Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PCem VS Microsoft Small Basic

Compare PCem VS Microsoft Small Basic and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

PCem logo PCem

PCem emulates an IBM 5150 PC, several models of clones and successors, along with various graphics...

Microsoft Small Basic logo Microsoft Small Basic

Microsoft Small Basic puts the fun back into computer programming.
  • PCem Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-06
  • Microsoft Small Basic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26

PCem features and specs

  • High Compatibility
    PCem is known for its high compatibility with a wide range of older PC systems, allowing users to emulate various hardware configurations from the '80s and '90s.
  • Wide OS Support
    PCem supports a variety of operating systems, allowing users to run DOS, Windows 95, 98, and many other legacy systems.
  • Authentic Experience
    By emulating the hardware at a low level, PCem provides an experience that is very close to using an actual vintage PC.
  • Customization
    Users have extensive control over the configuration of the emulated machine, including CPU type, amount of RAM, and various peripherals.

Possible disadvantages of PCem

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up PCem can be complex, especially for users not familiar with configuring legacy PC hardware and software.
  • Resource Intensive
    PCem can be resource-intensive compared to other emulators, requiring a relatively powerful modern PC to run smoothly.
  • Limited Graphics Support
    While it supports many early graphics cards, PCem lacks support for more advanced graphics emulation beyond older Voodoo models.
  • Requires BIOS
    PCem requires the user to provide their own BIOS files for the emulated systems, which can be difficult to legally obtain.

Microsoft Small Basic features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Microsoft Small Basic is specifically designed for beginners and has a very simple and intuitive interface, making it accessible for those who are new to programming.
  • Simplified Syntax
    The language features a simplified syntax, which helps newcomers understand the basics of programming without getting overwhelmed by complex code structures.
  • Educational Tool
    It serves as an excellent educational tool for teaching programming to children and beginners, providing a gentle introduction to software development concepts.
  • Integration with Turtle Graphics
    The built-in Turtle Graphics support allows users to create simple drawings and animations, which is a fun and interactive way to learn programming concepts.
  • Strong Community Support
    The platform has a supportive community and ample learning resources available online, which can be very helpful for beginners.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Small Basic

  • Limited Functionality
    Microsoft Small Basic is not suitable for developing complex applications because it lacks advanced features and extensive libraries compared to more comprehensive programming languages.
  • Transition Challenge
    Moving from Small Basic to more advanced programming languages can be challenging as it lacks some fundamental programming concepts found in further-developed languages, like object-oriented programming.
  • Platform Dependence
    Small Basic is tightly integrated with Microsoft Windows, which can limit experimentation and usage on other operating systems.
  • No Real-World Application Development
    As primarily an educational tool, Small Basic isn't intended for real-world application development, which limits its use to mainly educational purposes.

PCem videos

Installation and Review of Windows NT 3.1 Build 297 (PCem)

More videos:

  • Review - Emulating Windows 98 (D3D, 3Dfx) on PCEM running 3DMark'99 Full Speed On A Windows 10 PC
  • Demo - Blood II PC Gamer Demo (PCEM Test)

Microsoft Small Basic videos

Demonstration of Microsoft Small Basic

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PCem and Microsoft Small Basic)
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile Apps
0 0%
100% 100
Text Editors
72 72%
28% 28
Web Development Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using PCem and Microsoft Small Basic. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PCem seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 34 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PCem mentions (34)

  • Popularity of DOS/4GW made Win95 game compat easier, but with higher stakes
    Absolutely check out PCem for a closer to hardware emulation than dosbox, https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Anyone get Sid Meier's SimGolf Working?
    One option is to try PCEm https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/ which is a emulator for old computers that runs on Windows and Linux, I actually learned about it via this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9HP9W88Wew of a guy playing Sim Golf on his Windows PC using PCEm, this should be similar on Linux but I'm not sure if the SteamDeck will have enough power but maybe worth a try. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is there anyway to port old abandonware Windows 95/98 game to Apple Silicon?
    For hardcore mode, compile PCEm - I think brew has most of the dependencies available ... https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/ - have fun! Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is VirtualBox still really bad with Windows 9x?
    You use 86box or PCem which are not virtualizers but hardware emulators so you will need a really fast CPU (especially in single thread). The advantage is that Windows 98 will be running on period appropriate hardware, since all of it is being emulated real-time. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Intel Explores Transition to 64-Bit-Only X86S Architecture
    QEMU [0] emulates many systems, including the 32-bit Intel architecture. For retro gaming specifically I can recommend PCem [1], which also emulates a wide range of sound and graphics cards, from IBM MDA to 3dfx Voodoo 2. [0] https://www.qemu.org/ [1] https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
View more

Microsoft Small Basic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft Small Basic yet. Tracking of Microsoft Small Basic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PCem and Microsoft Small Basic, you can also consider the following products

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