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If it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially when the computers are relatively cheap compared to the bespoke hardware. My favourite example of this was the school
by kirrent 10y ago
If it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially when the computers are relatively cheap compared to the bespoke hardware. My favourite example of this was the school district which used an Amiga to control the district's HVAC systems. Replacing parts occasionally on a 30 year old computer is far cheaper than an entirely new and unproved system.
http://hackaday.com/2015/07/23/this-little-amiga-still-runs-school-districts-hvac/ http://hackaday.com/2015/07/23/this-little-amiga-still-runs-...
- digi_owl 10y agoEspecially as all but the floppy is solid state. I think they were running into problems with the radio modem rather than the computer, btw.
- timthorn 10y agoSolid state doesn't mean that it won't wear out. Electron migration over time will eventually render ICs unreliable. To be fair, that's less of an issue at the process sizes of 90s semiconductors - but it still happens.
- mseebach 10y agoBut it is broken. This is not about rewriting a working server component in Rust just because or chasing the latest Javascript framework-du-jour. What will it cost McLaren to renege on their maintenance obligations on those cars if one of these laptops are dropped or broken or stolen or just bite the dust (they are "getting less and less reliable"), and they can't source a working one?
- ams6110 10y agoThe article does state that they are working on an interface compatible with modern laptops.