Archives for computing

Beyond Fixation: BOSS IT’s Obsessive Nurturing of Vintage Tech

Every so often, we stumble upon hidden treasures in the most unexpected places. Picture this: a computer humming away, emanating heat that warms the entire room, adorned with layers of cat and dog hair, a true relic of a bygone era. These aging machines, despite their antiquity, hold a special place in the hearts of their owners, who are steadfast in their determination to keep the nostalgic flame alive.

At BOSS IT, we’ve made it our mission to breathe new life into these time-worn tech wonders. These aging computers, with their clunky Mechnical PS2 keyboards and noisy hard drives, might seem like candidates for the local tip or even better a technology museum, but for their devoted owners, they are cherished artifacts worth preserving.

Virtual machines may be a modern alternative, offering a streamlined and efficient solution to computing needs. However, our clients yearn for more than just practicality. They crave the familiar hum of the old machines, the tactile feel of the keys, and the comforting warmth that only a vintage computer can provide. It’s not just about functionality; it’s about rekindling the emotions and experiences tied to a bygone era.

BOSS IT understands the sentimentality attached to these aging relics, being supporting and tinkering with them since 1990’s. We keep old PCs alive while offering the imaging their OS for a potential move to a new Machine inside a VM.

In a world where technology relentlessly pushes forward, BOSS IT stands as a beacon for those who wish to hold on to a piece of the past. Sometimes, the most precious gems are the ones covered in a layer of dust, waiting to be rediscovered and cherished once more.

Old School IT – The Floppy Disk Drill Hack

Picture this: You pull out a USB stick and, with a simple drill, you drill a hole in it, doubling its storage capacity. Well, not quite a USB stick, but back in the early days, we used a hack to do something similar with ordinary floppy disks.

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, floppy disks were the go-to method for storing digital data on personal computers. They came in various shapes and sizes, with the 3.5-inch floppy being the most popular choice, although the larger and thinner 5.25-inch disks were also in use. However, not all floppies were created equal.

5.25-inch Disk – The Big Black Disk we originally had: (Top Left in Picture)

-Single Density disks: 360 kilobytes (KB) of data

-Double Density disks : 720KB.

3.5-inch: Smaller, more solid disk (Bottom Left in Picture)

-Single Density disks: 720 kilobytes (KB) of data

-Double Density disks : 1.44 megabytes (MB)

The Ingenious Hack

So, what was this ingenious hack? It was as simple as using a drill to create an extra hole in the floppy disk’s casing. One of the most appealing aspects of this hack was the potential for cost savings. Official Double Density disks could be quite expensive, but with the drill hack you could save some cash.

Do you remember doing this?

Got any hacks for us to talk about? πŸ™‚