6K views · Apr 24, 2011 · 12:56 · 2 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2014–2018
A demonstration of SymbOS, a multitasking operating system for 8-bit Z80 machines, running on a real MSX turboR with an MP3MSX card and a CF IDE interface. It shows the OS playing audio and running a graphical desktop on very old hardware, captured from the real machine and not an emulator.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN points to it as a vivid showcase of how much a modern-feeling GUI OS can do on slow 8-bit hardware.
“Beside the flickering, it's pretty neat.”
Neat low-res UX demo despite flickering.
After finding about pico8, I got interested in low res, low color depth UX, this couldn't come at a better time. Beside the flickering, it's pretty neat. this video
“I found this rambling but very interesting demo of what it can do with one of the more capable machines it supports”
Rambling but very interesting demo of SymbOS capabilities.
Lots and lots of transition animations, and potentially very poor UI/UX model. Demos are not (largely) interactive, so the demoscene is not known for collective skill designing GUIs. The most similar/related type of things I can think of that are interactive are crack/keygen programs that include chiptunes and maybe a cute graphic effect somewhere. For some time I've actually wanted to go track down such programs to analyze/compare/study the progression of design. Kind of difficult to do so though, for obvious reasons (unfortunately). But my impression from the one or two programs I do very vaguely remember using, half for entertainment purposes was that the UI design was sort of at the "48%-50%" mark - good enough, but flitting just below the halfway mark instead of just above it. Not remarkable; maybe a few rough edges. Thanks for your comment. It prompted some mental gears to spin and for me to realize the above. -- I do think I understand the spirit of what you're getting at, though, and there are a few things that my brain has decided is relevant, although I can't describe the working-out process that led me to list these. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - SymbOS ( link ): preemptive multitasking, windowed GUI, storage on devices up to 128GB, runs on home computers using the Z80 (starting at 4MHz) with up to (_ up to _) 1MB of RAM. (I found this rambling but very interesting demo of what it can do with one of the more capable machines it supports: this video ) - kOS ( link ): limited-access
“Symbos[1] which is really a show of force on these rather slow machines[2]”
SymbOS demo showing capability on slow Z80 machines.
I have many Z80 machines in my 'museum'; happy to see people making software for them still. I am working on applications for Symbos[1] which is really a show of force on these rather slow machines[2]. [1] link [2] this video
