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15 Years of Microsoft Bob
harrymcc writes "Microsoft Bob — still synonymous in the tech industry with 'embarrassing flop' — shipped fifteen years ago this week, on March 31st, 1995. When the Windows interface featuring animated cartoon helpers was announced, it was hyped to the heavens and briefly accepted as a breakthrough that showed where software was going. Instead, dismal reviews and poor sales killed it after only a year on the market. At Technologizer, we're marking the anniversary with a complete look at how it came to be and why it failed so resoundingly — and how Microsoft tried again with Office's 'Clippy' and other attempts to revive the basic idea."
And to think, I was *this* close to actually forgetting about this miserable piece of shit.
Thanks, Slashdot. \:
When you're not looking, this sig is in Latin.
Leave BOB alone, you meanies!
...Oh yeah. I always wondered what the heck everyone was talking about.....
How did she meet Bill?
She was Unit Manager for Microsoft Bob...
Test your net with Netalyzr
Is he any relation to Baghdad Bob?
Baghdad Bob: "No, there are no allied tanks rolling through Baghdad."
*background shows tanks rolling through Baghdad*
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
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Run a search on Bing
It's always good to have a genuinely laughter-inducing moment before the end of the day. Thanks for this.
Burns: We're building a casino!
McAllister: Arrr. Give me 5 minutes.
Give Clippy some love. I thought he was actually kind of fun, in an occasionally annoying pops-up when you don't want him kind of way.
Searching around I found Apple's Cyberdog a web browser with a similar (but not nearly so pervasive) interface.
For once I'm grateful for the "extinguish" part of Microsoft's philosophy.
I used to work a lot of trade shows. Comdex, CES, early multimedia trade shows.
I attended the shows where Microsoft Bob was announced. The hype was amazing. Taxi had signs. The daily magazines they hand out had adverts.
The funniest bit of promotion: Microsoft hired a limo driver, or at least a guy in a limo driver costume, to wander around the arrival concourse at McCarren. He was holding a big sign with "BOB" written on it.
As in, Bob was arriving at CES (or whatever show that was)!
Of course, as a Pope in the Church of the SubGenius, I knew the greatness of "Bob" all along.
These cranky people are not knuckleheads, but rather accountants
You and I have wildly diverging opinions of accountants...
You can't take the sky from me...
It makes me feel so professional when an animated puppy helps me find files.
Who does there branding? Mr. Rogers?
They named it after the character from Twin Peaks. The demon that went around possessing other people's souls.
Have gnu, will travel.