I am going to put together an automation system which will need to be able to talk to a Win98 pc via rs-232. I would like to do it with an Arduino but the shift away from the FTDI chip (FTDI drivers are available for Win98) to the ATmega8U2 (which doesn't use drivers) has me wondering if it can be done. The 98 machine has just barely enough resources to run XP (I tried once and went back to 98 because it was very very slow with XP). I don't intend to program the Arduino via 98 since I have several XP machines available for that part of it; but I would like to dedicate the older pc to the task of being my system's front-end. Does anyone know if this is feasible?
Get one of the many variants of the Arduino without on-board USB and connect a MAX232 to the serial ports. Easy to do. If you get a FTDI cable too, you can switch between USB and Serial.
One of the many commercial TTL to RS232 adapter that should work is this one: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=449
Korman
Maybe you should just install Windows 98 on the Arduino! ;D
Yes, I'm being silly. But really? You have Windows 98? Far out. Surely the hassle is more costly than updating the hardware. 
The Max232 is probably the real solution; although the old 98 laptop actually does have a USB port that I had forgotten about. Perhaps a Demileuve might work after all.
Still, the idea of putting Win98 on an Arduino is kind of intriguing (I can hear Apple fans the world over screaming "Blasphemy!...Blasphemy!!"). I mean, where else is Arduino going to get a 'cool-factor' like the (in)famous BSOD??? With that platform the Arduino might even slow down to the point of being a Basic Stamp clone. [smiley=beer.gif]