Old Hardware Support

The cluster centers on debates about whether software should continue supporting older hardware, frustrations with dropping support for devices just a few years old, and accusations of planned obsolescence versus practical reasons like developer resources and security.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Hardware
3,474
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#6068
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
5
2009
12
2010
47
2011
58
2012
101
2013
81
2014
112
2015
105
2016
191
2017
173
2018
177
2019
207
2020
294
2021
379
2022
333
2023
445
2024
323
2025
410
2026
19

Keywords

RAM bugsbunnyno.jpg IT ASP.NET e.g RPG BlackBerry VT320 GPU HN hardware old supporting software older obsolete year old computers support os

Sample Comments

josephcsible • Jun 22, 2020 • View on HN

Why shouldn't old-but-capable hardware be able to run new software?

seiji • Sep 10, 2013 • View on HN

Stop advancing software because people want to run a seven year old hardware platform?

Naac • Mar 26, 2021 • View on HN

People aren't using it because it is no longer receiving updates. 2-3 year old hardware should not be considered "old", or obsolete.

Chris2048 • Jan 19, 2024 • View on HN

Developers have made it clear they are too busy supporting recent hardware, don't have time to support >15yrs old stuff.

Gibbon1 • Jan 16, 2016 • View on HN

To a certain extent, not supporting old hardware is saving users from themselves.

urbandw311er • Aug 17, 2025 • View on HN

I feel like it probably would work on older hardware, this very much smacks of forced obsolescence. Just guessing though.

guelo • Mar 15, 2018 • View on HN

Sorry, there's not enough revenue or developers to support 5-10 year old hardware. As a consumer you should have realized by now that when you buy these appliance computers they will only be supported for a few years. But nothing stops you from continuing to use your hardware with the old software.

precommunicator • Nov 28, 2024 • View on HN

If it's reused without much changes, why not make it available for older hardware?If it changed enough it won't matter.

wolvoleo • Dec 29, 2025 • View on HN

Yeah especially as its now a few years' old hardware too.

leowoo91 • Dec 21, 2017 • View on HN

Can't they just admit they retract support from old OS versions that works best with older hardware?