A key facet of the NES’ success was its design, which mimicked a easy VCR moderately than a pc. After all, fashionable recreation consoles take the other path. They appear and feel like computer systems, all the best way right down to their overly-complicated and disorganized working methods.
Clearly, the NES didn’t have an working system. However what if a time traveler went again, held a gun to somebody’s head, and demanded a desktop OS for the NES? A developer named Inkbox, who clearly lacks a time machine, determined to convey this concept to life.
Inkbox’s working system for the NES, referred to as NESOS, makes use of a Home windows-styled GUI. And whereas NESOS is very constrained by the NES {hardware}, it’s nonetheless pretty spectacular—there’s a functioning phrase processor, a toolbar, a number of desktop background choices, and desktop shortcuts for information.
Now, you possibly can in all probability argue that NESOS is extra of an software than an working system. It may’t load new software program or carry out the advanced duties that outline DOS, Home windows, macOS, or widespread Linux distros. However it’s nonetheless an fascinating experiment.
I also needs to point out Household Fundamental, a Famicom (Japanese NES) software that allowed customers to put in writing and save BASIC applications to cassette. Whereas Household Fundamental isn’t an “working system,” it’s an fascinating instance of how Nintendo participated within the PC market in the course of the mid-Eighties. With this context, NESOS doesn’t really feel like such a loopy concept.
You’ll be able to check NESOS for your self utilizing an emulator. The ROM is offered at Inkbox’s software program web page. Notice that NESOS can even work on a actual NES when you’ve got a flashcart (or the power to print a NES cartridge, I suppose).
