Keeping a retro computer in good shape can become a nightmare without the right parts or tools. But at the same time, some companies simply cannot retire their legacy terminals, due to the need to maintain backward compatibility with very specific applications or interfaces. That is why a company called Nixsys offers new Windows 98 computers, guaranteeing access to older technologies such as ISA slots and parallel LPT ports.
In June 2017, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth made an unexpected appearance in the media due to its use of Windows XP. With the retirement of the Boeing 747 during the pandemic, we learned that updates for its databases were done with floppy disks, and I think nobody has forgotten the nuclear silos and their eight-inch disks.
What does this information suggest? That the need for legacy support hasn't gone anywhere. Even an old language like COBOL remains very relevant in the financial world. Transition processes are painful for many companies, especially when it comes to acquiring new equipment and retraining staff, but the California-based company Nixsys offers an alternative: buying new computers with Windows 98 for an average of $1,000.
The $1,000 retro computers with Windows 98
The folks at Linus Tech Tips received one of these units for their review, and the first detail that definitely catches our attention is the sticker of Windows 98 Second Edition... new. Microsoft ended extended support for that operating system in 2006, and as far as I know also stopped selling licenses. The most reasonable possibility is that Nixsys got access to a significant quantity of OEM boxes with 'new old stock' licenses, but it would be great if the company could confirm or deny this.
Studying its components, we find other very interesting aspects. Personally, at the top of the list is the new motherboard, with AGP slots, standard PCI, and ISA. The presence of ISA slots is undoubtedly the most valuable thing about this configuration, simply because many older interfaces with dedicated controllers need that connection. At the same time, ISA hardware gets along (much) better with operating systems like MS-DOS. The motherboard also has PS/2 connectors, serial (COM) and parallel (LPT) ports, but uses IDE (PATA) for storage, so Nixsys decided to convert the optical drive and SATA SSD to IDE.
Where does this motherboard come from? The answer is obvious: China. Any AliExpress explorer knows that manufacturers from that country will do anything as long as the order is big enough. Right now, similar motherboards with support for socket 478 (Pentium 4 and the rest of its family) cost about 170 euros if we include shipping. A high price, but if we consider its applications, the whole system for $1,000 is not crazy.
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