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First Windows computer I ever used had something like this, called Packard Bell Navigator. It was... interesting but ultimately an annoyance to use. Looking a
by silisili 2y ago
First Windows computer I ever used had something like this, called Packard Bell Navigator. It was... interesting but ultimately an annoyance to use.
Looking at screenshots, Bob appears to be a more childish and cartoony version of the concept. I can see why it didn't fair well.
https://youtu.be/pwTIbYV_q6I https://youtu.be/pwTIbYV_q6I around the 12 to 13 minute mark shows the Navigator interface.
- TimTheTinker 2y agoThe first computer that I bought (in 8th grade, after saving for a couple of years) had Packard Bell Navigator. It was a sort of full-screen program in Windows 95 that you'd use to launch other programs, although it could do a few other things in-app. It was ... odd. I opened it once or twice and deleted it.
- phito 2y agoYou just unlocked a core memory for me. I remember that house so well but haven't thought of it in decades!
- skeeter2020 2y agoif Microsoft Bob was too cartoony for you, you could also go with a cartoony puppy, or a cartoon wizard! I worked with a software developer who LOVED that puppy - way more than I loved MOPy fish (rip)
- cr125rider 2y agoPetey the green bird, then gorilla was my buddy. Bonsai Buddy I think he was called!?
- silisili 2y agoUgh, I had forgotten all about that. I'll never get that creepy robotic "Day, z. Day, z" out of my head.
- cr125rider 2y ago“Adult Password” vs the much more common modern “Admin Password” is excellent
- ciabattabread 2y agoUgh, Packard Bell. Being our first computer, we had no idea that Navigator program was pointless until months after. And I think it was another year before we realized it was capable of true color resolution (It shipped with 256 colors as the default).
- pjerem 2y agoWell, as a kid, I loved it. It was probably awful but I didn’t care at all it had extreme 90´s vibes. All of my games were in a space room or whatever I remember. I was 6 or 7 and I discovered computers. Everything was cool. Packard Bell Navigator was in everything so it was cool :) Yes it’s nostalgia.
- asveikau 2y agoVersion 1.0 of Packard bell navigator in that video reminds me of the Macintosh "at ease" software I used to see in schools. Totally off topic, I'm reminded that a high school friend gave me an old Packard bell machine for free once, and I ran OpenBSD on it for years. I got some ISA NICs and used it as a firewall.
- narrator 2y agoOh gawd I remember Mac "At Ease." That was the dumbed down lockdown software they used to make the computers at the school labs fun proof.
- egil 2y agoMy father installed it on our family mac. I somehow discovered that by quickly rebooting twice, it would start the usual Finder shell instead, albeit in English instead of the configured Norwegian. Fun times.