idea i wish i had time for: a little pcb that converts any old computer (8/16/32bit) into a network terminal UI to interface with any modern CRUD/database/API (i imagine a library of community developed software adapters that run on that pcb or on a server), so any old machine could be used for speedy data lookup/entry.

parts of this already exist of course, for all retro platforms there are serial- or bus-to-net/wifi adapters, there are BBS style gateways for the web, frogfind etc. but i don't know of a toolkit to make these talk to something like inventree over API

the most comfy way would be if the thing would bring its own ROM with the software that's needed, and which renders the (T)UI. for c64 this would be an expansion port cartridge, for amiga zz9000 could easily do this, on PCs it could be an ISA/PCI card, for classic Mac NuBus etc

the only downside is that the old machines use a lot more power than modern laptops/tablets, especially the CRTs, and they take more space. so you'd need to do a calculation of electricity cost and CO2 exhaust of keeping an old machine running vs the cost of trashing it and using a new machine

@andi right, that was the name, thanks! there's also Plato, not sure if related

i imagine the UI a bit like this, or like old filemaker https://www.visidata.org/

@mntmn I don’t think that even some years of a digital device consuming 5kWh/day can offset the amount of CO2 necessary to dispose and recycle an old device and allow production of a new one.

@mntmn well what are we really saying when talking about energy?
Only the plug current?
The petrol and water needed for designing , making and transportation of new hardware?
The minerals extraction? The wars related to this? The ecological damage?
Now there are less manufacturers than before, achieving competitive top edge technology. This is more closed source firmware, less social justice, more techno-billioners... This count as energy?
Truly it's a debate

@gentooza in terms of energy, lets only look at the running cost, and lets assume green energy. in terms of CO2, i think there should be calculators for new devices (i'm sure they're not perfect, but can maybe give an indication).

@invernomut0 right, that's also my feeling

@mntmn couldn’t something pretending to be a serial modem be able to achieve this for all platforms at once? Just using serial comms and ansi escape codes or the equivalent terminal codes for the platform?

@mntmn @invernomut0 But the vibes would be unassailable.

@mntmn Dell publish LCAs for most of their machines (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dt/product-carbon-footprints). There is a bit of a spread but you could consider production of a modern laptop in the 100-400 kg CO2e range.
https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/greenhouse-gas-emission-intensity-of-1 has some carbon intensity data (note big variations by country).
If you assume that the old hardware uses 100W more than modern one, for 8 hours a day, at 200g/kWh, you get about 50kg CO2e per year: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=100W+*+8h+*+365+*+200+g/kWh .

@samtygier thx! that's quite interesting

@soapdog depends on the system/connection speed. even TUIs are quite slow at low baud rates. also you probably want at least partial unicode (?)

@soapdog (i.e. c64 user port has 9600 baud max iirc, expansion port can do much more of course. amiga serial port i think max 56kbaud?)