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Win98 still has many valid uses...
surfing the internet and being a web appliance is certainly not among those.

I have a Win98 box that sits in my lab. It runs a lot of older lab hardware including framegrabbers and IEEE (GPIB) controllers that have excellent DOS drivers but the vendors never went through the pain and expense of creating NT (HAL) drivers.

Using the free Watcom C/C++ package and free DOS 32 bit extenders (or my old copy of Visual C/C++ 1.52), I can access all of the RAM and do things that never worked well on newer hardware with newer drivers for NT/2K,XP. This is because the Win98 DOS mode eliminates all of the Windows messaging bloat and allows the hardware apps to run virtually unfettered by system interupts. Note: we also use Linux for this.

When you are developing boards for custom hardware applications like ground penetrating radar or laser radar, you don't want to spend all of your development $$$ trouble-shooting NT/2K/XP drivers which just about anyone can tell you is a real pain. When you're done and the hardware works (at iteration 3 or 4), then you write good HAL drivers.
Posted by: msolgeek   Posted on: 06/12/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Win 98/Win ME Defect  Techscan | 06/09/06
there is free version of vista  zzz1234567890 | 06/09/06
Nothing from Microsoft is free...  Linux Advocate | 06/09/06
time limit  Scott W | 06/11/06
Yup..  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
how odd.... it's usually  Castanet | 06/12/06
Um.. Get real..  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
XP SP2 IS a free upgrade.  mustangj36@... | 06/12/06
OH - it's an upgrade  pkrdk | 06/12/06
WIN 98/WIN ME DEFECT  KECKBIGPAPA@... | 06/12/06
Upgrade Hardware  mighetto | 06/09/06
It's a ploy to force us into Vista.  Mr. Roboto | 06/09/06
Vista  Doink | 06/09/06
No! It simply is  michael_t | 06/09/06
Not possible  jheine | 06/09/06
While you are correct about control systems  voska | 06/09/06
Ensoniq  Yagotta B. Kidding | 06/09/06
ICS on Win9x???  James T. Kirk | 06/09/06
Take one of your old PCs and put m0n0wall on it.  osreinstall | 06/09/06
Linux/ALSA kind-of supports the Ensoniq Soundscape PNP card  Zogg | 06/09/06
According to Linux.com  Sabz5150 | 06/09/06
It's up to hardware vendors to write drivers.  mustangj36@... | 06/12/06
LOL  voska | 06/09/06
Old stuff is still good  Bill4 | 06/09/06
I still have my 486 and P3-500  voska | 06/09/06
Atta Boy  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
Keep in mind....  rock06r | 06/10/06
What a load of hooey...  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
Stressed out Wolfie  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
Computers aren't TV's  BrewMan01 | 06/12/06
Full of Bologna  Cayble | 06/12/06
Some mistakes last forever...  michael_t | 06/09/06
We can make even win98 work  mighetto | 06/09/06
Not on older cars  voska | 06/09/06
Recall?  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
The problem is NOT to eternally keep repairing old  michael_t | 06/09/06
I'd say it's the nature of young products  voska | 06/09/06
If you want to be serious  michael_t | 06/09/06
How long is your toaster considered young??  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
My toaster is the same as it was 30+ years ago  voska | 06/12/06
Not to pick nits... But...  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
I will tell you how long  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
Wrong  pkrdk | 06/12/06
I'm laughing at you right now!!  NonZealot | 06/09/06
Win98 still has many valid uses...  msolgeek | 06/12/06
even *nix dont fix older versions  zzz1234567890 | 06/09/06
With Unix, you can typically upgrade with no compatibility problems to a  DonnieBoy | 06/09/06
Go to developing countries, Win 95/98/ME are stil in wide use.  DonnieBoy | 06/09/06
Not even close  bitfuzzy | 06/12/06
So, we paid BILLIONS for an OS that never was secure and never will be  DonnieBoy | 06/09/06
I agree  Michael Kelly | 06/09/06
i doubt  richvball44 | 06/10/06
*WE*??? You paid Billions?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/09/06
Some common sense  voska | 06/09/06
I agree!  DragonBRockin | 06/09/06
To All OS users, Windows or Linux...  John Zern | 06/09/06
And yet...  rock06r | 06/12/06
People lined up for ME?  voska | 06/12/06
and I thought OEM was to be sold with new machines only.  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
No really pirated  voska | 06/12/06
$114 dollars isn't that reasonable  voska | 06/12/06
Oh.. I don't know...  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
Market Forces  JulesLt | 06/12/06
WHO ?  pkrdk | 06/12/06
Message has been deleted.  eatme | 06/09/06
Raise your hand  Shelendrea | 06/09/06
(NT) who is "SP?"  Jack-Booted EULA | 06/09/06
Southern Pride.  Linux Advocate | 06/09/06
I'm not sure.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 06/10/06
ZDNet knows  LoCal | 06/11/06
I am requesting your post  Linux Advocate | 06/09/06
Dude  Shelendrea | 06/09/06
WTF?  Dave P. | 06/09/06
I haven't seen the others yet...  Linux Advocate | 06/09/06
Please request also that ZDNet  LoCal | 06/11/06
Inappropriate  phburks | 06/09/06
Southern Pride  Castanet | 06/13/06
There are too many people using Win98 with no way to upgrade, MS will have  DonnieBoy | 06/09/06
Time to upgrade the hardware.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/09/06
Get a reality check  buran | 06/10/06
Reality Check bounced.  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
S'funny ....  fredsmith6 | 06/10/06
Yea, and they used to charge $129 a pop  mustangj36@... | 06/12/06
Yeah, Same old story.  John Zern | 06/09/06
Let's see.... what is Windows 98?  rock06r | 06/10/06
You'd be surprised  Necrolin | 06/10/06
win 98  born4fun@... | 06/11/06
Funny, I've paid to have my toast fix and it's from the 50s  voska | 06/12/06
Millions?  A.Sinic | 06/12/06
98  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
No there isn't DB. There are more people running various linuxes.  osreinstall | 06/13/06
Hey, maybe create a version of Linux with Wine tuned to run Win98 programs.  DonnieBoy | 06/09/06
Win4Lin  Yagotta B. Kidding | 06/09/06
Go for it, we need a good laugh.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/09/06
And that laugh won't be *with* you  Sabz5150 | 06/09/06
Wine really had it together with Win98 compatibility  Hugh Jass | 06/10/06
I recommend users of older PCs upgrade...  HypnoToad | 06/09/06
ALL HAIL THE HYPNO TOAD  cuberantcamper | 06/10/06
It's time for a REAL class action lawsuit against MICROSUCKS  realitycheck101 | 06/09/06
Can you add George Bush to that class action Law Suit?.................  Can you hear me | 06/09/06
I'd rather do something usefull...  Dave P. | 06/09/06
yup because repubs are famous for being progressive....  JoeMama_z | 06/09/06
Christian Prayer  John Zern | 06/09/06
What about Allah?  cuberantcamper | 06/10/06
Seattle Schools  Dave P. | 06/10/06
Seperation  richhayes | 06/11/06
Blinkered view  A.Sinic | 06/12/06
Show this in the constitution  CMKRNL | 06/12/06
Misleading  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 06/10/06
un-Christian?  cuberantcamper | 06/10/06
Mormon  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 06/10/06
Prayer  richhayes | 06/11/06
This is too easy...  Dave P. | 06/10/06
The odd thing about baning pray in schools  voska | 06/12/06
But for those who follow a religion  Boot_Agnostic | 06/12/06
There is no such clause in the Constitution  CMKRNL | 06/12/06
Yep  Boot_Agnostic | 06/12/06
Funny it seems to be in order....  JoeMama_z | 06/12/06
here goes nothing.....  JoeMama_z | 06/12/06
Hey Fella  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
Lol best cliche anti MS post of the day  jimk_z | 06/09/06
Let's count the fallacies in this post...  rock06r | 06/10/06
speaking of fallacies..  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
#3....  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
Breathe!  bdthompson | 06/12/06
Only FOOLS would still be running W-98 with all the ......  Can you hear me | 06/09/06
http://www.ubuntu.com/  Atsarr | 06/10/06
It's totally FREE  cuberantcamper | 06/11/06
How to patch Win98  mobrien_12@... | 06/09/06
you're an idiot....  JoeMama_z | 06/09/06
Gotta love a post...  John Zern | 06/09/06
How is that going to help?  NobodyHome | 06/10/06
The bug is in the Explorer part of the code  WiredGuy | 06/12/06
...well that's the MS line but..  Langalibalene | 06/12/06
Firewall  neutro511@... | 06/09/06
Spare a thought and some spare change, Microsoft  Dan the Dog | 06/10/06
Quit your Whining and Upgrade  jpr75_z | 06/10/06
Not everybody can  Dan the Dog | 06/10/06
No, none is perfect...  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
Is it still in a supported life cycle  Boot_Agnostic | 06/10/06
Well are the life cycles getting shorter  Dan the Dog | 06/10/06
Firewalls are available for free anyway...  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
On the contrary..  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
A question of balance  voska | 06/12/06
Come on microsoft, you're smarter than this  zmud | 06/10/06
Decimated the software firewall makers???  rock06r | 06/12/06
I meant that they should buy one of the struggling firewall makers  zmud | 06/12/06
Could get a boring MAC computer  cuberantcamper | 06/10/06
So I've heard...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/10/06
1998 list of linux exploits....  rock06r | 06/12/06
Blah blah blah  Boot_Agnostic | 06/12/06
I know how we can all upgrade.....  Jay E Court | 06/10/06
unfortunately for memory/cpu and graphics performance  zmud | 06/10/06
hey, is microsoft gaving away new computers?  GDANIELSC8@... | 06/10/06
have you tried Damn Small Linux?  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
Yes I tried DSL( Damn small linux) , gentoo, and debian  zmud | 06/10/06
What?!?!?  linux_for_me | 06/11/06
9.5!  zmud | 06/12/06
Maybe a billion PC users.?  ralphdb@... | 06/10/06
Check out the new nick...heh heh...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/10/06
Message has been deleted.  AlisaK2000@... | 06/10/06
Poor = stubborn cheap idiot?  Dan the Dog | 06/10/06
Not that I need it, but...  mdsmedia | 06/10/06
You have your nerve...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/10/06
Say WHAT??!?!?!  Wolfie2K3 | 06/12/06
Only a matter of time...  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 06/10/06
Astounding ....  fredsmith6 | 06/10/06
Yeah, Bill and friends got a lot of mileage...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/10/06
Mmmm ....  fredsmith6 | 06/11/06
Ummm...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/11/06
The latter...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/11/06
Here you go mouthy...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/11/06
Gosh 'n' wow  fredsmith6 | 06/11/06
Oh my lord!...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/11/06
Mac and Linux are for real!  cuberantcamper | 06/11/06
Greed...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/11/06
Message has been deleted.  myfevertoy | 10/22/06
Windows XP Service Pack 1 is so insecure  Anthony S. | 06/10/06
No fix for a 1965 Ford Falcon master cylinder when it wears out.  osreinstall | 06/11/06
Go Bill's Auto Parts  cuberantcamper | 06/11/06
Bill never sold software. He licensed it all.  osreinstall | 06/11/06
One problem, you own the software  voska | 06/12/06
Nice try...  osreinstall | 06/12/06
port 139  Scott W | 06/11/06
I could never figure that out myself...  osreinstall | 06/11/06
It sells firewall software.  cuberantcamper | 06/11/06
File sharing sans TCP/IP  johnay | 06/12/06
MICROSUCKS distributed the defective O/S now they should fix it  realitycheck101 | 06/11/06
Fix it  richhayes | 06/12/06
Maybe  BlackDiamond | 06/12/06
So, Win98 and ME were defective then...  BitTwiddler | 06/12/06
COME ONM PEOPLE............WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM.......  ITJames5000 | 06/12/06
When it is fast enough and does all that you want/need  Laff | 06/12/06
The thing is, it is needed or there would not be this discussion.  osreinstall | 06/12/06
The Problem Is  BlackDiamond | 06/12/06
Even though I HATE Microslop...  Linux_Fanboy | 06/12/06
Why do you do this?  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
This can never happen with XP  WiredGuy | 06/12/06
What a load of salesmanshi*  bony tryan | 06/12/06
Nothing survives 'FDISK' !!!  thomj@... | 06/12/06
Lindows = Linspire now...  Raymond Danner | 06/12/06
How about DOS 6.2 and Lotus and Word Perfect  weissa@... | 06/13/06
they said win98 would fix all the problems. then they said winME would fix  wessonjoe | 06/12/06
Good. I don't see Apple patching OS 8.5 and 9 anymore  PB_z | 06/12/06
8 years is long enough  Leria | 06/12/06
All applications, all?  Boot_Agnostic | 06/14/06
No fix for critical hole  hab1945@... | 06/12/06
the facts of life.  Castanet | 06/13/06
Upgrading to XP is not an option for everyone...  Carrion | 06/13/06
Or if it uses at least PC-133 memory  jackie40d@... | 06/13/06
Vista support ending  jdumas | 06/13/06
Meet the new evil empire....  ghastly | 06/13/06
The life cycle of their systems is on their website  Boot_Agnostic | 06/13/06
Support  Dumber_z | 06/13/06
win98 is gone I'm on Linux now.  makerofbeating | 06/13/06
Microsoft says upgrade the OS..of course they do  ksbubbs@... | 06/14/06
Well, that's the solution.  Boot_Agnostic | 06/15/06
**Quite** Typical of Microsoft  Senlac_Hill | 06/15/06
And those coders at M$ coding all this  Boot_Agnostic | 06/16/06

What do you think?

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