Hi,
I am a little confused as to why the use of 9x would be a topic of debate here. However, it seems there is a need to clarify since it keeps coming up.
There are many good reasons to use any given OS, including 9x, depending on the circumstances. In some cases it is the best tool for the job. In others, it is not. In my case, there are many good reasons for using it on some of my boxes, but one of the biggest is that it is the right tool for the job given particular hardware and software. A lot of older hardware and software does not play well with newer OS's. I own and play a lot of older computer games (what got me interested in software engineering in the first place), which almost always work better on the machines for which they were designed (and yes, that is considering emulators). The assumption that newer is always better is flawed. It is a matter of context, i.e., what tools is best given a particular situation.
In terms of software development, I think supporting users still using 9x is the correct approach given that it is most often quite technically feasible, giving me yet another reason to have my 9x machines available.
I use a number of OS's, but 98SE has always been one of my favorite versions of Windows (along with NT4), as I am quite aware of the design flaws in the newer versions; they merely trade one set of problems for another (many being intentional design choices that I consider deeply flawed). Therefore, I don't subscribe to the concept that they are superior, and respect anyone who decides to stay with their current system rather than shelling out a bunch of money for a new one.
The list of reasons goes on and on, but frankly the current and most productive topic here is getting an antivirus to work on 9x. Since they have made it clear that Avast is determined to drop support, and AVG already has, I would suggest that the next step be continuing the suggestions on alternatives.
Hi yaslaw, Vladimyr, etc,
Thank you for the suggestions, I will try out Rising Antivirus Free and ubuntu.
win98user