Old computers, new tasks

Classic computers can remain relevant in today’s world thanks to modern hardware and software, as David Crookes discovers

An intriguing photograph recently appeared in my Facebook feed, featuring an employee at a US doughnut shop using one of two Commodore 64s to process orders. The post featured the ageing computers positioned side by side in Hilligoss Bakery in Brownsburg, Indiana, and it garnered more than 1,300 comments, many of which echoed the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, doughnut fix it!” Upon closer examination, it became evident that the computers were running a program written in BASIC, a relatively primitive programming language by today’s standards. But, as one poster asked, “how much computing power do you really need to sell doughnuts?” The vast comments thread also highlighted the continued use of Commodore 64s in various other contemporary settings. There are reportedly instances of Commodore 64s being used in…

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PC Pro (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025

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