8 classic operating systems that you can access from your browser

We all love today’s cutting-edge operating systems, but there are times when it’s fun to think back to years gone by and relive some of the old operating systems. And no, we’re not talking about those of you who still insist on Windows 7, or worse, XP.

If you’re looking to emulate Windows 95, Mac OS X Lion and more, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s how to access classic operating systems in your browser.

1 Windows 95

Released in August 1995, Windows 95 was one of the defining operating systems of the decade.

He laid the foundation for the Windows we all know today. The Start menu and taskbar appeared for the first time, and for the first time the Windows operating system did not rely on MS-DOS to access files and disks.

There are two different ways to access Windows 95 in your browser: Classic Reload or PCjs Machines. Both have operational peculiarities. For example, I couldn’t expand the Classic Reload version to full screen mode, which was a little frustrating, but it has more memory (a whopping 24 MB of RAM!) and classic Windows 95 games. While PCjs Machines enabled full screen mode, the installation is removed and lacks some function. In both cases, no internet connection is available.

As with all browser-based OS emulations, any changes you make will not be saved between sessions.

In 1984, Apple released its first machine in the Macintosh (later “Mac”) line of products. It was a revolutionary computer that became the first mass-market computer to offer a graphical user interface.

This Macintosh emulator runs on System 7.0.1 with three early Mac applications: MacPaint, MacDraw, and Kid Pix.

Because the operating system requires significantly less system resources than the Windows 95 emulator, it will load into your browser significantly faster.

Two years after introducing the first Macintosh computer, Apple released a successor: the Macintosh Plus.

Its original price tag was $2,600which proves that Apple’s penchant for exorbitant prices is far from a modern phenomenon. The computer comes with 1MB of RAM (and support for up to 4MB), supports up to seven peripherals, and an 800KB floppy drive.

By 1986, significantly more apps and games were available; this Macintosh Plus emulator includes Risk, Cannon Fodder and Shufflepuck. You might want to tone down the Shufflepuck opposition a bit because it’s fiendishly hard out of the box.

Windows 3.1 hit the shelves in April 1992, replacing the original Windows 3.0.

Despite the similar name, it offered extensive improvements over its predecessor. Most notably, the introduction of the TrueType font system turned the operating system into a powerful computer publication for the first time. Three fonts were available natively: Arial, Courier New and Times New Roman.

Other features introduced for the first time included drag-and-drop icons, mouse support in MS-DOS applications, and the Program Manager application. The theoretical maximum memory limit was 4 GB, although in practice it was 256 MB.

Windows 3.1 was replaced by Windows 95, but support lasted until 2008.

The Windows 3.1 emulator offers classic games like Minesweeper and Solitaire, accessories like Write and Paintbrush, and even access to the Control Panel.

5 AmigaOS

AmigaOS version 1.2 was first seen on the Commodore Amiga 500. The 500 was the best-selling computer in the entire Amiga line. It was announced at CES 1987 and released worldwide in the spring.

Although it was a multi-purpose home computer, the PC carved out a niche for itself as a gaming machine. Titles such as The Secret of Monkey Island, Lemmings, Elite and Sensible Soccer have received worldwide acclaim. In terms of specifications, the Amiga 500 had a resolution between 320×200 and 640×400, a 32-color screen and 512 KB of RAM.

You have several options when it comes to using AmigaOS in your browser. Amiga Workbench Simulation allows you to run AmigaOS 1.0 to 4.1 in your browser, although its functionality is limited. Alternatively you can try the OSZX Online Amiga Emulator which comes with integrated and easy to use games, but I was unable to load the actual Amiga Workbench. Either way, the option is here.

At the same time that Apple and Commodore were fighting for market position with their respective Mac and Amiga lines, IBM quickly became the manufacturer to beat with its IBM PC line.

The first IBM computers went on sale in 1981, but this PC DOS 5 emulation runs on a 1986 update: the IBM PC XT 286. The XT 286 had 640 KB of RAM, a 20 MB hard drive, and 6 MHz processors. PC DOS 5 was released in 1991 and marked one of the most fundamental changes to DOS in its history. Perhaps more notable, however, was that it was the last version of DOS for which Microsoft and IBM shared the complete code.

The PC DOS 5 emulation offers three classic games: Wolfenstein 3D, the original Civilization, and the Monkey Island demo.

Remember, it’s still possible to play old DOS games on a Mac if you’re so inclined.

Did you know that the first macOS to bear the name was macOS 7.6, released in January 1997? It started as System 7, was the name of every version of macOS until then, then halfway through the development period it changed to a name that carries a worldwide reputation.

MacOS 8.0 was enormously successful in its time, selling over 1.2 million copies in its first fortnight, bringing a huge range of improvements over the previous version. Perhaps most notable of all, macOS 8.1 introduced the HFS+ file system, which Apple continued to use until the release of macOS High Sierra in 2017—some 20 years later.

The Finder application also received a major upgrade, gaining native integration with the PowerPC chips used in Apple’s hardware of the time, while the Platinum interface made its first appearance.

The best thing about the linked macOS 8.0 demo on InfiniteMac is now all the other old versions of macOS you can also use, from System 1 in 1984 to macOS 9.2.2 in 2001.

Windows 1.01, released in November 1985, was the first publicly available version of Bill Gates’ operating system.

An operating system is basically a a graphical front-end for MS-DOS. Windows 1.01 actually ran as an MS-DOS program. Windows 1.01 applications included Calculator, Calendar, Clipboard Viewer, Clock, Notepad, Paint, Reversi, Cardfile, Terminal, and Write. All are available in this emulation. Behind the scenes, Windows 1.0 also had its own drivers for graphics cards, mice, keyboards, printers, serial communications, and applications.

It seems basic now, but at the time it was groundbreaking to move from command-line inputs to a fully graphical user interface.

And if you’re wondering what’s behind Windows, macOS, and Linux, explore these free, obscure operating systems.