Packard Bell
A recent article in PC World about the top 10 worst computers of all time names Packard Bell machines (specifically, those built between 1986-1996) to be the worst ever. Guess what brand of computer we bought in 1992? That’s right! A Packard Bell! It is funny to recall those days, though, when computers were the Next Big Thing. It was amazing that our computer was “multimedia”—pumping out sound and video at the same time! It printed! The screen was in color! We marveled at clips from the San Diego Zoo, and later entertained ourselves playing Where in the World is Carmen San Diego. I learned about ctrl+alt+del, too.
And as with all good stories, there’s more:
And odds are good that if you bought a new Packard Bell system in 1994 or 1995, at least some of its components had been previously owned. The company was sued several times for selling used parts as new, ultimately paying out millions of dollars in settlements.
Regardless, that old lemon took us from 3.1 all the way through 95.
Comments
Dan McKeown +1
My family’s first computer was a Macintosh SE. A fine machine when it first was developed, we did not get to partake in its computation abilities until 10 years after the first Macintosh was sold. I had to use that…monumentally powerful device until my senior year of high school when my family finally moved out of the dark ages and purchased not only a PC not made during the Reagan administration, but we also got a DVD player and PS2. I think my mother was going to have a brain aneurysm but fortunately for her sanity we had already recieved cell phones three years previously so the transition was not as difficult. That being said, I miss Oregon Trail.
John
I don’t miss dying in the rivers.
Mykala +1
I remember being SO sad when (after entering all of the names of the boys I liked at the time) one of my crushes died of dysentery. HOW ON EARTH WERE WE GOING TO GET MARRIED AFTER THAT?!
Dan McKeown
Mykala, if I were a psych major I am sure I would have a lot to say about that last comment. Instead I am a history major and therefore have nothing to say except: I am glad Alex never died fording a river.
Nils
I remember playing Age of Empires (the first) online at Brendan Meeder’s house. He had a Packard Bell, but I don’t remember it being too bad actually. That said, I do remember dominating as the Hittites, Phoenicians, and Greeks.
Richard
i have oregon trail on my computer, it works great except the music is all sped up and and ridiculous sounding.