Nice Java applet version: http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns
Original article: http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/october1970.html
Life32: fastest for windows, huge universe: http://psoup.math.wisc.edu/Life32.html
Pattern Catalog, with embedded Java applet: http://www.radicaleye.com/lifepage/patterns/contents.html
For Life demo, recommend the Java Applet.