Y
HN HRCB new | past | comments | ask | show | by right | domains | dashboard | about hrcb
-0.01 Emulated Windows 3.11 in the Browser (pieter.com)
160 points by jalev 2 days ago | 83 comments on HN | Neutral Product · vv3.4 · 2026-02-24
Article Heatmap
Preamble: +0.05 — Preamble P Article 1: +0.05 — Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood 1 Article 2: 0.00 — Non-Discrimination 2 Article 3: 0.00 — Life, Liberty, Security 3 Article 4: 0.00 — No Slavery 4 Article 5: 0.00 — No Torture 5 Article 6: 0.00 — Legal Personhood 6 Article 7: 0.00 — Equality Before Law 7 Article 8: 0.00 — Right to Remedy 8 Article 9: 0.00 — No Arbitrary Detention 9 Article 10: 0.00 — Fair Hearing 10 Article 11: 0.00 — Presumption of Innocence 11 Article 12: -0.15 — Privacy 12 Article 13: +0.10 — Freedom of Movement 13 Article 14: +0.10 — Asylum 14 Article 15: 0.00 — Nationality 15 Article 16: 0.00 — Marriage & Family 16 Article 17: -0.20 — Property 17 Article 18: 0.00 — Freedom of Thought 18 Article 19: +0.05 — Freedom of Expression 19 Article 20: +0.05 — Assembly & Association 20 Article 21: 0.00 — Political Participation 21 Article 22: 0.00 — Social Security 22 Article 23: 0.00 — Work & Equal Pay 23 Article 24: 0.00 — Rest & Leisure 24 Article 25: 0.00 — Standard of Living 25 Article 26: +0.15 — Education 26 Article 27: -0.25 — Cultural Participation 27 Article 28: 0.00 — Social & International Order 28 Article 29: 0.00 — Duties to Community 29 Article 30: +0.05 — No Destruction of Rights 30
Negative Neutral Positive No Data
Aggregates
Weighted Mean -0.01 Unweighted Mean 0.00
Max +0.15 Article 26 Min -0.25 Article 27
Signal 31 No Data 0
Confidence 28% Volatility 0.08 (Low)
Negative 3 Channels E: 0.5 S: 0.5
SETL ND
Evidence: High: 0 Medium: 6 Low: 25 No Data: 0
Theme Radar
Foundation Security Legal Privacy & Movement Personal Expression Economic & Social Cultural Order & Duties Foundation: 0.03 (3 articles) Security: 0.00 (3 articles) Legal: 0.00 (6 articles) Privacy & Movement: 0.01 (4 articles) Personal: -0.07 (3 articles) Expression: 0.03 (3 articles) Economic & Social: 0.00 (4 articles) Cultural: -0.05 (2 articles) Order & Duties: 0.02 (3 articles)
Domain Context Profile
Element Modifier Affects Note
Privacy —
No privacy policy visible on-domain; content is a technical product demo
Terms of Service —
No terms of service visible on-domain
Accessibility -0.15
Article 19 Article 27
User-select disabled globally; retro emulator design prioritizes aesthetics over accessibility for screen readers and keyboard navigation
Mission —
No explicit mission statement; product is recreational technical nostalgia
Editorial Code —
No editorial content or journalistic standards applicable
Ownership —
Attribution to 'Pieter' (levelsio reference in code); no corporate structure visible
Access Model +0.10
Article 19
Free public access to retro computing emulator; no paywall or authentication barrier
Ad/Tracking —
References to 'featurebase' and 'by-levelsio' suggest third-party integrations; tracking status unclear from on-domain content
HN Discussion 20 top-level comments
VerifiedReports 2026-02-22 20:24 UTC link
"For the best experience, use Chrome."

That's not Windows 3.11. That kind of thing is circa 2000, and a state none of us should want the Web to return to.

ranger_danger 2026-02-22 20:30 UTC link
Just a black screen for me.
achairapart 2026-02-22 21:06 UTC link
Exited to dos, found Bubble Bobble in GAMES directory and started to play. And that's mostly what I used to do as a kid at the times of Windows 3.11!
smusamashah 2026-02-22 21:14 UTC link
Can we have icons like these again please.

I started from Windows 98 and always loved the icons. They actually represented the application and purpose. These days they are more focused on looking modern. Lots of times they are not even distinguishable between each other.

canjobear 2026-02-22 21:20 UTC link
I was expecting it to boot to DOS and then having to typing "win"
mr_tox 2026-02-22 21:38 UTC link
what is this feeling? oh, yes, it's damn nostalgia
ChrisArchitect 2026-02-22 23:20 UTC link
Some previous discussion:

2024 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42104531

cyberax 2026-02-22 23:27 UTC link
Ah. Every time I look at the UI, I realize just how much the modern UI/UX degraded.

We had clear colorful icons, text labels, scrollbars, clearly distinguishable checkboxes. And now we have UI that actively promotes "rebelliousness" and "being in the know".

oliwary 2026-02-22 23:37 UTC link
This is super cool! Ran into an issue though, the first time it boots perfectly, after the first refresh it loads for a bit (downloads the image again instead of from cache) and then a cachebuster URL is added and loading starts over, without ever finishing. Ideally it would just load from cache on refresh.
alexjplant 2026-02-22 23:42 UTC link
The long pause after "Verifying DMI Pool Data..." as the disk image downloaded aroused a dormant feeling of dread in me as I panicked and wondered why Windows wasn't loading... back in the day it meant getting yelled at for "breaking" the computer and tasked with spending the day reinstalling Windows and everybody's programs.

Nostalgia tends to make things seem better than they were. Moments like this remind me how much tech has improved over the years.

stuart78 2026-02-23 04:28 UTC link
Very pleased to see Abuse in there, but unfortunately it didn't load for me. I spent way too many hours in that game back in the day.
mvkel 2026-02-23 04:49 UTC link
Excited for the inevitable "Windows 3.11 - 98K MRR" in pieter's X bio.
dachris 2026-02-23 06:17 UTC link
Started the Visual Basic dev env, added a button to the form, MsgBox "Hello World", and it worked.

So simple, so easy. Those were the days.

katzenversteher 2026-02-23 06:17 UTC link
I was super happy when I found OMF 2097 in the games 2 folder. That game has insanely good music.
alt227 2026-02-23 10:15 UTC link
I love everything except the mouse emulation, it makes it really clunky and hard to click on anything. Any way to let me just use the normal pointer in the browser instead of a javascript abstracted one?
theun 2026-02-23 10:21 UTC link
Very excited to see Superlogo there! As a Dutch kid I grew up with Windows 3.11 and have devoured all "Programmeren voor Kinderen" books that made me learn to love programming.
redbell 2026-02-23 10:45 UTC link
Oh, I didn't immediately noticed that this was made by Pieter Levels!

Discussion from Nov, 2024 with 160 points and 75 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42104531

GeertB 2026-02-24 01:30 UTC link
Can't help myself: whenever I see Windows 3.11, I have to compute the difference between it and Windows 3.1. So, I fire up the calculator from the Accessories folder, and compute 3.11 - 3.1. The result: 0.00. Try it! :-)
ksec 2026-02-24 03:01 UTC link
I think, I may be wrong Windows 3.11 was the last Window that provide instantaneous GUI response. Windows 95 was still fast by today's standard but it wasn't "instant".
MisterTea 2026-02-24 18:41 UTC link
This is the third time today I open a demo website that tells me to use Chrome. No thanks.
Score Breakdown
+0.05
Preamble Preamble
Low Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.05
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Free public access to technology supports human dignity premise; no editorial stance observable

+0.05
Article 1 Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood
Low Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.05
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Universal free access to emulator treats all users equally; no discriminatory barriers

0.00
Article 2 Non-Discrimination
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

No observable discrimination in product design; neutral on protections

0.00
Article 3 Life, Liberty, Security
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Right to life/security not relevant to retro emulator context

0.00
Article 4 No Slavery
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

No slavery or servitude present; not applicable

0.00
Article 5 No Torture
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

No torture or cruel treatment elements; neutral

0.00
Article 6 Legal Personhood
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Right to legal personality not engaged by emulator product

0.00
Article 7 Equality Before Law
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Equality before law not applicable to technical product

0.00
Article 8 Right to Remedy
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Effective remedy framework not relevant to retro emulator

0.00
Article 9 No Arbitrary Detention
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Arbitrary detention not applicable

0.00
Article 10 Fair Hearing
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Fair trial rights not engaged

0.00
Article 11 Presumption of Innocence
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Criminalization framework not applicable

-0.15
Article 12 Privacy
Medium Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
-0.15
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

User-select disabled and touch-callout prevention suggests monitoring/control of user input; third-party integrations (featurebase) may collect usage data

+0.10
Article 13 Freedom of Movement
Medium Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.10
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Free access enables circulation of retro technology knowledge; no geographic restrictions visible

+0.10
Article 14 Asylum
Low Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.10
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Public accessibility supports asylum/refuge concept by offering universal access; no nationality requirement

0.00
Article 15 Nationality
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Nationality rights not applicable to technical product

0.00
Article 16 Marriage & Family
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Marriage/family rights not engaged

-0.20
Article 17 Property
Medium Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
-0.20
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Third-party tracking integrations (featurebase, levelsio attribution) and input monitoring suggest property/privacy risk; no visible data handling policy

0.00
Article 18 Freedom of Thought
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Freedom of conscience/religion not directly engaged; neutral

+0.05
Article 19 Freedom of Expression
Medium Practice Advocacy
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.20
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Free public platform enables expression via retro computing interface; however, user-select disabled and accessibility barriers reduce effective speech participation; global free access is positive

+0.05
Article 20 Assembly & Association
Low Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.05
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Public product supports peaceful assembly concept; no restrictions on access or use observable

0.00
Article 21 Political Participation
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Democratic participation not engaged by technical product

0.00
Article 22 Social Security
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Social security framework not applicable

0.00
Article 23 Work & Equal Pay
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Employment rights not directly engaged; product is entertainment, not labor

0.00
Article 24 Rest & Leisure
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Rest/leisure rights not explicitly addressed; product enables leisure use

0.00
Article 25 Standard of Living
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Health/standard of living not directly relevant

+0.15
Article 26 Education
Medium Practice Advocacy
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.15
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Free access to retro computing emulator supports education and cultural heritage preservation; promotes equal access to technological knowledge across socioeconomic boundaries

-0.25
Article 27 Cultural Participation
Medium Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
-0.10
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Product participates in cultural heritage (Windows 3.11 nostalgia) but accessibility barriers (user-select disabled, retro interface) limit participation for users with disabilities or non-visual browsing needs

0.00
Article 28 Social & International Order
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Social/international order framework not directly applicable

0.00
Article 29 Duties to Community
Low
Editorial
ND
Structural
0.00
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

Duties and limitations framework not explicitly engaged

+0.05
Article 30 No Destruction of Rights
Low Practice
Editorial
ND
Structural
+0.05
SETL
ND
Combined
ND
Context Modifier
ND

No observable attempts to destroy UDHR rights through product design; neutral-to-mild positive on non-restriction principle
About HRCB | By Right | HN Guidelines | HN FAQ | Source | UDHR
build 40c3f5d+6bbr · 2026-02-25 01:36 UTC