You have got to watch this. But before you click Play, keep this in mind: The 1.44M QNX floppy demo dates from the late 1990s and its web browser was built for the 1999 Web, not the 2012 Web. So, as you'd expect, the browser in this demo displays some error messages when it's pointed at modern websites.
Other than that, prepared to be amazed. Everything you see here — OS, windowing system, web browser, TCP/IP stack, file manager, games, etc. — fit on a single, self-booting 1.44M floppy. No CD, no hard drive. And as you'll see, the demo could even download and launch new features (including a graphics driver), all on the fly. Cool, that.
Did you know? The ISO image for the 1.44M floppy demo was downloaded more than 1,000,000 times, making it the first truly successful marketing campaign for QNX Software Systems. The purpose of the demo was simple: to show developers how much performance and functionality QNX could squeeze into a resource-constrained device.
A big shout-out to ToastyTech for posting the video!
Want to see a pic of an even older QNX demo disk? Click here.
Showing posts with label Demo disk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demo disk. Show all posts
3/25/2012
QNX memorabilia: The (first) QNX demo disk
Reflections on the stuff that has been accumulating in my drawer since the '90s. This week: Not that demo disk, this demo disk.
Mention "QNX demo disk" to any long-time QNX user and, almost immediately, they'll think of the 1.44M floppy demo that QNX released in 1997. I plan to cover that demo, but in a subsequent post. For now, I want to draw your attention to a much earlier floppy demo, which first appeared in the 1980s.
First of all, it came on a real floppy — you know, the bendable kind:
It could also self-boot, as indicated by the label in the upper-right corner. You know what that means, of course: The disk in this photo contains a limited yet functional version of the QNX OS, circa 1988. How cool is that?
I found this disk a little while ago, while rummaging through my stuff. Problem is, I still haven't dug up a machine old enough to run it. I'm guessing, though, that any x86 box with a 5 1/4" floppy drive would do the trick. When I eventually find one, I'll let you know. Who knows, the floppy may still be in good enough shape to run!
In the meantime, dear reader, if you are willing to admit you've been around long enough to remember this demo disk, I'd love to hear about it. From what I've read, it demonstrated QNX's multitasking capabilities, but that's all I know. I'm hoping you can fill in the gaps.
Mention "QNX demo disk" to any long-time QNX user and, almost immediately, they'll think of the 1.44M floppy demo that QNX released in 1997. I plan to cover that demo, but in a subsequent post. For now, I want to draw your attention to a much earlier floppy demo, which first appeared in the 1980s.
First of all, it came on a real floppy — you know, the bendable kind:
It could also self-boot, as indicated by the label in the upper-right corner. You know what that means, of course: The disk in this photo contains a limited yet functional version of the QNX OS, circa 1988. How cool is that?
I found this disk a little while ago, while rummaging through my stuff. Problem is, I still haven't dug up a machine old enough to run it. I'm guessing, though, that any x86 box with a 5 1/4" floppy drive would do the trick. When I eventually find one, I'll let you know. Who knows, the floppy may still be in good enough shape to run!
In the meantime, dear reader, if you are willing to admit you've been around long enough to remember this demo disk, I'd love to hear about it. From what I've read, it demonstrated QNX's multitasking capabilities, but that's all I know. I'm hoping you can fill in the gaps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)