I think the NOS of 486 CPUs is depleted.
It’s been beat to death.

Apart from all the previously mentioned reasons (scarcity, health, age, responsibilities, changing interests...), LLMs have replaced a good chunk of human interaction. Discord is more prevalent than before, too.

I appreciate the post on this topic. I was reflecting on this not too long ago. I don't think I'm that old (turning 41 in November), but I think I've pretty much got all the hardware I wanted to really play with; of course there are some relics that would be a nice for like 30 mins then boring after that. I get my hit of retro hardware on YouTube from creators like BuB, Tech Tangents, Adrian's Digital Basement and many others.

Having said that, I constantly keep telling myself I should dust off my collection, but then I think- what for? What game could I possibly play that I haven't played thousands of times? What hardware combo haven't I tried before that would be interesting/fun? Most of the time I can't find the reasons to. When I get the itch to play an old game, I fire up DOSBox-X with a CRT shader and call it a day.

I have no clouds and I must yell.

tauro wrote on 2026-07-21, 22:24:

Apart from all the previously mentioned reasons (scarcity, health, age, responsibilities, changing interests...), LLMs have replaced a good chunk of human interaction. Discord is more prevalent than before, too.

I wonder if LLMs are a factor, or if some of our posters have gravitated to other things like Discord

I actually looked at some of the regular long term high post count vogons contributors who seem to have stopped in the last 3 or so years, it doesn't seem like there is any discernible pattern; no final post just ordinary interaction then no more, maybe some slowing down prior. I guess a proper analysis might reveal a statistical pattern (and seem a bit creepy!).

Of course you can't ask why long term posters stopped posting because they're not here (and they dont need to say), but its kinda interesting and a bit of a shame that some went

bregolin wrote on 2026-07-22, 01:16:

When I get the itch to play an old game, I fire up DOSBox-X with a CRT shader and call it a day.

That's it for me - over the years i have used more patch/gog/dosbox etc and found pretty much everything works ok as far as playing a game or using an application. I also don't worry about FPS or optimising performance and so on, i'm ok with non optimal if the game plays ok

bregolin wrote on 2026-07-22, 01:16:

I appreciate the post on this topic. I was reflecting on this not too long ago. I don't think I'm that old (turning 41 in November), but I think I've pretty much got all the hardware I wanted to really play with; of course there are some relics that would be a nice for like 30 mins then boring after that. I get my hit of retro hardware on YouTube from creators like BuB, Tech Tangents, Adrian's Digital Basement and many others.

Having said that, I constantly keep telling myself I should dust off my collection, but then I think- what for? What game could I possibly play that I haven't played thousands of times? What hardware combo haven't I tried before that would be interesting/fun? Most of the time I can't find the reasons to. When I get the itch to play an old game, I fire up DOSBox-X with a CRT shader and call it a day.

I have no clouds and I must yell.

I do run emulators, too. I love them just about as much as real hardware.
It's fun to play Game Boy games on my 4,77 MHz IBM PC compatible!
Or NES/GB games on Windows 3.1 on a Pentium MMX!
Playing MSX games on a 386 PC is fun, too! 😀

Edit: Old PC technology comes in many forms and shapes.
It's fun to repurpose a thin client or old internet boxe for running DOS and a DOS-based web server (SIOUX, WebServ etc).

Example:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbx_IujL07M

Or use it for running an APRS station in the ham shack.
Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYqqjOut2Co
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BLD1qIZQos

There's so much DOS and Windows 3.1 software that's still useful to a hobby.

I'm on here less and less. Just busier in general. Two kids and another due in a few months.
Life just doesn't leave me much time for hobbies of any kind.

gerry wrote on 2026-07-22, 15:35:

I actually looked at some of the regular long term high post count vogons contributors who seem to have stopped in the last 3 or so years, it doesn't seem like there is any discernible pattern; no final post just ordinary interaction then no more, maybe some slowing down prior. I guess a proper analysis might reveal a statistical pattern (and seem a bit creepy!).

Of course you can't ask why long term posters stopped posting because they're not here (and they dont need to say), but its kinda interesting and a bit of a shame that some went

I am a little worried about where debs3759 got to and don't wanna seem to be creeping on her, anyone seen her "around" on other sites ? I know she was over at CPU world forums also. Last I heard she was having health and computer problems at the same time. Don't want to disturb her from an elective time out or something, just that I noticed and am too far removed to do anything.

NGL our hobby of retro gear has gotten obnoxiously expensive the last few years, some of that is the economy and the postal system getting jacked up pricing and some of it is sellers finally deciding to sell everything "Retro" at inflated prices and not moving on listing because "I know what I've got" mentality. (The tech shortages may also be impacting older hardware due to people moving to Retro for their gaming needs)

Also and more importantly the older hardware is aging like and old Ford out in the back paddock and finding the good stuff is getting harder and more expensive.

Also now we have a War throwing the Oil economy into disarray so postal costs will rise yet again due to that, postal costs are already higher than the item you want to buy in many cases. (I usually need to order internationally)

costs and rarity might be a factor too, but for the forum it might just be that newer people who might have been joining are going elsewhere while some long term contributors are either drifting away to other places or just winding up as far as posting goes

Jo22 wrote on 2026-07-22, 16:43:

I do run emulators, too. I love them just about as much as real hardware. It's fun to play Game Boy games on my 4,77 MHz IBM PC […]
Show full quote

I do run emulators, too. I love them just about as much as real hardware.
It's fun to play Game Boy games on my 4,77 MHz IBM PC compatible!
Or NES/GB games on Windows 3.1 on a Pentium MMX!
Playing MSX games on a 386 PC is fun, too! 😀

i like emulators, vms, etc. I am most fond of the late 90'sto late 2000's scene and keep a win xp system specifically for all the emulators of that era - consoles, 8 and 16 bit home computers, handhelds. Most of those would still work on a newer system and i'm aware of various all-in-one emulation software now that is more common to use. I don't specifically look to run emulators on the oldest hardware that can run them though that can be fun

BitWrangler wrote on 2026-07-22, 22:39:

gerry wrote on 2026-07-22, 15:35:

I actually looked at some of the regular long term high post count vogons contributors who seem to have stopped in the last 3 or so years, it doesn't seem like there is any discernible pattern; no final post just ordinary interaction then no more, maybe some slowing down prior. I guess a proper analysis might reveal a statistical pattern (and seem a bit creepy!).

Of course you can't ask why long term posters stopped posting because they're not here (and they dont need to say), but its kinda interesting and a bit of a shame that some went

I am a little worried about where debs3759 got to and don't wanna seem to be creeping on her, anyone seen her "around" on other sites ? I know she was over at CPU world forums also. Last I heard she was having health and computer problems at the same time. Don't want to disturb her from an elective time out or something, just that I noticed and am too far removed to do anything.

Thandor contacted me on Discord. I'm not at all active any more because of a combination of age and chronic health issues. Thank you for your concern, and for noticing I haven't been around.

I'll be slowly listing hundreds of motherboards and graphics cards on feebay and/or Amibay as soon as I am able.

debs3759 wrote on Yesterday, 15:09:

BitWrangler wrote on 2026-07-22, 22:39:

gerry wrote on 2026-07-22, 15:35:

I actually looked at some of the regular long term high post count vogons contributors who seem to have stopped in the last 3 or so years, it doesn't seem like there is any discernible pattern; no final post just ordinary interaction then no more, maybe some slowing down prior. I guess a proper analysis might reveal a statistical pattern (and seem a bit creepy!).

Of course you can't ask why long term posters stopped posting because they're not here (and they dont need to say), but its kinda interesting and a bit of a shame that some went

I am a little worried about where debs3759 got to and don't wanna seem to be creeping on her, anyone seen her "around" on other sites ? I know she was over at CPU world forums also. Last I heard she was having health and computer problems at the same time. Don't want to disturb her from an elective time out or something, just that I noticed and am too far removed to do anything.

Thandor contacted me on Discord. I'm not at all active any more because of a combination of age and chronic health issues. Thank you for your concern, and for noticing I haven't been around.

I'll be slowly listing hundreds of motherboards and graphics cards on feebay and/or Amibay as soon as I am able.

Glad you are still "with us" even if you had to take your foot off the Vogons pedal. Yeah age and declining health, that monster with a baseball bat stalking us all, ouch. Hope you don't have too many rollercoaster rides with that and find a stable way to go forward. Sad to hear the toys have to go, but I hope you raise enough to keep you as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. So, sincerely wishing the best of luck with everything. Thanks for popping in to say hi.

I do not feel I, personally, have slowed down. In general there are fewer open topics these days on the forum than a few years ago.
One thing I have observed is that on VOGONS the average member age is higher than on a general purpose computing forum. Myself will celebrate 49 later this year and my hobby comes third after my family and my job. After 8 hours of work I come home and I play with my little girl first, than take care of the little things and, if time permits I go in my little retro corner to test/play/bench something. Most people with a family and a job will see that practically most of the time is dedicated to those 2 "main ares of interest". Time is the main limiting factor, for me at least.
Also I consider that I acquire most of the hardware I need for the rest of my life - "my time" is specific to the 1998-2008 period and there is only so much one can hoard. Now I need time to complete the projects I have on my mind.
I see that on VOGONS most users refer to the 90's as the good old times.

nd22 wrote on Today, 07:29:

I do not feel I, personally, have slowed down. In general there are fewer open topics these days on the forum than a few years a […]
Show full quote

I do not feel I, personally, have slowed down. In general there are fewer open topics these days on the forum than a few years ago.
One thing I have observed is that on VOGONS the average member age is higher than on a general purpose computing forum. Myself will celebrate 49 later this year and my hobby comes third after my family and my job. After 8 hours of work I come home and I play with my little girl first, than take care of the little things and, if time permits I go in my little retro corner to test/play/bench something. Most people with a family and a job will see that practically most of the time is dedicated to those 2 "main ares of interest". Time is the main limiting factor, for me at least.
Also I consider that I acquire most of the hardware I need for the rest of my life - "my time" is specific to the 1998-2008 period and there is only so much one can hoard. Now I need time to complete the projects I have on my mind.
I see that on VOGONS most users refer to the 90's as the good old times.

What really blows peoples minds is when they realise we are closer to 2050 than 1980 ...1980 was 46 1/2 years ago, it then puts into perspective just how old gear from the 1990s is and why the hobby is slowing down a bit.

And now there will be a few members who will go .. No cant be...till they check the date and see ..yes 46 years.

My activity has decreased significantly and it's a combination of:

i. New hardware at affordable prices is rare
ii. The kind of hardware I want to find and buy is much more limited now that I have a big pile of junk already
iii. The conversation is very cyclical, ie. half of the active topics are things that have already been discussed once every year or so
iv. The flood of exciting new DIY hardware projects seems to have died. There is nothing as exciting and accessible as building your own Snark Barker these days..
v. The conversation has moved on.. Back when I first joined it was mostly about i586/i686 stuff, with a lot of i386/i486 conversation still being had. These days I open VOGONS and people are discussing Prescotts and Windows XP as if they are obscure archaic technologies..
vi. The community has gotten a bit more toxic (and this may well be a me issue, related to (v)..)

appiah4 wrote on Today, 12:14:

My activity has decreased significantly and it's a combination of: […]
Show full quote

My activity has decreased significantly and it's a combination of:

i. New hardware at affordable prices is rare
ii. The kind of hardware I want to find and buy is much more limited now that I have a big pile of junk already
iii. The conversation is very cyclical, ie. half of the active topics are things that have already been discussed once every year or so
iv. The flood of exciting new DIY hardware projects seems to have died. There is nothing as exciting and accessible as building your own Snark Barker these days..
v. The conversation has moved on.. Back when I first joined it was mostly about i586/i686 stuff, with a lot of i386/i486 conversation still being had. These days I open VOGONS and people are discussing Prescotts and Windows XP as if they are obscure archaic technologies..
vi. The community has gotten a bit more toxic (and this may well be a me issue, related to (v)..)

Conversation moving on is related to my post above, Windows XP and the Pentium 4 are now as old as the 386/486 stuff was when you first joined Vogons. Win Xp is 25 years old and Pentium 4 26 years old so perhaps not quite as ancient as the 386/486 stuff but not that far off either another 10 years and they both will be.

They are also both far more accessible and cheaper than either the 386 or 486 gear both of which fetch a premium in working condition and require either prior knowledge to work with or significant learning time to learn the eccentricities of the hardware and DOS.

gaffa2002 wrote on 2026-07-20, 16:52:

UCyborg wrote on 2026-07-19, 06:36:

Maybe you're giving people too much credit or you were lucky and encountered less idiocracy. And it goes from believing newer is always better to not using the damn sidewalk.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I do agree that people in general are getting much more obnoxious and dumb each day. Just pointed out that I think this isn't just human nature but something caused mostly by the system we are living in now. It's a complicated subject, but long story short is, if it in our nature to be jerks/annoying/corrupt/selfish, then why do people feel so miserable lately? Your complaints about people being insufferable is not an exception, most people are feeling the same way as you (myself included) so...does that mean we are all a bunch of jerks complaining about others being jerks?
My personal theory is that I'm sick of people because the only situations I'm interacting with other people nowadays are negative ones: Stupid posts on social networks, seeing people in obnoxious ads, in annoying videos trying to ape one another or celebrities with their perfect lives being shoved up my face, etc. Even personal interactions are mostly due to some business need or out of interest (work related, some salesmen trying to push some product or beggars asking for money). We kind of dehumanized each other similar to the phenomenon of when we drive cars (people stops being people and become annoying obstacles in your way 🤣). Now our smartphones and PCs are like our cars for driving the internet.

You're right and I wonder if that bubble will pop at some point or will it just keep getting worse with the way the system is.

Trashbytes wrote on Today, 12:20:

Conversation moving on is related to my post above, Windows XP and the Pentium 4 are now as old as the 386/486 stuff was when you first joined Vogons. Win Xp is 25 years old and Pentium 4 26 years old so perhaps not quite as ancient as the 386/486 stuff but not that far off either another 10 years and they both will be.

That reminds me of one comment I read on the internet a while ago:
The launch date of the first Sony PlayStation is closer to the date of the first moon landing than it is to the present day.
🥲

Jo22 wrote on Today, 19:55:

That reminds me of one comment I read on the internet a while ago:
The launch date of the first Sony PlayStation is closer to the date of the first moon landing than it is to the present day.
🥲

Some more gems

Windows XP is older today than the 8086 was at its release.
The (western) Pokemon Red/Blue are older now than Pong was at the time of their release.
The Macarena (in the US) is older than the Beatles at its release.
Macs has have a second mouse button longer than the period when they didn't.
The Happy Mac startup icon has been gone longer than it existed.
Children born today will live to see the day when The Oregon Trail game's introduction will be closer to the game's setting than present day.