Subj : Re: Old computer
To   : poindexter FORTRAN
From : nblade
Date : Fri Jun 24 2022 16:50:58

Activation is one of those odd things. I know for several of the MS products you can still use some sort 800 number, althought, they don't like to tell you that. 

Personally, I still remember when some things like Autocad, had hardware dongles that you would have to attach to your LPT port or somethings to use it. Of course there were software hacks that would defeat them that even legal owners would use because the hardware dongles were a pain in the ass. 

I do agree that not being able to install old software becuase of registration system is bad. I guess that's why I do tend to use more opensource software than not. Or just use software that doesn't require some soft of complex registration. 

For transparancy, I do use Linux as my daily driver. However, I'm a firm believer that you can use whatever works for you. Linux works for me, but it might not work for you. That said for many old computers, it is worth a try to find a Linux version to run on them. That's how I ended up on Linux. I had an old computer I put it on, next to my newer machine that ran windows.I found that after a while I just kept using the Linux machine. 

.... Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.

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