I still run Win 98 SE on my home network because I am familiar with it and it does everything I need. I have downloaded and installed all the latest updates from Microsoft so what I have is really an enhanced version now.
Used laptops on Ebay and Sold Com, have really fallen in price. Perfectly good pentium laptops which sold new for thousands of dollars a few years ago can be picked up for a few hundred dollars. I bought one of my grandsons a P100 based laptop on Ebay a couple of weeks ago for $200. It has everything necessary for normal use, looks like new and functions perfectly. An ideal first computer for a primary school student.