I worked in a computer store during the Microsoft Bob hoopla. It was very overhyped and then was just an extra friendly interface to the computer that contained some scaled down applications. It reminded me a lot of Commodore's Magic Desk for the C-64, which also never took off. People don't want crippled applications and they can only handle "dumbed down" for so long. AOL learned that lesson, though their recent commercials certainly don't reflect that.
As for the PCjr, I have one and must say I gained a new respect for it. It's actually a fairly small and sleek unit, and as long as you have the second version of the keyboard - not the chiclet one - a very functional machine. It really is like an early EGA PC with three channel sound and a cartridge port. Tandy would get it "right" a few years later, making a successful clone of the machine, starting with the Tandy 1000, but then trumpeting it as their own standard with good PC compatibility when the Jr went away for good. I'll be covering both of those as separate entries in my book and I for one can't wait to dig deeper into both of them.
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
[My collection - www.billandchristina.com/vgamecomp/vgamecomp.htm]
[www.MythCore.com]
*************************** Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
I worked in a computer store during the Microsoft Bob hoopla. It was very overhyped and then was just an extra friendly interface to the computer that contained some scaled down applications. It reminded me a lot of Commodore's Magic Desk for the C-64, which also never took off. People don't want crippled applications and they can only handle "dumbed down" for so long. AOL learned that lesson, though their recent commercials certainly don't reflect that.
As for the PCjr, I have one and must say I gained a new respect for it. It's actually a fairly small and sleek unit, and as long as you have the second version of the keyboard - not the chiclet one - a very functional machine. It really is like an early EGA PC with three channel sound and a cartridge port. Tandy would get it "right" a few years later, making a successful clone of the machine, starting with the Tandy 1000, but then trumpeting it as their own standard with good PC compatibility when the Jr went away for good. I'll be covering both of those as separate entries in my book and I for one can't wait to dig deeper into both of them.
=================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
[My collection - www.billandchristina.com/vgamecomp/vgamecomp.htm]
[www.MythCore.com]
***************************
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.