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Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

mitchivin.com

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Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#221

Post by abanana »

jonathanlb wrote: post #143
wild_pointer wrote: post #132

Wasted opportunity: shut down -> orange "now it's safe to turn off your computer"

Wasn't that just Windows 95 and 98? I think I remember XP having the Windows logo and the "It is now safe to turn off your computer" text in white.

No, I recall once being surprised at seeing it in XP back in the day, on a particularly old PC that had had its OS upgraded from 9x.

Older AT power supplies were entirely mechanically controlled using the power button. ATX power supplies added the ability to turn on or off via software. That screen was shown on PCs using an AT PSU because Windows couldn't shut it down itself, it had to ask the user to do it.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#223

Post by hexo »

gloosx wrote: post #199
giveita wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows (or anything) is nice when its fast. Most things should work in under 20ms so I don't notice a delay.

20ms is faster than a fly reaction time, it's about the same time which 60HZ monitor takes to refresh the frame, 10 times faster than a typical human's reaction. Everything under 150 ms is pretty much indistinguishably fast to a normal person.

Nice troll.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#224

Post by jbeninger »

_m6gi wrote: post #218
gloosx wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah of course it is different. My wording was not really correct here – I was rather meaning "irrelevant" in context of a user interface

[flagged]

This is about input, not visual frame rate. 20 ui ticks per second? For anything but gaming I'm probably good.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#225

Post by lukko »

bartread wrote: post #198

It’s neat: I like it a lot actually. But the problem with you billing yourself as a graphic designer and reimplementing Windows XP is that you’re copying a design that already exists rather than showcasing your own design skills, so I can’t immediately tell how good a designer you are[0]. I can look at your projects under the IE icon, which gives more of an impression, but some of the visuals there do look decidedly…

This was my concern too - as a little project, it's interesting but if it's a replica of XP it has been done before and much more accurately.

As a portfolio, I think it doesn't work at all and is detrimental to what you're trying to do. I think now in design, it is more important than ever for your work to cut through the noise and show at least some attempt to create something original.

I think sometimes graphic design is seen as competence with certain programs, which I guess includes genAI now, or making something cool - but really it is visual communication that responds to a set of constraints - e.g. a brief, tailored to a target audience, communicating a product or emotion. There are no shortcuts - study what has been done, work on communicating what you want to say with colour, layout, typography and images. Draw and paint; avoid genAI until you are competent without it. Currently as a graphic design portfolio, I'm sorry to say it is memorably bad and there is a lot of work to do.

That said, well done on finishing something, and making it to the top of HN. I hope the attention leads somewhere and that you continue making things.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#226

Post by gjvc »

Kwpolska wrote: post #186

> A faithful XP-inspired interface, custom-built to showcase my [...] attention to detail. Here goes: 1. "Welcome" on the login screen should be lowercase 2. Balloon is too high (should touch the icon), close icon is too small (should be roughly the same height as the balloon title) 3. About Me is missing the scrollbar on Firefox 4. Wrong gradient for "Social Links" 5. Start menu should have a shadow 6. In My Project…

no way, the boot and login screens add to the overall charm of the faithfulness of the reproduction, as much as does your attention to detail. In GUI applications one needs both aspects to enchant the user and keep them in a state of joyous disbelief -- without the disappointment -- as they use the system.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#227

Post by utyop22 »

lukko wrote: post #225
bartread wrote: post #198

It’s neat: I like it a lot actually. But the problem with you billing yourself as a graphic designer and reimplementing Windows XP is that you’re copying a design that already exists rather than showcasing your own design skills, so I can’t immediately tell how good a designer you are[0]. I can look at your projects under the IE icon, which gives more of an impression, but some of the visuals there do look decidedly…

This was my concern too - as a little project, it's interesting but if it's a replica of XP it has been done before and much more accurately. As a portfolio, I think it doesn't work at all and is detrimental to what you're trying to do. I think now in design, it is more important than ever for your work to cut through the noise and show at least some attempt to create something original. I think sometimes graphic des…

I highly disagree with the feedback above.

The reality is, it depends on the context of whom is hiring. A startup values things like being resourceful and finishing stuff vs a large firm wherein most projects get dumped anyway.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#228

Post by utyop22 »

mitchivin wrote: post #84
initramfs wrote: post #67

Give this man a job! (If he doesn't have one already)

I might have to re-elevate the goals after this haha, I thought it was cool personally but truly didn't expect this kind of reaction

Youre more than just a designer mate, this clearly shows it.

Follow your intuition (whilst having some cash inflows to survive).

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#229

Post by aqme28 »

bartread wrote: post #198

It’s neat: I like it a lot actually. But the problem with you billing yourself as a graphic designer and reimplementing Windows XP is that you’re copying a design that already exists rather than showcasing your own design skills, so I can’t immediately tell how good a designer you are[0]. I can look at your projects under the IE icon, which gives more of an impression, but some of the visuals there do look decidedly…

> Yes, I would, simply because I can see you’ve put a lot of effort in and created something high quality. But I’d have some reservations because of the concerns I’ve raised above and, in particular, I’d want to dig in to how user-centred your approach is, because that isn’t really demonstrated here.

Then the site satisfied its purpose. A portfolio site should get you an interview with someone who is curious to know more. Its purpose is to be a foot in the door, not to get you the job.

Re: Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio

#230

Post by rs186 »

utyop22 wrote: post #227
lukko wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was my concern too - as a little project, it's interesting but if it's a replica of XP it has been done before and much more accurately. As a portfolio, I think it doesn't work at all and is detrimental to what you're trying to do. I think now in design, it is more important than ever for your work to cut through the noise and show at least some attempt to create something original. I think sometimes graphic des…

I highly disagree with the feedback above. The reality is, it depends on the context of whom is hiring. A startup values things like being resourceful and finishing stuff vs a large firm wherein most projects get dumped anyway.

In either case a "real" portfolio will be more effective and less work than this Windows XP thing, which is the point.
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