[LUG]what's the oldest machine you've still got doing a job?

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Subject: [LUG]what's the oldest machine you've still got doing a job?

From: Tim Dobson <lists@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:38:07 +0100

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Subject: what's the oldest machine you've still got doing a job?

Mine is a Panasonic Toughbook from 2008. It shipped with XP. It now runs [distro] with Firefox in kiosk mode and its entire purpose in life is my three year old.

I'm writing him a little typing and spelling app. A word comes up as an outline, he presses the letters in order, and each correct one fills in solid. He can already find individual letters on a keyboard, which surprised me more than it probably should have.

The Toughbook is the right machine for this because you can drop it, sit on it, or pour juice into it and it carries on. It also weighs about as much as he does, which limits how far it travels.

Anyway, it got me wondering. What's the oldest machine you've still got doing an actual job, and what's kept it there? Not the one in the loft you feel guilty about. Something with a purpose.

P.s. sounded like questions were wanted - here we are :)

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