Windows NT for Power Macintosh

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Project overview & capabilities

  • Port runs Windows NT 4 natively on PowerPC-based Macintosh hardware (e.g., G3 iMac, B&W G3), not via x86 emulation.
  • As a result, typical DOS/x86 games are not supported; NTVDM on PPC relied on an x86 emulator and is limited.
  • Screenshots and prior work (e.g., NT4 on Wii) are referenced, and several commenters express strong enthusiasm and nostalgia.

NT on non‑x86 architectures

  • NT4 historically supported PowerPC, Alpha, and MIPS; PPC support ended after Service Pack 2.
  • Discussion of why PPC NT faded: low market share vs x86, Apple’s lack of interest in PReP/CHRP, and no strong desktop demand.
  • Xbox 360 is cited as a later example of NT‑derived OS on PowerPC.

Boot, HAL, and firmware details

  • NT was designed to be portable: architecture-neutral kernel plus per-platform HAL and firmware interfaces.
  • This project supplies an ARC-like boot environment atop Open Firmware, a custom HAL for Mac hardware, and device drivers.
  • Writing a new HAL is described as difficult due to sparse documentation and subtle hardware assumptions.
  • ARC, SRM, EFI/UEFI, and Open Firmware are compared; Open Firmware’s Forth syntax is criticized as hard to read.

Software availability & practicality

  • Commenters note “basically zero” native PowerPC NT software, making the port more of a technical showcase than a usable daily driver.
  • Some mention niche possibilities (e.g., compiling with available PPC toolchains, running legacy NT PPC binaries) but expectations are low.

Historical OS context & nostalgia

  • Extensive side discussion on Windows NT’s evolution, its POSIX and UNIX subsystems, and later WSL.
  • Comparisons with AIX, Solaris, classic Mac OS, Copland, BeOS, NeXTSTEP/OpenStep, and alternate Apple-history timelines.
  • Many reminisce about multi-architecture NT, Alpha systems, early UNIX exposure, and the broader era of experimental OS projects.