“Go ahead and flame, but MS doesn’t compete, MS conspires for profit. IMHO “
You think you got problems, I still use my trusty 386sx25 running DOS6.22/WFW3.11 to code and burn microcontrollers (no, really, I do!). Try finding a replacement video card or RS232 card that’s ISA compatible! Fortunately I still have a few ISA bus development cards, and the discrete logic chips are still available, so if worse comes to worse I can build my own.
My Hat’s off to you Joe - sounds like you are in my age bracket - but a hell of a lot more resourceful!
I was programming NOVRAMs on my trusty old 486DX2-75 under DOS 6.22 today myself. I do use a new Atom system with a USB to serial converter for programming AVRs, however.
Obsolescence? I fear nothing.
After all, the system I was programming chips for today is my new built from scratch 8085:
http://saundby.com/electronics/8085/
The permanent version is much farther along than the site shows. The main circuit card is complete (tested the last bits, user I/O ports, today) and I’m about to cut metal on the enclosure. Time for a website update, I guess.