Microsoft BOB – A tour of Microsoft’s forgotten desktop “enhancement”

What is Microsoft BOB? In this Youtube exclusive I’ll show you one of Microsoft’s failed experiments with alternative user interfaces.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

See the recent Microsoft ad featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. (Sept. 7)
Video Rating: 4 / 5

50 Responses to Microsoft BOB – A tour of Microsoft’s forgotten desktop “enhancement”

  1. PenguinGaming says:

    This was the best Operating System yet.

  2. Johan Eusoff says:

    I have a peculiar fear of old technology; it makes me feel suffocated and
    agitated for no reason, also frustration. Microsoft Bob gives me all these
    feelings at once.

  3. TheShotokanWarrior says:

    kindda cool…

  4. Michael Ellis says:

    So this is the broken condom which resulted in Office “Clippit” Assistant.
    Great..

  5. jcrowley1985 says:

    I like this more then the stupid “metro” interface in windows 8. 

  6. Leah Kosinski says:

    I grew up using this. It was a GREAT tool for teaching me how to use the
    computer when i was a little kid. I liked decorating the rooms and trying
    out all the avatars and playing the small assortment of minigames. I liked
    when my sibling would unlock a private room for me to visit. Yeah, for
    adults, i could see this sucking. But my mother did use it for her work
    processing and address book keeping. So i can see how it failed, but it
    was pretty awesome in my house.

  7. Tobias Morin says:

    1:54 What would happen if press the other button

  8. Trisha Hogan says:

    I used to play on this when I was a kid. It was actually kind of fun. 

  9. Marcelo Naconeski says:

    Well, it would be a good help for old people that are starting to use the
    computer. It does not seem for kids. 

  10. FootLoose4ver says:

    Bob did give us Comic Sans.

  11. Roy Diaz says:

    I prefer wbob than w8

  12. megloton says:

    Finally an original Microsoft product. Awesome
    

  13. KRoMEOS says:

    I’ll admit. Microsoft BOB was pretty cute. But it was also confusing. You
    can’t do ANYTHING without that dog spamming your screen with tips. Like,
    really? Let us learn on our own, Microsoft. I do agree though, BOB did seem
    to entertain kids. But the adults must’ve felt embarrassed when they had to
    get a task done. Kiddie Interface, annoying-over friendly-dog. Yep, now I
    can see why Microsoft took BOB out. When I first heard of Bob.. I just
    thought he was a voice like Microsoft Annie or something. But now, seeing
    as it was more like a game then something to help people get comfortable
    with their computer, I can definitely say that Microsoft had the EVERY
    RIGHT to remove Microsoft BOB.

  14. gunner210611 says:

    If this was an attempt to make this less “Menacing” This honestly make it a
    bit more because holy crap that is a strange interface. Well makes scene
    why they reason why it was scrapped.

  15. Emergency Jergens says:

    Microsoft must have been high

  16. stefanhyltoft says:

    Metro interface anno 1995

  17. AeizzatToha says:

    What’s with those Windows Me / Windows 2000 icons in your Windows 98 SE?

  18. Magic Patagonia says:

    WTF!!!…..

  19. Windows 95 FTW says:

    my toe is infected…

  20. volikoto says:

    well… thank God its not a whole operating system… just a 2d game alike.

  21. moji filmovi says:

    Actually BOB project concept was Melinda’s (French) Gates idea. Bill Gates
    wife.

  22. Craig Maloney says:

    Wondering if we’re getting back to this innovative user interface.

  23. Dyo Kasparov says:

    ░░░░███████ ]▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Bob is building an army.
    ▂▄▅█████████▅▄▃▂ ☻/︻╦╤─ This tank & Bob are against Google+
    Il███████████████████]. /▌ Copy and Paste this all over
    ◥⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙◤.. / YouTube if you are with us!

  24. René De Groot says:

    Why in software the analogy with the real world works so well….

  25. WinXPwhiz says:

    I liked it.

  26. iDispiseMicrosoftWindows says:

    I kind of don’t get that

  27. UndeadAirwaves says:

    I really just don’t get it.
    There are going to be a lot of PC users attaching their dignity and anger
    to this.
    I do not get the joke. It’s nothing against a computer. The commercial is a
    flop.
    I am sorry.

  28. BigNorman14 says:

    Not sure what all the hate is about. This is one of my favorite
    commercials.

  29. zatchbeltguy says:

    This actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be

  30. WisePuppet says:

    Bill Gates featured in many adds for Microsoft; this one, trying hard to be
    funny -

  31. Long Tail Technology says:

    Microsoft Ad Strives for Comedy

  32. eatcarpet says:

    @ot00s1cko Um… it’s called a joke.

  33. sdvorchin says:

    This ad has nothing to do with Apple vs Microsoft. In 2008 MIcrosoft
    weren’t at all aimed at smartphones and Mac OS X’s market share was like
    4%. It’s now that Apple have sold 220 million iPhones, 100+ million iPads
    and Mac sales are going up due to the fact that since Lion OS X is ACTUALLY
    the best operating system for those who don’t play PC games or use some
    very specific software, it’s now that everyone’s getting so pumped up.

  34. shecanfeel says:

    i must say this commercial is a failure. they shoot to be the future and
    delicious, but in 2008 jerry seinfeld is past and tiresome. nor did it have
    any futuristic appeal.

  35. G0dlik3 0rang3 says:

    looks like steve balmer in the background.

  36. daveme7 says:

    If Microsoft actually came out with software that works-then maybe this
    would fit the commercial. Cuustomer service and stuff that works is not
    exactly the same that it used to be.

  37. Stupidxxxx says:

    Seinfeld was paid $10 Million for this ad.

  38. M Ragunathan says:

    Try holding down a job without them :)

  39. rbflowin says:

    My programing compiler is not compatible with mac

  40. ImperialArmour says:

    Woohooo for the world’s most charitable man! William H. Gates!! m/

  41. Chnamanjx says:

    @jmanwani7 Not a very effective ad, it doesn’t convey the “cheaper yet same
    quality message” well at all. Its also shoes Gates having a hard time
    getting his shoes to fit and feel comfortable. Pretty terrible ad, and they
    paid Seinfeld some 25 million for it.

  42. Jonas B. Ingebretsen says:

    It has smart symbolisms that people like you don’t catch.

  43. thatapplegeek says:

    @MegaSMITH1123 I have tons of respect for him due to his charity, but I
    have no respect for his work being able to use a copying machine.

  44. evildrkirby says:

    I read a hacker magazine recently detailing how to hijack a UNIX-style
    process, probably on Linux. PM’ed specifics.

  45. Reparo96 says:

    lol they used his mugshot from the seventies when he got arrested for
    speeding in a porsche

  46. Vahtacen says:

    Now….. I want to buy some shoes.

  47. icemaneu says:

    Windows is a joke.

  48. pillzownsu says:

    @akumacornflakes They were advertising churros and that shoe store. duh

  49. Rasheed Thomas says:

    I always laugh at 0:20 for some weird reason.

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