The Restart Page

If you’re feeling nostalgic for the operating systems of the past, then you might want to check out The Restart Page.

The page, just like the title says, is a collection of various restart messages from all kinds of computer operating systems that have come out over the years. Windows and Mac are well-represented, with both the modern and classic versions of the system heavy on the site. The page hosts some more obscure systems, such as OS/2 and NextSTEP. Even Amiga fans can relive their own restart message.

The really neat thing about this page is that the restart messages actually work. If you click on “OK” on one of them, you’ll appear to reboot the operating system of whatever message you clicked in your browser. For example, if you pick a Windows message, you’ll reboot Windows. Likewise for Mac OS and OS/2. The Amiga reboot is particularly detailed. It includes the sound of the floppy drive while loading the operating system.

Some people might wonder why anyone would care. For computer geeks, it’s often the little things that make the computing experience, and even geeks get a little wistful for the systems in the past they’ve used, or are even curious about systems they never used.

If you’re interested in reviving the Amiga experience, check out our post exploring several options for doing so. You might also be interested in a modern Commodore 64.

(via publique)