Microsoft WinPad

Microsoft WinPad
Version of Microsoft Windows
Logo
Screenshot
OS family16-bit Windows
Version1.00.xx
Architecturex86 16-bit
Latest build1.00.4915
Based on
Windows 3.1x
Windows 95
Modular Windows

Microsoft WinPad (also known as At Work for Handhelds[1] and Handheld Windows) is an unreleased Windows user interface for touch-enabled devices by Microsoft. The system was initially based on Windows 3.1 and later ported to pre-release builds of Windows 95 (then known as Microsoft Chicago) from build 73f to build 275. WinPad-compatible handhelds would synchronize between desktops (using the Switchboard) running Windows 95, and allow e-mail, faxing, file transfer, and task management on the mobile device.

Development[edit | edit source]

An SDK and debug build exists for Windows 3.1 (and can run standalone in Standard Mode), while the Windows 95 port is newer but more limited. Development on WinPad was dropped during the "Final Beta" stage of Windows 95 development. The user interface and architecture later influenced the development of Windows CE.

Cancellation[edit | edit source]

WinPad was canceled due to issues with hardware like high RAM usage, problems with battery usage, and cost effectiveness.[1]

[edit | edit source]

List of known builds[edit | edit source]

Windows 3.1-based builds[edit | edit source]

Windows Chicago/95-based builds[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Fitzgerald, Michael. Microsoft reworks WinPad, Computerworld (p.6). 28 November 1994.