June 20, 2026
XP-cellent drama boots up
Show HN: My Windows XP portfolio with working Game Boy and iPod
This fake Windows XP portfolio has people swooning, clicking, and nitpicking every pixel
TLDR: A designer built a portfolio that looks and feels like old-school Windows XP, right down to the playful gadgets. Commenters are mostly obsessed with the nostalgia and fun factor, though a few are already poking at flaws — because no beloved throwback escapes the internet’s nitpick squad.
A designer turned their portfolio into a full-on Windows XP throwback, complete with a boot screen, desktop icons, a Start menu, and even little nostalgia grenades like a working Game Boy and iPod. And the crowd reaction? Pure emotional chaos. One camp was instantly transported back to the early 2000s, with commenters practically hugging their old gadgets through the screen. “That Windows XP loading bar brings me back,” one user sighed, while another yelled out love for the iPod click wheel like they’d just reunited with a long-lost friend.
But this wasn’t just a nostalgia trip — people were also treating it like a game. Commenters praised how clickable and inviting it felt, saying the creator had already won because visitors immediately wanted to poke around and explore. In internet terms, that’s basically a standing ovation. The loudest cheerleaders said the creator had “nailed the feel” and should ignore the haters.
Of course, no online lovefest stays peaceful for long. A returning commenter showed up with sequel energy, noting that earlier problems seem fixed but then immediately spotting a new oddity in the projects section. That sparked the classic internet mini-drama: is this a brilliant playful portfolio, or are people letting nostalgia forgive every weird design choice? For now, the mood is overwhelmingly charmed — with a side of cheerful nitpicking. It’s less “serious portfolio review” and more the comments section turning into a reunion for former Windows XP kids.
Key Points
- •The article is a Show HN post showcasing a visual designer portfolio themed around the Windows XP interface.
- •The portfolio includes a simulated boot process and login screen before users access the main content.
- •Visitors are encouraged to use full-screen mode via F11 for the intended experience.
- •The desktop interface contains navigation items for About Me, My Resume, My Projects, and Contact Me.
- •The interface also includes a taskbar, system tray, clock, and log-off options to mirror an operating system environment.