Computing devices and long lasting communities

[Joseph_21sv]

(04-19-2017 08:49 PM)ColinJDenman Wrote:  

(04-19-2017 05:05 PM)KeithB Wrote:  I am sure it is more the usability. An HP41 can still be used, an Amiga, not so much. There are probably communities out there devoted to the Amiga, but what can you do with it?

I agree -- you can enjoy it. I've never had one myself, but I think you'll find a thriving Amiga community. Likewise the Apple Mac classic has recently been implemented in a browser window at archive.org with a selection of old software.

Myself, I still have an old TI 99/4A in a box and there is still a community around it. Perhaps it relates to a certain pack-rat/hoarder mentality in us. Of course, it may also be that growing aberration in us as we get older that things where better in the good old days.

You can simply enjoy an Amiga, a Mac Classic, a TI 99/4A, or any other of the various so-called "ancient" computers, that's perfectly OK. But that isn't all you can really do with it anymore, as the Wikipedia article on the Amiga range of computers cites this example of something existentially necessary still being done with an Amiga: "As of 2015, the Grand Rapids Public School district still uses a Commodore Amiga 2000 computer, complete with 1200 baud modem, to automate its air conditioning and heating systems for the 19 schools covered by the GRPS district. 'The system controls the start/stop of boilers, the start/stop of fans, pumps, [it] monitors space temperatures, and so on.' The system has been running day and night for decades." Although this citation is two years old, for all we may know, the Amiga in question could still be running day and night so that the heating and AC systems for 19 schools will not need to be managed manually within each individual school.