Can the 30-Year-Old IBM 5150 Handle Today's Computing Tasks?

View this newsletter online | Newsletter Services | More Newsletters » Follow @geektech on Twitter August 20, 2011 PCWorld.com Talk Nerdy to Me

Few people these days have the patience to use a 5-year-old phone, let alone a 30-year-old desktop computer. Can you imagine editing photos, tweeting, and playing games on a machine with a 4.77 MHz processor, 640KB of RAM, a cassette drive, and a monochrome monitor? It sounds ridiculous. In fact, it is ridiculous. But it's so ridiculous it just might work, as you'll find out by reading Benj Edwards's week-long account of using an IBM 5150 machine to perform the everyday computing tasks of 2011. --Senior Editor Tim Moynihan Top Story Can You Do Real Work With the 30-Year-Old IBM 5150? Our intrepid reporter spends a week trying to write, browse the Web, edit photos, and even (shudder) tweet on IBM's first PC. Top Tweets From @PCWPluggedIn Bernie Madoff's pants sold as iPad covers Presumably, after someone sued them off him. Amazon promises to improve redundancy after Dublin outage We hear they repeated the announcement five times. U.S. agency releases cyber-education plan Initiative calls for robots to receive better schooling than most humans do. Follow us every day on Twitter: @PCWPluggedIn Spotlight on Geek Tech Scientists to Redirect Asteroid, Inadvertently Remind Us of Disaster Flicks Life imitates art as the European Space Agency draws up plans to redirect an asteroid by colliding a spacecraft into it. Browse this week's Geek Tech. Downloads of the Week Favorite Free Windows 7 Themepacks A fresh new look can brighten your perspective...especially when it's on the Windows 7 desktop you stare at day and night. Sweet tooth or salt craving? Nature or pets? Sci-fi or fantasy? Check out this free buffet to satisfy your appetite for pretty pictures. Fun & Games 21 Great Free Games You Can Play in Your Browser From massively multiplayer online games to first-person shooters, you can play practically any type of game for free--all it takes is your browser of choice. Top 16 PC Game Mods "Top 16 PC Game Mods" You're not getting the real PC gaming experience unless you're playing with modifications. Read on for our favorite PC game mods of all time. Places for Fun Stuff on PCWorld.com Fun and Games Downloads Shop for Video Games and Hardware PC World videos How to Build a Home Entertainment Network Learn to use your computer network as a next-generation entertainment hub. Get started. Advertisement Free Trial of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro Download Free 30-Day trial of full version, includes all security features of the regular product. Most Popular Searches Android Freeware Windows 8 Tablet Google Product Reviews Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2011 93 Pros Good interface; Strong malware detection Cons Scan speeds lag behind top performers Read Complete Review » Top 10 Paid Antivirus Programs for 2011 » Top 5 Paid Antivirus for 2011 » Nikon Coolpix S9100 84 Pros Very good macro capabilities; 18X-optical-zoom lens; Large array of useful and creative scene modes; In-camera editing features improve low-light shots; Superior image quality; Extremely easy to use; Excellent performance for the price; Light and slim for such a long-zoom camera Cons No RAW shooting mode; No manual controls Read Complete Review » Top 10 Compact Point-and-Shoot Cameras » Point-and-Shoot Cameras With the Best Image Quality » Top 10 Pocket Megazooms » Barnes and Noble Nook Color Reader's Tablet 87 Pros Intuitive interface that's optimized for reading; Display produces good colors and minimal glare Cons Requires proprietary microUSB charger; App store not coming until 2011 Read Complete Review » Top E-Readers » Get Big Savings When you Shop at PCWorld.com Shop online at PCWorld.com, where you can compare product information, read trusted reviews, and find the best prices on consumer electronics. ProBook 4530s 15.6" Silver Notebook Price: $459.99 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review Portege R835-P56X 13.3" Black Notebook Price: $779.99 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review Browse more Best Prices on Laptops, Notebook Accessories, Wireless Networking, Desktops Top News on PCWorld.com Firefox 7 Beta Puts Priority on Performance With Firefox 7, Mozilla aims to improve the browser's performance without taxing your PC. Share: After WebOS, Who's Next To Fall? Assessing the mobile OS field and the players' chances of thriving -- or surviving -- another year. Share: Top Reviews on PCWorld.com BlackBerry Bold 9900 First Look The pricey BlackBerry Bold 9900 has a high quality feel and NFC support. Share: 8 Android Apps to Protect Your Phone Data Keeping your personal information safe has never been easier, thanks to these great Android apps. Share: Sony Video Binoculars Hands-On: DEV-5 and DEV-3 Are Straight Out of 'Star Wars' These digital binoculars record 1080p video, 3D footage, and 7-megapixel stills--and using them makes you feel like Luke Skywalker. Share: Watch Online Videos When Offline, Thanks to RealDownloader RealDownloader saves Web videos to your desktop with one click of the mouse. Share: Downloads: Editor's Collection Favorite Free Windows 7 ThemepacksA fresh new look can brighten your perspective...especially when it's on the Windows 7 desktop you stare at day and night. Sweet tooth or salt craving? Nature or pets? Sci-fi or fantasy? Check out this free buffet to satisfy your appetite for pretty pictures. 3D Desktop   67983 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Themes This free Windows 7 theme includes dozens of gorgeous 3D images. Chocolate Heart   16737 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Themes Load up this free Windows 7 theme and enjoy a luscious chocolate heart on your desktop. Peace on Earth   19740 Downloads  |  Free  |  Filed Under Themes This free Windows 7 theme contains a beautiful image of Earth seen from space. See (7) more Favorite Free Windows 7 Themepacks » Browse DownloadsAntivirus & Security • Design & Multimedia • Utilities • Games • Chat, Email, & the Web • Sponsored Downloads Simnet Registry Repair 2011A powerful tool for Windows that allows you to scan and repair registry problems easily and safely. Using Simnet Registry Repair regularly makes it easy to keep your computer fast, stable and maintain maximum performance. Key Benefits: Scans multiple registry sections at the same time with Advanced Parallel Scan technology. Removes corrupt or incorrect registry entries. Prevents windows system freezes and crashes. Improves system performance and reduces errors. (Compatibility: Windows XP,Windows Vista,Windows 7) Use discount code SIMN-L7GG to get 60% off! Extra Screen Capture ProAn easy to use, powerful and lightweight screen recording program. 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