Windows 95 on iPad completes the Bill Gates vision (video)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted April 12th 2010 7:28AM
posted April 12th 2010 7:28AM
Ok, ok, it's just Windows 95 running in an x86 emulator according to its creator. But even with such clumsy performance you know you love seeing it. Party like its 1995 without the Aqua Net after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Flash and multitasking.
@Decoy
running the emulator is already one task.. im wonderin if the windows within the emulator can still multitask..
@Decoy
INB4 MULTITASKING OMG
No but seriously man, OS4 will be out in the fall. Can't wait that long? And while yes, it theoretically COULD run Flash, it'd probably be a pretty goddamn old version considering the OS. Also, does anyone know if this setup can access wi-fi in Win95? We don't, so how would we even know if we could GET Flash on it in the first place? So yeah cool, multi-task some 15 year old apps, and maybe or maybe not access the internet to get an old balls version of Flash. Awesome argument sport.
@DarkGrimoire
Why wouldn't it? You think Apple put some kind of magic multitasking detector in it that automagically detects anything that looks like multitasking and then shoots down the process?
Anyway, this is running as 1 process, which is an x86 emulator. Since any process can run as many threads as it wants, or emulate multiple threads (like this thing): yes, it can still multitask, FWIW.
@Decoy its choking on a text document... not very likely! =p
@Decoy
Look! Apple "invented" Windows 95
@Decoy Now, THAT is backward compatibility!
@Decoy Off finding that lovely liero archive.
@Decoy
The iPad has just become a Must have!
Windows 95 needs so little resources. Compare that to MAC OS 6 or 7?
@Decoy
This flash and multitasking never get old does it. Even with multitasking on the way, it's still a really funny comment to make.
now i can have calculator!!!
and i've just JIZZED IN MY PANTS!!!
*seriously apple, removing the default calculator app from the ipad is odd*
@Decoy Is the iPad THAT precious it needs to still be in its wrapping?
@t2af
Yes, i'm really going to miss these when iPhone OS 4 is out, Engadget will never be the same with just only 'WTF! No Flash!' comments |-(
@bwl No, Apple only invents cool stuff that works. Windows 95 doesn't fit that description.
@Decoy
Wonder if you'd be able to virtualize Android rather than emulate and it would run close to native speed.
Then we'd definitely get Flash... oh right. Maybe next month eh?
A better idea would be to get an app like a VNC app that only streams down active window content and scales the active window to the phone display resolution. This way you just patch into a browser running on a server with Flash and then you can play your stupid Farmville kid's game for kids even though you're a grown up.
@MAS Mac OS 6 will run on a 7 MHz system with 512K of RAM, Win '95 requires a 386.
@Level 5 Odds are the VM has some form of driver that piggybacks off the iPads connection. It's probably some generic 10/100 driver.
@brrip You have no idea how much i played that game with my friends. I was beast with the grappling hook and blaster.
@WinRulez Apple stole your calculator? That's just childish.
@Billy Viruses man, viruses... duh!
@Decoy
Forget that, it's got a FILE SYSTEM!!! And a root directory!!! And all that good stuff.
@Decoy. While gestures and touchscreens have a lot of flexibility, keyboard shortcuts can be much more time-efficient. Something you don't even think about until you see him using the screen to navigate the pointer to open Notepad.
I can do this on my Samsung Q1! Hell I can run Win7.
Bill Gates' vision was completed years ago
@TinWard
This solution is way over the heads of, I'd say, 95% of people buying the iPad.
@Decoy Does those two things better than a PSP...
@Decoy Too bad the only thing he can present at that time was minesweeper, and opening of notepad! lol. Reactions: http://j.mp/winddows-95-ipad-reaction
@Decoy YES.
@Decoy and it only took a full minute to boot up.
multitasking will be native in a few months which is fine for most since it means Apple might work on pesky things like the wifi issues first.
as for Flash. if places like video sites weren't so quick to do HTML5 or free apps it might be a problem. Even games like Farmville already have ipad apps in progress. Flash ads, no loss there. And full Flash sites will probably jump on the bandwagon as the number of ipads sold rises. So by the time the native windows/android tablets finally hit the market, the point will be moot
This is an ugly idea and I say that as a Linux user! ; )
@grapeDrank
still an improvement over the iphone os
@Itchy Britches
I agree... but as a linux user (since about then) redhat 1 or 2 would be just as terrible!!
@mrqs Spoken like a true moron!
@mrqs Grab your axe and go out to finish cutting that tree.
@Itchy Britches You are an ugly idea.
@Sarcasme "You are an ugly idea."
First time I hear this. Is it an insult? You should patent it.
@Atkins I'm sure you mean grab an Exe.
not much slower than my 386 was! (:
Halo 1 anyone?
@TestSubjectNameHere
It's called Nova. Adhoc networking coming soon via GameCentre. Skip the 10 year old nostalgia.
@Wesscoast
Nova is a complete rip-off of Halo.
@kitsune
Not to mention the lame dialogue and short story.
@n8equalsd
Nova sucks and thia is coming from someone who paid 5$ for it, original halo all the way.
@kitsune
Because Halo invented the alien/monster shooter... We can all just forget about Unreal, Quake, and Doom
@Dysun
Did you play both games? I say it again, nova ripped off halo. Gameloft have a history of very heavily "inspiring" from other games.
It might be 15 years old, but I'd prefer use to Windows 95 over iPhone OS any day of the week...
@King of Fun UK......... 15 years, we've come soooo far....
@King of Fun UK You would buy the ipad only to run Windows 95?
@King of Fun UK Why am I not shocked to hear this.
My iPad screams as compared to the molasses that was my 486DX2-66 machine that ran Win 95 with 8MB ram that cost about $250 just on its own.
@Look4Wally I didn't have any interest in the iPad to start with. I had an iPhone for a good few months and it drove me up the wall more times than I care to talk about! :)