Bob Desktop Buddy for mac! 7 5 1K (1 Today). By ItamiRena Watch. Published: May 24, 2012. Visual ArtOriginal WorkDigital Art. © 2012 - 2020 ItamiRena.

Microsoft Bob was a Microsoftsoftware product that was released on March 11, 1995 and discontinued in early 1996. The program was intended to provide a more user-friendly interface for the Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems, supplanting the Windows Program Manager. Microsoft Bob presented screens showing a 'house', with 'rooms' that the user could go to containing familiar objects corresponding to computer applications—for instance, a desk with pen and paper, a checkbook, and other items. In this case, clicking on the pen and paper would open the word processor.

A cartoon dog named Rover and other cartoon characters provided guidance using speech balloons. Rover and a few others later returned in Windows XP as 'Search Companions'.

Upon release, Microsoft Bob was criticized in the media and did not gain wide acceptance with users, which resulted in its discontinuation.

History[edit]

Microsoft Bob was released in March 1995 (before Windows 95 was released), although it had been widely publicized prior to that date under the codename 'Utopia'.^[3][4] The project leader for Bob was Karen Fries, a Microsoft researcher. The design was based on research by Professors Clifford Nass and Byron Reeves of Stanford University.^[5]Melinda Gates, wife of Bill Gates, was marketing manager for the product.^[6] Microsoft originally purchased the domain name bob.com from Boston-area techie Bob Antia, but later traded it to Bob Kerstein for the windows2000.com domain name.^[7]

Applications[edit]

Bob included various office suite programs such as a finance application and a word processor. The user interface was designed to simplify the navigational experience for novice computer users.

Similar to early graphical shells like Jane, the main interface is portrayed as the inside of a house, with different rooms corresponding to common real-world room styles such as a kitchen or family room. Each room contains decorations and furniture, as well as icons that represent applications. Bob offers the user the option of fully customizing the entire house. The user has full control over decorating each room, and can add, remove, or reposition all objects. The user can also add or remove rooms from the house and change the destinations of each door. There is also a feature in which Bob offers multiple themes for room designs and decorations, such as contemporary and postmodern.^[8]

The applications built into Bob are represented by matching decorations – for example, clicking on a clock opens the calendar, while a pen and paper represent the word processor. The user can also add shortcuts to applications on their computer. These shortcuts display the icon inside various styles of decorations such as boxes and picture frames.^[8]

Released right as the Internet was beginning to become popular, Bob offered an email client with which a user could subscribe to MCI Mail, a dial-up email account. The price was $5.00 per month to send up to 15 emails per month. Each email was limited to 5000 characters, and each additional email after the limit was reached was an additional 45 cents. A toll-free phone number had to be called to set up the account.^[9]

Bob features 'Assistants', cartoon characters intended to help the user navigate the virtual house or perform tasks in the main interface or within the built-in applications.

Gateway 2000 Edition[edit]

An edition of Microsoft Bob was bundled with the Gateway 2000 computer around 1995. The Gateway Edition contained Gateway branding on the Login screen along with additional rooms and backgrounds not seen in the retail version. One additional room was the attic, which contained the box to a Gateway 2000 computer. Along with the additional rooms, there were more icons that appeared by default in the new rooms.^[10]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Bob was one of Microsoft's more visible product failures.^[11] Despite being discontinued before Windows 95 was released, Microsoft Bob continued to be severely criticized in reviews and popular media.^[12] In 2017, Melinda Gates acknowledged that the software 'needed a more powerful computer than most people had back then'.^[6]

Bob received the 7th place in PC World magazine's list of the 25 worst tech products of all time,^[13] number one worst product of the decade by CNET.com,^[14] and a spot in a list of the 50 worst inventions published by Time magazine, who called Bob 'overly cutesy' and an 'operating system designed around Clippy'.^[15] Microsoft's Steve Ballmer mentioned Bob as an example of a situation in which 'we decided that we have not succeeded and let's stop'.^[16]

Microsoft employee Raymond Chen wrote in an article that an encrypted copy of Bob was included on Windows XP install CDs to take up space and slow down the downloading of illegal copies.^[11] Tech journalist Harry McCracken called the story 'a delightfully urban legend-y tale' and noted its similarities to an April Fools' Day joke claiming Bob was hidden in Windows Vista.^[17]

Rover, the software's dog mascot, reappeared in Windows XP's File Search function.

The typefaceComic Sans was created for (but not used in) Microsoft Bob.^[18]

Windows 10[edit]

In 2015, a successor to Microsoft Bob was released called Windows 10.^[19] It also contained Cortana, an improved assistant over Clippy but with a subdued appearance. Eventually Cortana failed and Bob was problematic due to continuous system breaking updates.

See also[edit]

Microsoft

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Lifecycle Information for Microsoft Obsolete Products Support'. support.microsoft.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 14 August 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
2. ^'Raymond Chen Discusses Microsoft Bob'. technet.microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
3. ^'MS plans Utopia for PC users'. Computer Shoqqer. April 1994.
4. ^'Microsoft makes for Utopia'. Personal Computer World. May 1994.
5. ^McCracken, Harry (March 31, 2010). 'The Bob Chronicles'. PC World. IDG. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
6. ^ ^abGates, Melinda (October 8, 2017). 'This failure taught me a lesson I'll never forget'. LinkedIn. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
7. ^Lea, Graham (11 November 1999). 'Windows2000.com owner sells domain to Microsoft'. The Register. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
8. ^ ^abNathan Lineback. 'Microsoft Bob'. Nathan's Toasty Technology. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
9. ^McCracken, Harry (29 March 2010). 'A Guided Tour of Microsoft Bob'. Technologizer. Technologizer, Inc. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
10. ^Rose, Daniel. 'The 'Bob Home''. DanielSays.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
11. ^ ^abChen, Raymond (July 2008). 'Windows Confidential: History Taking Up Space'. TechNet Magazine. Microsoft. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
12. ^Dvorak, John C. (16 August 2004). 'The Bottom 10: Worst Software Disasters'. PC World. IDG. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
13. ^Tynan, Dan (26 March 2006). 'The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time'. PC World. IDG. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
14. ^Merritt, Tom (30 April 2007). 'CNET Top 5: Worst products in a decade'. CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
15. ^Fletcher, Dan (27 May 2010). 'The 50 Worst Inventions'. Time. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
16. ^Cowley, Stacy (31 July 2006). 'Ballmer Analyzes Microsoft's 'One Big' Vista Mistake'. CRN Magazine. The Channel Company. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
17. ^McCracken, Harry (29 March 2010). 'Windows XP: A Free Copy of Bob in Every Box?'. Technologizer. Technologizer, Inc. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
18. ^Strizver, Ilene. 'The Story Behind Comic Sans'. Fonts.com. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
19. ^Harris, Lachlan (2015-07-04). 'Microsoft is re-releasing Bob and you love it'. Engadget. Retrieved 2018-06-13.

External links[edit]

• The GUI Gallery: Microsoft Bob' Examining Bob in the context of other graphical user interfaces
• A more in-depth article about Microsoft Bob(in German)
• Video of the Microsoft Bob in action on YouTube

Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016

You can use the Remote Desktop client for Mac to work with Windows apps, resources, and desktops from your Mac computer. Use the following information to get started - and check out the FAQ if you have questions.

Note

• Curious about the new releases for the macOS client? Check out What's new for Remote Desktop on Mac?
• The Mac client runs on computers running macOS 10.10 and newer.
• The information in this article applies primarily to the full version of the Mac client - the version available in the Mac AppStore. Test-drive new features by downloading our preview app here: beta client release notes.

Get the Remote Desktop client

Follow these steps to get started with Remote Desktop on your Mac:

1. Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from the Mac App Store.
2. Set up your PC to accept remote connections. (If you skip this step, you can't connect to your PC.)
3. Add a Remote Desktop connection or a remote resource. You use a connection to connect directly to a Windows PC and a remote resource to use a RemoteApp program, session-based desktop, or a virtual desktop published on-premises using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections. This feature is typically available in corporate environments.

What about the Mac beta client?

We're testing new features on our preview channel on AppCenter. Want to check it out? Go to Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac and click Download. You don't need to create an account or sign into AppCenter to download the beta client.

If you already have the client, you can check for updates to ensure you have the latest version. In the beta client, click Microsoft Remote Desktop Beta at the top, and then click Check for updates.

Add a Remote Desktop connection

To create a remote desktop connection:

1. In the Connection Center, click +, and then click Desktop.

2. Enter the following information:

   • PC name - the name of the computer.
     • This can be a Windows computer name (found in the System settings), a domain name, or an IP address.
     • You can also add port information to the end of this name, like MyDesktop:3389.
   • User Account - Add the user account you use to access the remote PC.
     • For Active Directory (AD) joined computers or local accounts, use one of these formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or user_name@domain.com.
     • For Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined computers, use one of these formats: AzureADuser_name or AzureADuser_name@domain.com.
     • You can also choose whether to require a password.
     • When managing multiple user accounts with the same user name, set a friendly name to differentiate the accounts.
     • Manage your saved user accounts in the preferences of the app.

3. You can also set these optional settings for the connection:

   • Set a friendly name
   • Add a Gateway
   • Set the sound output
   • Swap mouse buttons
   • Enable Admin Mode
   • Redirect local folders into a remote session
   • Forward local printers
   • Forward Smart Cards

4. Click Save.

To start the connection, just double-click it. The same is true for remote resources.

Export and import connections

You can export a remote desktop connection definition and use it on a different device. Remote desktops are saved in separate .RDP files.

1. In the Connection Center, right-click the remote desktop.
2. Click Export.
3. Browse to the location where you want to save the remote desktop .RDP file.
4. Click OK.

Use the following steps to import a remote desktop .RDP file.

1. In the menu bar, click File > Import.
2. Browse to the .RDP file.
3. Click Open.

Add a remote resource

Remote resources are RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops published using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.

• The URL displays the link to the RD Web Access server that gives you access to RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
• The configured RemoteApp and Desktop Connections are listed.

To add a remote resource:

1. In the Connection Center click +, and then click Add Remote Resources.
2. Enter information for the remote resource:
   • Feed URL - The URL of the RD Web Access server. You can also enter your corporate email account in this field – this tells the client to search for the RD Web Access Server associated with your email address.
   • User name - The user name to use for the RD Web Access server you are connecting to.
   • Password - The password to use for the RD Web Access server you are connecting to.
3. Click Save.

The remote resources will be displayed in the Connection Center.

Connect to an RD Gateway to access internal assets

A Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) lets you connect to a remote computer on a corporate network from anywhere on the Internet. You can create and manage your gateways in the preferences of the app or while setting up a new desktop connection.

Imessage app on mac not working. Is the problem limited to some recipients and not others – specifically, those not using iPhones? This will rebuild your Keychain Access which may fix this problem.If you are still having this problem, please contact Apple support.See also:Filed Under: Tagged With.

To set up a new gateway in preferences:

1. In the Connection Center, click Preferences > Gateways.
2. Click the + button at the bottom of the table Enter the following information:
   • Server name – The name of the computer you want to use as a gateway. This can be a Windows computer name, an Internet domain name, or an IP address. You can also add port information to the server name (for example: RDGateway:443 or 10.0.0.1:443).
   • User name - The user name and password to be used for the Remote Desktop gateway you are connecting to. You can also select Use connection credentials to use the same user name and password as those used for the remote desktop connection.

Manage your user accounts

When you connect to a desktop or remote resources, you can save the user accounts to select from again. You can manage your user accounts by using the Remote Desktop client.

To create a new user account:

1. In the Connection Center, click Settings > Accounts.
2. Click Add User Account.
3. Enter the following information:
   • User Name - The name of the user to save for use with a remote connection. You can enter the user name in any of the following formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or user_name@domain.com.
   • Password - The password for the user you specified. Every user account that you want to save to use for remote connections needs to have a password associated with it.
   • Friendly Name - If you are using the same user account with different passwords, set a friendly name to distinguish those user accounts.
4. Tap Save, and then tap Settings.

Customize your display resolution

You can specify the display resolution for the remote desktop session.

1. In the Connection Center, click Preferences.
2. Click Resolution.
3. Click +.
4. Enter a resolution height and width, and then click OK.

To delete the resolution, select it, and then click -.

Displays have separate spacesIf you are running Mac OS X 10.9 and disabled Displays have separate spaces in Mavericks (System Preferences > Mission Control), you need to configure this setting in the remote desktop client using the same option.

Drive redirection for remote resources

Drive redirection is supported for remote resources, so that you can save files created with a remote application locally to your Mac. The redirected folder is always your home directory displayed as a network drive in the remote session.

Note

In order to use this feature, the administrator needs to set the appropriate settings on the server.

Use a keyboard in a remote session

Mac keyboard layouts differ from the Windows keyboard layouts.

• The Command key on the Mac keyboard equals the Windows key.
• To perform actions that use the Command button on the Mac, you will need to use the control button in Windows (e.g.: Copy = Ctrl + C).
• The function keys can be activated in the session by pressing additionally the FN key (e.g.: FN + F1).
• The Alt key to the right of the space bar on the Mac keyboard equals the Alt Gr/right Alt key in Windows.

By default, the remote session will use the same keyboard locale as the OS you're running the client on. (If your Mac is running an en-us OS, that will be used for the remote sessions as well.) If the OS keyboard locale is not used, check the keyboard setting on the remote PC and change it manually. See the Remote Desktop Client FAQ for more information about keyboards and locales.

Support for Remote Desktop gateway pluggable authentication and authorization

Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced support for a new authentication method, Remote Desktop Gateway pluggable authentication and authorization, which provides more flexibility for custom authentication routines. You can now this authentication model with the Mac client.

Important

Custom authentication and authorization models before Windows 8.1 are not supported, although the article above discusses them.

To learn more about this feature, check out https://aka.ms/paa-sample.

Tip

Questions and comments are always welcome. However, please do NOT post a request for troubleshooting help by using the comment feature at the end of this article. Instead, go to the Remote Desktop client forum and start a new thread. Have a feature suggestion? Tell us in the client user voice forum.