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NOTE: Some old file reference sheets are posted for comparison, research and historic value. It is interesting to note that really old Win 95 and Win 98 machines are still pretty handy to have around. Because the machines are good at robotics and running coded routines or other in-house software they are incredibly useful for scientific research and prototyping work.
Besides just running repetitive routines with lots of hard drive space they are also pretty dumb on networks and internet protocols - so actually they are essentially invisible. They do quite well at just running programs locally while being completely off of the network, like in clean rooms or assembly manufacturing lines. In fact the Hubble Space Telescope uses an Intel 486 computer with 2 Mb of memory (rated for space travel, of course).
These machines are generally hidden and out of sight and are unreachable by wire. The large cases of old machines also have large multi-voltage power supplies and large footprint mother boards. The cases can accommodate large in-house developed (make your own) pci and scsi interface breadboard cards for driving relays for pneumatic assemblies, servos and motors (in fact, dozens of them!) etc. with enough room for plenty of coded routines. The peripheral proto card blanks can be loaded with components, installed, tested, debugged and tweaked before full production.
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