D2CA.ORG - Dan's 20th Century Abandonware - Microsoft® Bob™ Exhibit

When starting Microsoft Bob for the first time, "Rover" will ask you if you would like to take a tour of the "Bob Home." The "Home Tour" can also be taken any time once signed in to the Bob Home by selecting it as one of the "Personal Guide's" options.

Featured below are 18 screen shots taken from the complete Microsoft Bob "Home Tour."

The first time Microsoft Bob is run, "Rover" offers to take you on a tour of the "Bob Home."

Microsoft Bob's "Home Tour" can be taken either the first time Microsoft Bob is started, or any time you are signed in to the "Bob Home" by selecting the tour option from your resident "Personal Guide."

The Home Tour actually consists of 16 "prompts" of information offered by your current Personal Guide. You never actually leave the "room."

Technically, there is a "manual" included in the Microsoft Bob 1.00 retail package -- the "Bob Magazine." Even though the packaging and promotions claimed there was no "manual" for Bob, on the inside cover of the Bob Magazine is the phrase, "This is your 'manual' for Microsoft Bob."

The Microsoft Bob 1.0a OEM CD-ROMs included with computer systems did not have the Bob Magazine, and therefore had no manual.

If you use the "Bob Home" in place of the Windows 3.1x or Windows 9x "shell," there is no Program Manager or Start Menu from which to run other programs installed on your computer.

Microsoft Bob can create icon PIF "shortcuts" to allow you to run any other DOS or Windows programs on your computer.

Some "rooms" offered in Microsoft Bob are devoid of decoration or substance. Should you feel the need to "accessorize," there is a wealth of clipart and animated graphics included in Microsoft Bob to allow you to decorate your rooms to your liking.

Just as Microsoft provides accessories in 16-bit and 32-bit Windows, they also include a wealth of application software in Microsoft Bob. This allows a person to be productive in Microsoft Bob without having to purchase additional software.

And probably a good thing, too. For with the exception of one outside program, which was also created by Microsoft, no other software vendor -- commercial, shareware, or freeware -- wrote a single application program or game for Microsoft Bob. If only there had been a "Bob Spreadsheet..."

One upside to this lack of software acceptance was also the fact that there were no known viruses written to exploit Microsoft Bob.

"Bob Letter Writer" also incorporates a version of Microsoft WordArt created especially for Microsoft Bob.

"Bob Calendar" can also show the phases of the Moon, offers a word for the day, shows birthdays of famous people, and can give you an "EcoTip" on how to be more environmentally friendly.

"Bob Checkbook" is also Microsoft Money compatible.

Before entrusting your most sensitive financial data to "Bob Financial Guide," you may want to look into the strengths, and weaknesses, of Microsoft Bob's "security." "Rover" does not double as a watchdog.

The only thing missing in this collection of household information is how to overhaul the "Bob Home."

I thought earlier in this tour, "Woof! Woof! Where's the manual?," they said to "just follow your guide."

If you purchased a computer system with the OEM Microsoft Bob 1.0a version there was no "Bob Magazine" included with the system. So how did OEM users of Microsoft Bob set up their E-Mail accounts?

I'm curious ... did anyone actually sign up for a Bob E-Mail account? Did you? Please tell me!

Just to note, the "White House e-mail address" has changed since Microsoft Bob's release, as have many of the other U.S. government e-mail addresses.

This educational program is perhaps the most valuable aspect of Microsoft Bob. It can help children, teens, and even adults increase their knowledge of earth's geography and learn about our Solar System.

Microsoft Bob's application programs integrate data with each other in a similar fashion that "mainstream" suite software does.

Microsoft put some of the most realistic, crisp, high quality sounds into Microsoft Bob that mainstream technology of the day allowed. The voices are studio-quality. The sounds good enough for TV and movies.

There is a great diversity of personalities in the "Personal Guides" of Microsoft Bob. No matter what your preference, there are some you will love, some that will irritate you, others you will despise, and others still you will find solace in. Some will make you laugh, others will make you scream. Some you will want to rip out of that "social interface" and serve at your next banquet.

This gives you a good overview of what Microsoft Bob is and what it has to offer.

<< PREV NEXT >>