An alternate Windows interface from Microsoft that was introduced in early 1996, but never caught on. It let you decorate your own "rooms" with familiar objects, and various animated guides such as "Rover the dog" provided online help. Bob also came with a word processor, checkbook and other home-oriented utilities.
The Public Family Room
This "Public Family Room" was Bob's default startup screen. Clicking the calendar would launch the calendar program; clicking the $ box opened a financial guide and so forth. In an attempt to make the computer friendlier than the mainstream versions of Windows, Microsoft Bob went too far in the opposite direction. (Screen shot courtesy of Dan Rose~.)
The Public Family Room
This "Public Family Room" was Bob's default startup screen. Clicking the calendar would launch the calendar program; clicking the $ box opened a financial guide and so forth. In an attempt to make the computer friendlier than the mainstream versions of Windows, Microsoft Bob went too far in the opposite direction. (Screen shot courtesy of Dan Rose~.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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