I have a thinkpad t42 and i use it for playing old games with windows xp.

For reading, writing, retro gaming (i even use epsxe on it) it’s ok. Forget anything else unless you’re a masochist.

and imho it’s too new for windows 98, it has been released a decade after that

if you want to browse internet, you’re forced to use modern hardware with modern operating systems. I don’t think that there’s a single website that still works with ie 5 + win98. Even malware won’t even work anymore.