my Amiga days.... granted, I haven't actually used it for many years, but I do power it up occasionally to stop it seizing up :)

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cddt

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#3112576 7-Aug-2023 07:38

My daily driver laptop is from 2012 (and it was a bottom of the barrel model then - Toshiba C660 with an i3-2350M, cost me about $600). Does everything I need a laptop to so I haven't contributed it to the e-waste problem yet.

Makes for a few funny expressions or comments when I pull it out in the odd meeting I need to take a personal laptop to - really stands out in the sea of MacBooks.

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#3112577 7-Aug-2023 07:40

Stretching the definition of 'computer tech' a little, the oldest one I still own is a Korg X5D, which I would have bought in about 1998 or 1999. I haven't used it for a good few years but currently it is in use, on loan to my wife's 90-something grandfather so he can learn to play the piano. The oldest one I do still use is a Roland XP-30 which I bought in 2000. The XP-30 has the Piano and Vintage (Synth) expansion boards installed. The Piano board is a bit disappointing - it sounds very thin compared to a decent digital piano even of the era.

The vintage synth board is more interesting. I have just acquired a Solina String Ensemble, and it is interesting to compare the sound of the 'real' thing to the sample of it on the vintage synth expansion board. (The modulation is the key: with it, it's the sound you remember from the 70s. Without it, it's awful.)

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3112579 7-Aug-2023 07:47

The oldest piece of tech I am still using is the original MS Natural Keyboard, purchased in Feburary 1997. Technically, it hasn't been used for a couple of years as Microsoft finally released a new version with an almost acceptable key layout. The new one is nowhere as good, but I'm using it until I find the PS/2 to USB adaptor which I have misplaced.

Around 2001, I purchased a second hand unit off TradeMe, but that was not in as good condition as mine and I just used it in the office 2001-2004 and possibly a bit longer. That one was made in the US, while my one was made in Mexico, so I expect production was shifted later in the product lifecycle.

Last year I obtained one in original packaging. Given the first shows no signs of faults after 25 years of service, I expect these to see me out.

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#3112591 7-Aug-2023 08:28

SirHumphreyAppleby:

The oldest piece of tech I am still using is the original MS Natural Keyboard, purchased in Feburary 1997. Technically, it hasn't been used for a couple of years as Microsoft finally released a new version with an almost acceptable key layout. The new one is nowhere as good, but I'm using it until I find the PS/2 to USB adaptor which I have misplaced.

Around 2001, I purchased a second hand unit off TradeMe, but that was not in as good condition as mine and I just used it in the office 2001-2004 and possibly a bit longer. That one was made in the US, while my one was made in Mexico, so I expect production was shifted later in the product lifecycle.

Last year I obtained one in original packaging. Given the first shows no signs of faults after 25 years of service, I expect these to see me out.

These were great. Solid, and with decent key spacing over to the right. They also had the horizontal dedl|end|home etc. keys which was more standard. My first one was going to go forever, and it took the 2011 Japan earthquake to kill it.

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elpenguino

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#3112646 7-Aug-2023 09:45

It's only within the last 12 months I retired my Pentium 4 PC. I was using it with Windows XP to support an M-audio sound card

I broke that PC for parts (incl AGP GPU) and they got snapped up on TM.

Windows 10 doesn't fully support the card and motherboards don't include PCI slots anymore so I keep an old Windows 7 / Core 2 machine around 'in case'.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#3112649 7-Aug-2023 10:06

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That was 1.5 times as much arithmetic power as the entire university, now it is about that of an Arduino.

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#3112650 7-Aug-2023 10:09

SirHumphreyAppleby:

The oldest piece of tech I am still using is the original MS Natural Keyboard, purchased in Feburary 1997. Technically, it hasn't been used for a couple of years as Microsoft finally released a new version with an almost acceptable key layout. The new one is nowhere as good, but I'm using it until I find the PS/2 to USB adaptor which I have misplaced.

Around 2001, I purchased a second hand unit off TradeMe, but that was not in as good condition as mine and I just used it in the office 2001-2004 and possibly a bit longer. That one was made in the US, while my one was made in Mexico, so I expect production was shifted later in the product lifecycle.

Last year I obtained one in original packaging. Given the first shows no signs of faults after 25 years of service, I expect these to see me out.

I keep wishing every day, that they would make a mechanical version of these keyboards. I used the MS Natural 4000 for so long, however the ghosting issues when playing games was very annoying (due to membrane). Otherwise the MS Natural is the best ergo keyboard i've ever used, maybe even best keyboard.

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#3112655 7-Aug-2023 10:11

Alas, the oldest thing I use regularly is a circa-2016 desktop PC. A year ago I would've put my PlayStation 2 on this list, but I got a new TV late last year and can no longer connect it, and I can never be bothered to go downstairs and use it with the old TV.

I also have a 1999/2000ish iMac G3, which I occasionally use for 90s games, but it's been unplugged for about six months now...

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3112657 7-Aug-2023 10:19

hotsupes:

I keep wishing every day, that they would make a mechanical version of these keyboards. I used the MS Natural 4000 for so long, however the ghosting issues when playing games was very annoying (due to membrane). Otherwise the MS Natural is the best ergo keyboard i've ever used, maybe even best keyboard.

One day I may get around to scanning all the parts. While I don't need a mechanical version myself, I'd love to see the original with updated hardware.

cddt

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#3112726 7-Aug-2023 11:01

elpenguino:

It's only within the last 12 months I retired my Pentium 4 PC. I was using it with Windows XP to support an M-audio sound card

I broke that PC for parts (incl AGP GPU) and they got snapped up on TM.

Windows 10 doesn't fully support the card and motherboards don't include PCI slots anymore so I keep an old Windows 7 / Core 2 machine around 'in case'.

A quick google suggests that there is linux support for that card.

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MikeAqua

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#3112735 7-Aug-2023 11:21

I still have a ?1985? Atari 2600 in a box, with Frogger, Bezerk, Ms Pacman, Defnder, Space Invaders, Phoenix, Asteroid and others. We pulled it out during lockdown. Everything still worked.

I also still have a speak and spell, and speak and math from about the same vintage.

Mike

elpenguino

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#3112758 7-Aug-2023 12:18

cddt:

elpenguino:

It's only within the last 12 months I retired my Pentium 4 PC. I was using it with Windows XP to support an M-audio sound card

I broke that PC for parts (incl AGP GPU) and they got snapped up on TM.

Windows 10 doesn't fully support the card and motherboards don't include PCI slots anymore so I keep an old Windows 7 / Core 2 machine around 'in case'.

A quick google suggests that there is linux support for that card.

Good point (but I'm used to my Windows based tools). I bet there's cupboards full of otherwise working equipment stranded into e-waste by lack of driver and OS support.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

msukiwi

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#3112832 7-Aug-2023 13:34

The Selcall decoders I built in 1990 still going! (Running 24/7) As is the Software! (Only ever needed 1 update) Still runs on Win11! (Designed for XP)

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#3112852 7-Aug-2023 14:14

DOS based 1990's Toshiba.....for the serial port.

It's in a riser doing it's thing to this very day. Only reboot it gets is a power outage

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