We upgrade our technology regularly—new iPhones, faster processors, graphics cards that can handle the latest games. Old hardware often gets resold or discarded. But many outdated devices remain surprisingly functional, even indispensable. Here are eight examples of vintage tech still holding its own.
Table of Contents
- Retro Computers Mining Bitcoin
- A Reliable Mechanic's Assistant Since the '80s
- Vintage Tech as a Bakery POS System
- Outdated Systems Managing Nuclear Arsenals
- Windows XP Powers Multi-Billion Dollar Aircraft Carrier
- Critical Airport Infrastructure Fails Due to Legacy Software
- Classic Hardware Used for Cutting-Edge Research
- Nostalgia Keeps Old Systems Alive
Retro Computers Mining Bitcoin
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Believe it or not, a Commodore 64 (from 1982!) has been used to mine Bitcoin. The results? A paltry 0.3 hashes per second—its 8-bit, 1 MHz processor is no match for modern hardware. An RTX 3080 GPU, for comparison, manages 100 million hashes per second. Mining a single Bitcoin on a C64 would take roughly a billion years. Similarly, a YouTuber used a 1989 Nintendo Game Boy (connected to the internet via a Raspberry Pi Pico) to mine Bitcoin at a rate of 0.8 hashes per second—still incredibly slow.
A Reliable Mechanic's Assistant Since the '80s
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In Gdansk, Poland, a Commodore 64C has assisted mechanics for over 30 years. It survived a flood and continues to flawlessly calculate drive shaft measurements. This 1 MHz CPU, with its 64 KB of memory, runs custom software created by the business owner, proving that sometimes older is better.
Vintage Tech as a Bakery POS System
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An Indiana bakery has used a Commodore 64 as its point-of-sale (POS) system since the 1980s. Affectionately nicknamed the "breadbox," this online cash register remains reliable, requiring only occasional keyboard label updates for new baked goods—a stark contrast to the frequent software updates of modern POS systems.
Outdated Systems Managing Nuclear Arsenals
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The United States relies on an IBM computer from 1976 (using 8-inch floppy disks!) to manage its nuclear arsenal. While modernization plans exist, the current system's reliability keeps it in place. Similarly, Germany's Brandenburg-class frigates, built in the 1990s, still use 8-inch floppy disks. Upgrades are underway, including floppy disk emulators, but nostalgia plays a role in maintaining the original system.
Windows XP Powers Multi-Billion Dollar Aircraft Carrier
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The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, costing billions, runs on Windows XP (support ended in 2014). While the Royal Navy assures security measures are in place, this reliance on outdated software is noteworthy. Britain's Vanguard-class submarines also use Windows XP for intercontinental missile management, remaining offline for security reasons until planned updates in 2028.
Critical Airport Infrastructure Fails Due to Legacy Software
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In 2015, Paris Orly Airport experienced a system failure when a computer running Windows 3.1 (from 1992) crashed, halting weather data provision to pilots and causing flight suspensions.
Classic Hardware Used for Cutting-Edge Research
Retro computers, such as the Commodore 64, find use in educational settings, teaching programming basics and simulating simple physics experiments. Their simplicity aids in understanding fundamental computing principles.
Nostalgia Keeps Old Systems Alive
Many organizations maintain legacy systems due to familiarity, avoiding costly upgrades and maintaining compatibility with existing workflows.
These examples highlight the surprising resilience of outdated technology, from gaming consoles mining cryptocurrency to aging computers guiding global defense systems. While upgrades are inevitable, these systems demonstrate the enduring value of simplicity and reliability.
