Peter Coffees comments on the end of life of Windows 98 highlight the fact that a lot of older instrumentation was designed to work with specific operating systems [“Win98 Train Wreck Is Finally Here” or “Windows 98 Is (Still) Dead,” Aug. 21].
We have an instrument that works only with Windows 95 and Windows 98. Despite efforts by our IT department to try and make it work with Windows 2000 and XP, it is just not compatible with the newer Windows versions.
The manufacturer [of this instrument] told us years ago that it had no intention of upgrading the product to work with newer operating systems because it was trying to sell newer models.
Instruments like the one Im referring to are still workhorses for industry and wont be put out to pasture until they are no longer repairable. They cost a lot more than a PC.
Mike Ernest
Columbia, Md.