I really miss the UI/UX of the 90s and I sincerely think that while nostalgia plays a part, they have real merit. We don't really think about what we've lost in the quest for "attractive" and "simple" UIs

In those screenshots, what's clickable is obvious. What things can be interacted with is hinted at. Every element has a generous amount of space to be selected/clicked.

I really do believe that modern UIs generally increase cognitive load and are less enjoyable to use. Things are less discoverable than they used to be.

It amazes me how much early interfaces got right, and saddens me how much we've forgotten.

Modern UIs are also almost impossible for elderly people to use, precisely because the common sense notions of ‘button’ and ‘scrollbar’ and such are frowned upon and have been all but banished. Ironically, iOS is full of obscure hidden controls and options despite the Macintosh being one of the greatest examples of intuitive UI design ever — which might actually be even harder to appreciate in hindsight given that it set the standard in so many ways.

I am sure you like the SerenityOS interface

Don't get too sentimental. Windows 98 didn't really have any real memory protection. Meaning every process could modify all kinds of memory they shouldn't (kernel, other proceses, etc.). Hence kernel panics (aka "blue screens") were quite common. They usually happend multiple times a week. Auto-save also wasn't really a thing. I still have a "CTRL - S" reflex whenever I have some form of editor open.

I think they're right about the interface itself, and agree with you wholeheartedly about the technical problems of the time. NT was a massive leap forward and it amazes me how long it existed before Microsoft could merge the consumer and business spaces in XP.

That said, something to be said for truly feeling in control of your own computer and not worrying at all about what it's doing behind your back (or what might change without you knowing in the next update!)

They were referring to the simplicity of the GUI. Not the OS architecture.

Windows NT 4 had memory protection and this GUI, if that helps frame it in your mind.

But… skeuomorphism and crispy lines of pixels! And cute sound effects.

You could use it with only a local account though.

Oh no! What will I do without my cloud account, telemetry, and ads?

General purpose computing, you miscreant!

And after 30 years Windows 10 and 11 has only limited file protection so any ransomware can be fatal. I guess we are evolving.