geekhack

geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: microsoft windows on Mon, 17 August 2009, 13:03:51

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 17 August 2009, 13:03:51

I was playing around with Microsoft Bob, a failed product to make using computers like a house, when I realized that the Bob assistants work in Office '97.

If you're familiar with Microsoft Bob, you must have heard of Rover! Here he is in Microsoft Word.

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3832&d=1250532182)

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: timw4mail on Mon, 17 August 2009, 13:27:49

And yet, they couldn't dispose of the silly, but useless "assistants" in Office...

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: rdh on Mon, 17 August 2009, 13:39:29

Bob who?

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 17 August 2009, 14:37:49

The Office assistants aren't a bad thing! I like them despite their uselessness.

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 18 August 2009, 08:39:22

Quote from: timw4mail;110224

And yet, they couldn't dispose of the silly, but useless "assistants" in Office...

The responsible developer was Melinda Gates. Wait until you're married and you'll understand.

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 18 August 2009, 18:58:05

I found a few more assistants from Bob that work in Office: the purple elephant from GeoSafari and the book guy from the Bob Chequebook.

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: Mercen_505 on Tue, 18 August 2009, 19:04:46

Back in the early 90s when I was working some ****e job at the local Mall, we had a lonely copy of MS Bob sitting on the shelf collecting dust. No one would even consider buying it!

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: Mr.6502 on Tue, 18 August 2009, 19:14:31

I always thought the concept of Bob was alright, it was just horribly implemented.  I made something similar for my parents at some point to get them more accustomed to using the computer.  

I do like that they kept using the office assistants from it for a while.

Rover is still there on the search screen for XP too.  Albeit in a more 3D look.

Title: Microsoft Bob
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 18 August 2009, 19:31:08

It's a weird one. I think Windows is a hideously overcomplicated OS, both in terms of maintenance requirements and even just using it on a day to day basis, but yet it's too dumbed down to do anything really useful or diagnose problems properly. People say that Linux is a 'difficult' OS, but I found it much easier to teach my Mam how to use it compared with Windows XP.