Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

It depends on your definition of 'vintage'. The broad term, does not refer to any specific culture or age:

"Vintage design refers to an item of another era that holds important and recognizable value. This style can be applied to interior design, decor and other areas." [1]

Note that 'holds important and recognizable value' is subjective and broad (as is 'other areas'). In the context of retro computing, you can easily make an argument for such, as I could for an SGI Indy and SGI Octane and SGI Tezro (or, practically any SGI, though I never owned a Tezro nor an Origin series. Electricity bill was high enough with an Octane).

How about this rule of thumb: if you can't securely use it online, it is vintage. Latest SGI IRIX version? Vintage. Any PalmOS devices? Vintage. This device is put online with what, WEP? I wouldn't hang such on my internet connection directly, that's for sure. Its OK if you want to run Windows XP or Windows 2000 or Amiga OS. Just don't put the damn thing online on the internet, connecting to remote devices with ancient TCP/IP stacks, outdated browsers (even embedded!).

FTA: "Unfortunately however PQA files can no longer use the Internet as Palm’s proxy under “proxy.palm.net” is no longer in service." The irony here is that I consider that a Good Thing (tm).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage_(design)




I think once you go past a certain age your attack surface shrinks again, leaving you vulnerable only to targeted attacks. I'd still think twice about trying to browse the web on XP, but on, say, Mac System 9? Or Palm through some kind of gateway that speaks modern TLS?


> How about this rule of thumb: if you can't securely use it online, it is vintage.

My Android device from 4 years ago with no longer a valid root for Let's Encrypt certificates? Vintage.


Yup, vintage, though you could flash pmOS or LOS or something on it, the SoC firmware is still out of date. There's a lot of insecure Android devices out there. iOS, too, but its at least more obvious in that space.



I meant LineageOS with LOS, not LuneOS. Not familiar with LuneOS.


Retrozilla will work well under W2K/XP or even Win9x. Just don't use wireless, use Ethernet.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: