I’m sure for most of you Windows 3.11 has been out of your life for quite some time, but just because the operating system was retired from the retail market years ago doesn’t mean it wasn’t still available. In fact OEM’s are still able to license Windows 3.11 in the embedded channel, but come November 1st, 2008 that will no longer be an option.
Amidst the disbelief Ars Technica is pondering whether they should start a petition to save the irreplaceable operating system:
I’m not sure I want to believe this. How can Microsoft possibly discontinue an old operating system that has been around for so long and is so well trusted? Maybe I’ll start a petition to save it! I don’t want to move to something more bloated and resource-hungry if I can stay with good old Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Why fix what isn’t broken? I don’t like the new, the old works just fine!
One of these days Microsoft will learn that we don’t want new operating systems, but until then we’ll have to continue our grieving as one operating system after another finds their way into their final resting spots. You can, however, always view this gallery of Windows 3.11 screenshots. It’s not the same as having the actual operating system right in front of you, but it will give you the warm fuzzy feeling in your heart. Pull your Windows 3.11 floppy disks close to you, and we’ll get through this together.
“It’s not the same as having the actual operating system right in front of you, but it will give you the warm fuzzy feeling in your heart. Pull your Windows 3.11 floppy disks close to you, and we’ll get through this together.”
Thanks for the memories. I lived through the Golden Age of Windows for WorkGroups using a 80386 system. Both went the way of the Dodo.
Ok time to move on people if your still at 3.11
People still use 3.11? Why not ride donkeys to work? they r not broken, why the car? pffff
I can beat that – 286 here with Win 3.1 (before workgroups) hehe.
I use Win 3.11 daily it works great, browsing the web is very safe, no worrying about virus, it never seems to crash either, it runs flawless on this new hardware, they shouldn’t ever get rid of it, and Microsoft Bob too. theses are far superior products then Vista
Ahhh, Microsoft Bob. What a great idea that was. I don’t know how I could get through the workday without it.
Oh the nostalgia!
I’ll consider windows a real operating system when it gets perfectly integrated package and credential management with application repositories and system wide updates.
Good riddance. Another abomination bites the dust.
I use windows 3.11 just for hardware testing. I have never had a problem with it booting from one hardware config to another. Cant say that about vista or xp or even 2000
Im using Windows 3.11 to write this right now, fun stuff, lol. Netscape 4.08 works pretty decent although it doesnt display some web pages properly and doesnt have the ability to
use the latest versions of Flash, Silverlight, or alot of other things. However, its simple, fast, and reliable. Im going to see how long I can hold out using this OS.
I dont know how much longer this OS will be useable but unless TCP/IP standards change it has at least a few years left of its life…