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Windows 98SE emulated on Pocket PC
David Horn writes "PocketGamer is carrying a story on the successful emulation of Windows 95 and Windows 98SE on the Pocket PC. This was made possible by a Pocket PC port of Bochs, a DOS emulator. If you're keen to try this yourself, you'll need a minimum of a 256MB memory card (or stream the image over a wireless network) and you'll need a program like Nyditot Virtual Display to increase your screen resolution. Oh, yes, and you'll also need the emulator. You can find more information and a selection of screenshots here. Following the porting of a full speed Playstation emulator and Pocket Quake, this really raises the bar for what the Pocket PC is capable of."
This is a very cool project.
Current limitations seem to include lack of DirectX support but, as Pocket Quake was ported, perhaps there's some OpenGL framework for the Pocket PC that wouldn't be too difficult to link up with this Windows 98 emulation.
So, it's not perfect for 'playing any PC game' yet, but there's hope.
RD
Is a Windows 95/98 port to the PocketPC a very usefull tool ? Win. 95/98 is designed to be usefull and (somewhat) functional for a desktop enviroment. The Pocket PC version of Windows is a far more usefull tool. It have features built in that PocketPCs are used for, and it does not drag down your resources nearly as much as 98/95.
I feel sorry for the technical staff. I thought we were supposed to be against spamming?
I think the point of this may be just because you can... Not every little hack has to have a purpose. I'm impressed just because it's cool to have been done.
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From the website:
Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++, that runs on most popular platforms. It includes emulation of the Intel x86 CPU, common I/O devices, and a custom BIOS.
But then I am using one OS I do not like to run another one that I do not like at all :) Seriously, I would have more use for a nice X windows client so I could remotely connect to my OSX and Solaris boxes at work. That would be really useful.
----- One learns to itch where one can scratch.
a mini Blue Screen Of Death.
..every time it BSODs its easier to throw across the room and stamp on than a dekstop..!
------
beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
And here you go for screenshots: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tzer-jen/zbochs/
Bochs on Zaurus Software Index.
I ran bochs (but not windows, not a large enough flash card at the time). It was slow (hey, no suprise there), & I wouldn't want to run windows, but it was possible, and didn't need some hack like increasing screen resolution (something sdl handled). Of course, with the new Zauruses, you wouldn't have to increase the resolution, either via OS hacks, or SDL scaling.
Mirror of the screenshots here
They are actual size, due to small pocketpc screen I presume..
You are missing the point. Bochs is free software. Running Bocks on another platform (PocketPC) is an achievement of free software. It's not so important what operating system runs in the emulator. Actually, the fact that Bochs is good enough to run an close source, buggy OS only underlines the quality of PC emulation in Bochs. I'm sure Bochs will easily run other OSes as well.
Pocket PC port of Bochs, a DOS emulator.
uhhh, dont you mean x86 emulator?
bochs can handle more than just dos.
The point is now I can play Star Control II, Wolfenstein and Scorched Earth on my pocket PC.
balls
... I really wish I'd cleaned that HTML up!
___________
PocketGamer.org - For Gamers on the Go..
Yes. However, someone should try running Windows98 under QEMU. QEMU can emulate an x86 host now (I installed Windows Server 2003 under QEMU and it worked fine; it was usuable in speed), and it runs on ARM machines. Bochs isn't really good for much anymore, QEMU beats it in everything.
(In case you're wondering QEMU can emulate PREP and x86 hosts and run on ARM, PPC, x86, SPARC, and more. It can also translate (for example) Linux/x86 binaries to run on PPC so you can use wine on a PPC. As I said, it's really really cool. Take a look at their site or the OS Support Table. Have fun!)
My other car is first.
Actually you can already run Linux on your favourite Pocket PCs (if there is such a thing), the hp/compaq iPAQs, generally the older Compaq H3600, H3800 and H3900 series accept it.
Unfortunately some of these (there are several) projects seem to be defunct, in any case I fail to see the reason to convert a perfectly normal PPC to a crippled handheld running linux with applications not designed for it. If you need linux, I'd go for the Sharp Zaurus, sweet machines albeit underpowered, and frankly, not NEARLY as polished.
Windows 98 emulation on run-of-the-mill PPCs such as iPAQ 3950, Toshiba e740 or Dell Axim 3xi is a bit impractical however in my opinion, since
1) low resolution
2) low functionality
3) too slow
4) did I mention low functionality?
5) expensive memory expansion (Secure Digital cards only for most iPAQs, and Compact flash for Toshiba/Dells)
I applaud the technical level at which this experiment was taken, but like the linux hacks, this is a waste of time on a practical level, unless you need to run Solitaire desktop edition...
To elaborate on speed, for those not familiar with the Pocket PC operating system (Windows Pocket PC 2002 and WMobile 2003), both are platforms based on Windows CE, 2003 being on CE.NET 4.2 and 2002 on CE 3.0; in short, 2003 is optimized for the Xscale CPUs, currently the top rated ARM-compatible cpus for handhelds, 2002 is not. Running Windows 98 in emulation mode would be a pain in 2003, much less in 2002, my 3950(PXA250, initial xscale cpu) can handle the TI-89 emulator, barely, so I'd hate to see what it would do with Windows. (gross generalization). Of course, there are faster models out there with better CPUs, PXA255 (Xscale with double membus), PXA262 (PXA255 with NAND mem 32mb) and PXA270 which hits up to 600mhz so far...In any case, to reiterate, praises to the developers
You get the stability of Windows 98 combined with the speed and power of a Pocket PC... Sweet!!