Engineering:Packard Bell Corner PC

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Short description: Personal computer made in the 1990s
Packard Bell Corner PC
ManufacturerPackard Bell
TypeHome Computer
Release date1995; 31 years ago (1995)
Introductory priceUS$1,299 (equivalent to $2,681 in 2024) (without monitor)
Discontinued1997; 29 years ago (1997)
Operating systemWindows 95
CPUIntel Pentium 75 MHz
Memory8MB RAM
Storage820MB
DisplayCathode ray tube Monitor/TV
GraphicsS3 Trio64
SoundAztech Sound Galaxy

Packard Bell Corner PC was the popular name given to the models in the Executive Multi-Media range manufactured by Packard Bell in the mid-1990s, with a distinctive casing designed by the consultancy firm Frog Design to be placed in a corner.[1][2][3] This breaks with the usual trend of rectangular beige towers.[4]

They were originally marketed together with an infrared remote control so that they could be used as a multimedia centre.[5][6]

However, despite the distinctive design of its casing, some critics focused on the fact that the cables and slots were located at the rear, preventing it from being placed perfectly in a corner, as it was necessary to leave a space or the position of the floppy drive and CD reader on the sides, preventing front use.[7][8][9][10]

The pre-installed software included Windows 95 as the operating system,[11] along with Packard Bell Navigator, a programme manager that sought to compete with Microsoft Bob.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Designers gone wild: most bizarre functioning computers | CyberNews" (in en-us). Cybernews. 2021-04-23. https://cybernews.com/editorial/designers-gone-wild-most-bizarre-functioning-computers/. 
  2. ↑ "Project | VT-69 Handheld Terminal | Hackaday.io". https://hackaday.io/project/163829/logs. 
  3. ↑ "Fascinating Look Back at the Strange Packard Bell Corner Computer from 1995" (in en-US). 2024-12-25. https://www.techeblog.com/packard-bell-corner-computer-pc-1995/. 
  4. ↑ Estapé, Juan Antonio Pascual (2025-02-07). "Qué fue de Packard Bell, el fabricante de ordenadores que competía con HP y Dell" (in es). https://computerhoy.20minutos.es/pc/packard-bell-fabricante-ordenadores-competia-hp-dell-1440948. 
  5. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1995-07-11). "Packard Bell PCs Add Another Remote to Pile" (in en-US). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-11-fi-22769-story.html. 
  6. ↑ "Packard Bell introduces PC with remote control function" (in en). https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/07/11/packard-bell-introduces-pc-with-remote-control-function/. 
  7. ↑ "Designers gone wild: most bizarre functioning computers | CyberNews" (in en-us). Cybernews. 2021-04-23. https://cybernews.com/editorial/designers-gone-wild-most-bizarre-functioning-computers/. 
  8. ↑ "7 Vintage Computer Designs That Give Me Nightmares" (in en). 2017-12-28. https://www.pcmag.com/news/7-vintage-computer-designs-that-give-me-nightmares. 
  9. ↑ Farquhar, Dave (2023-06-13). "Packard Bell Corner PC" (in en-US). https://dfarq.homeip.net/packard-bell-corner-pc/. 
  10. ↑ "Packard Bell Executive MM 907 C" (in nl-NL). https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/collectie/packard-bell/packard-bell-executive-mm-907-c/. 
  11. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1995-07-11). "Packard Bell PCs Add Another Remote to Pile" (in en-US). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-11-fi-22769-story.html. 
  12. ↑ "PACKARD BELL MULTIMEDIA: EASY DOES IT" (in en-US). The Washington Post. 1995-04-26. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/technology/1995/04/26/packard-bell-multimedia-easy-does-it/c127c133-a439-4b38-94f8-115965dbba85/. 
  13. ↑ "Packard Bell Navigator" (in en). 2015-12-15. https://www.ithistory.org/db/software/packard-bell/packard-bell-navigator. 

Bibliography

  • Windows Panoráma, 1997 Computer Panoráma Kiadói Kft Internet Archive
  • Power Unlimited - Jaargang 3, 1995, VNU Media Internet Archive
  • "Packard Bell introduces PC with remote control function", page 44, July 11, 1995, Tampa Bay Times tampabay.newspapers
  • Packard Bell PCs Add Another Remote to Pile, page 133, , July 11, 1995, The Los Angeles Times latimes.newspapers




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