I have an old ThinkPad T42 coming my way. I plan to use it alongside my daily driver mainly for reading, emacs, and retro gaming. I will be dual booting a lightweight flavour of Linux (TBD) and Windows 98 on it.

However, I am a bit concerned about its ability to handle today’s internet, with all of its heavy websites.

I would love to hear from those of you who are still using old ThinkPads (or other vintage laptops) in 2024. How do you make it work? Do you use lightweight browsers, specific configurations, or lightweight websites to get around the limitations of older hardware?

Are there any specific tips or tricks you can share for getting the most out of an old ThinkPad on the modern web?

Looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

  • @[email protected]
    4•4 months ago

    I have a thinkpad t42 and i use it for playing old games with windows xp.

    For reading, writing, retro gaming (i even use epsxe on it) it’s ok. Forget anything else unless you’re a masochist.

    and imho it’s too new for windows 98, it has been released a decade after that

    if you want to browse internet, you’re forced to use modern hardware with modern operating systems. I don’t think that there’s a single website that still works with ie 5 + win98. Even malware won’t even work anymore.

    • @AusatKeyboardPremiOP
      2•4 months ago

      Oh I won’t even bother connecting to the web with Windows 98.

      When I asked the question I assumed a Linux based OS like Antix or Bunsen.

    • Dr. WeskerEnglish
      2•4 months ago

      and imho it’s too new for windows 98, it has been released a decade after that

      This is going to be the biggest problem, drivers and hardware compatibility. It’d be a much better experience with XP instead.

      I have a Thinkpad A31p from 2002. Even just that gap makes getting Windows 98 installed properly a chore.