Microsoft Bob

Microsoft Bob
Microsoft Bob Logo.png
MicrosoftBob-1.0.1318-Welcome.png
TypeGraphical shell
Developer(s)Microsoft
Operating systemWindows 3.1x
Windows 95
Supported platforms
Initial release version
Initial release date1995-03-10
Latest release version1.00a
Latest release date
Latest pre-release version
Latest pre-release date
Other name(s)
LicenseEULA
Website
Succeeds
Successor

Microsoft Bob (codenamed Utopia) is a graphical shell for Windows 3.1x and Windows 95, first released by Microsoft in March 1995, with an updated release made in the summer of that year. Bob employed a environment that looked like a house, with customizable rooms containing real-life objects representing each program. The Bob suite featured standard utilities like an address book, e-mail client, calendar and clock, but also included programs to aid with real life scenarios, such as the Household Manager, Financial Guide, or Checkbook. Also included was a PC adaptation of the GeoSafari educational toy. Users could also add standard Windows applications to their room, which would be represented by a box with the application icon on it.

Microsoft intended Bob to be able to be extended by other separately bought software, however, only Microsoft Great Greetings ended up being released in its short shelf time.

The interactive character technology in Microsoft Bob would later form the basis for Microsoft Agent and later the Virtual Assistants on Windows XP.

Support for Microsoft Bob ended on 1 July 1999.

System requirements[edit | edit source]

  • Processor: PC with 80486 or higher processor
  • Memory: 8 MB of RAM or higher
  • Hard disk: 32MB of free space
  • Operating system:
    • Windows 3.1x with MS-DOS 3.2 or later
    • Windows 95
  • Display: SVGA, 256 colors (8-bit)
  • Mouse
  • Modem (at least 2400 baud) for the E-Mail application
  • Sound card (using a Windows driver) and speaker or headphones [optional]

List of known builds[edit | edit source]

Beta 1[edit | edit source]

Pre-RTM[edit | edit source]

RTM[edit | edit source]