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Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

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Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#11
post #2

I used this library as part of a major redesign for my personal website ( https://hat.fo ), and thought that others might get a kick out of it. Fun little components library :-)

... there's a VM on here?! (Start menu > Programs > Doom Linux) That got a real belly laugh out of me. Looks like https://github.com/copy/v86?

Awesome work! The whole aesthetic is well done.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#15

Another great resource to create web experiences that look like old versions of Windows is 98.css by Jordan Scales: https://jdan.github.io/98.css/ With it, you don't need to use React to get decent results, see? https://rezmason.github.io/excel_97_egg/about.html

That one is better. These fonts need work. They were true type without subpixel rendering, hinting, anti aliasing, etc, but at size 32, they weren't just bigger boxes. The thing I used on https://bootstra386.com/ is more faithful. In fact, it's written in the HTML of the time.

Also they weren't using off-black greys back then. EGA-16, web-216 or bust. Greys exist, but not those. https://www1.udel.edu/cookbook/web/webcolor/webcolors.html

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#17
post #14

https://react95.github.io/React95/ The uncanny valley comes to mind. It resembles Windows 95, but the fonts and spacing feel wrong.

I think it's pretty dang close. I wonder how much of where it's not quite there is modern font rendering.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#18
post #17
post #14

https://react95.github.io/React95/ The uncanny valley comes to mind. It resembles Windows 95, but the fonts and spacing feel wrong.

I think it's pretty dang close. I wonder how much of where it's not quite there is modern font rendering.

It's literally the wrong front. The font here looks like Arial, but the Windows 95 font was something else. I'm pretty sure it was one of those fonts that starts with MS.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#19
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's pretty dang close. I wonder how much of where it's not quite there is modern font rendering.

It's literally the wrong front. The font here looks like Arial, but the Windows 95 font was something else. I'm pretty sure it was one of those fonts that starts with MS.

IIRC it was MS Sans Serif, which was pretty dang similar to Arial but with wider glyphs and looser spacing. Not much room for design flourish with 10x12 pixels.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#20
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's pretty dang close. I wonder how much of where it's not quite there is modern font rendering.

It's literally the wrong front. The font here looks like Arial, but the Windows 95 font was something else. I'm pretty sure it was one of those fonts that starts with MS.

Huh - looking at screenshots, you're right. The spacing is wrong and the glyphs are narrow, as per the sibling comment. TIL.

It's close enough for web crimes, though.

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