Commodore 64

[Mugwump]

A Commodore 64 has helped run an auto shop for 25 years





Apple?s Phil Schiller thinks it?s sad that people use 5-year-old computers. Well, Phil, there?s an auto repair shop in Poland that?s going to send you spiraling into a long depression.

Why? Because one of the computers they?re using on a day-to-day basis is a Commodore 64, and I don?t mean one of the slick nostalgic remakes. I?m talking about a classically beautiful beige C64 and its whirring, clunking 5.25″ floppy disk drive.

It?s been there for more than 25 years. See, not everyone finds the idea of using an old computer sad. Some, like the mechanics at this shop in Gdansk, treat their hardware like a trusted member of their team. Clearly this Commodore 64 has been pulling its weight for the past 25 years, or the shop would?ve found a different system to help them balance driveshafts.

As the old saying goes, if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it ? and this C64 seems determined to not break. According to the woman who originally posted this photo to a retro computing group, the computer has shrugged off plenty of abuse over the years. It?s been soaked by rain coming in a nearby open window and ?most likely shat on by birds.?

This Commodore has earned a spot alongside other long-serving workhorses? Workhorses like its distant Amiga cousin across the pond. For more than three decades, it?s been running the air conditioning systems for the Grand Rapids Public School District. Just for comparison?s sake, Phil, that?d be like them still using an original Mac. Take that, planned obsolescence!

http://www.geek.com/tech/a-commodore-64-has-helped-run-an-auto-shop-for-25-years-1672510/

[wallace]

The first computer I bought was an Apple II. I think it was 1980 or 81. Managed to do a lot with 64k... lol

It was really exciting when the big upgrade was 128k!

[waterboy]

Wow. Brings back memories. I spent many a long night with one of those learning machine language programming. No higher languages unless you call Basic a higher language. 

[wallace]

Wow. Brings back memories. I spent many a long night with one of those learning machine language programming. No higher languages unless you call Basic a higher language.

Yep, many a long night writing programs. I still occasionally use basic for an occasional math problem that needs iteration or a loop. I was cleaning out the shop the other day and found a box of dot matrix paper.

[BallAquatics]

Wow. Brings back memories. I spent many a long night with one of those learning machine language programming. No higher languages unless you call Basic a higher language.

Yep, many a long night writing programs. I still occasionally use basic for an occasional math problem that needs iteration or a loop.

Back then I was using MS Professional BASIC.  It was structured more like Pascal and would allow us to link in compiled assembly language code to speed up problem areas.  I think it was about 2000 when I stopped building stand alone programs.  These days it's all Python, PHP, and Java Script.

Dennis

[wsantia1]

Wow. Brings back memories. I spent many a long night with one of those learning machine language programming. No higher languages unless you call Basic a higher language.

Yep, many a long night writing programs. I still occasionally use basic for an occasional math problem that needs iteration or a loop.

Back then I was using MS Professional BASIC.  It was structured more like Pascal and would allow us to link in compiled assembly language code to speed up problem areas.  I think it was about 2000 when I stopped building stand alone programs.  These days it's all Python, PHP, and Java Script.

Dennis

That was my very fist computer. I too was using MS Pro BASIC. The good old days. lol

[BallAquatics]

That was my very fist computer. I too was using MS Pro BASIC. The good old days. lol

I didn't know you were a coder Willie?   

Dennis

[wsantia1]

That was my very fist computer. I too was using MS Pro BASIC. The good old days. lol

I didn't know you were a coder Willie?   

Dennis

That was a long time ago. I got off track and went into another field (logistics) but did quite well just the same.