Microsoft Home
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Microsoft Home was a line of software applications and personal hardware products published by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Home software titles first appeared in the middle of 1993. These applications were designed to bring multimedia to Microsoft Windows and Macintosh personal computers and, by 1994, more than 60 products were available in the Microsoft Home line. The success of the Microsoft Windows operating system could be attributed to the availability and range of Microsoft Home software. The range of software catered for many different consumer interests from gaming with Microsoft Arcade and Entertainment Packs to reference titles such as Microsoft Encarta, Bookshelf and Cinemania. Shortly after the release of Microsoft Windows 95, the company began to reduce the price of Microsoft Home products and by 1998, Microsoft began to phase out the line of software. Today, Microsoft Home products can still be found on eBay every once in a while, and they are beginning to fetch collector prices. However, some of them are available for download on the Internet.
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[edit] Titles
Microsoft Home produced software for all different uses and environements. The products were divided into five categories: Reference & Exploration, Entertainment, Kids, Home & Small Business Management, Sounds, Sights & Gear. The category in which the product was divided is identifiable by the package. Generally, Reference & Exploration products have a purple base color, Entertainment has a black base color, Kids has a yellow base color, Home & Small Business Management has a green color and Sounds, Sights & Gear products have a grey or red base color. Note that many applications were developed in conjunction with other reputable software and reference companies. For example, Microsoft Musical Instruments was developed with Dorling Kindersley.
[edit] Reference & Exploration
Microsoft Home Reference products brought information to Multimedia Personal Computers - it was an effective way of presenting and exploring information before the World Wide Web became mainstream. These products were embellished with hyperlink navigation systems, which were relatively new at this time. Most of these products were released on CD-ROM, giving the software the ability to display high-resolution graphics and animations, and play high-quality waveforms and MIDI files. These products proved that personal computers would revolutionize the way that we find and explore information.
| Name | Year of First Release | Retail Price when New |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Encarta '95 | 1995 | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 |
| Microsoft Bookshelf '94 | 1994 | US$69.95/CAD$99.95 |
| Microsoft Cinemania '95 | 1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Complete Baseball | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Complete NBA Basketball | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Ancient Lands | 1994 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Dinosaurs | 1993 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Dangerous Creatures | 1994 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Dogs | 1995 | |
| Microsoft Musical Instruments | 1992 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Isaac Asimov's The Ultimate Robot | 1993 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Art Gallery | 1994 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft The Ultimate Frank Lloyd Wright: America's Architect | 1994 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Composer Collection | 1995 | US$79.95/CAD$109.95 |
| Microsoft Multimedia Mozart: The Dissonant Quartet | 1992-1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Beethoven: The Ninth Symphony | 1992-1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Multimedia Mozart: The Trout Quintet | 1992-1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Multimedia Mozart: The Rite of Spring | 1992-1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Multimedia Mozart: Three Tone Poems | 1992-1995 | US$59.95/CAD$79.95 |
| Microsoft Bob | 1995 | US$99.00/ |
[edit] Entertainment
In the early 1990's, games on personal computers generally ran on the outdated MS-DOS Operating System. However, with the introduction of Microsoft Windows 3.1x in 1992, Microsoft Home published several entertainment applications that implemented the new technologies of Microsoft Windows. Furthermore, these applications encouraged the computer gamers of the time to migrate from MS-DOS to Microsoft Windows. This transition permitted better use of computer graphics, revolutionized game programming and resulted in a more realistic, satisfying gaming experience. For example, Microsoft Windows Entertainment Pack Games have remained a classic for computer gamers, ever since their development in the early 1990's.
| Name | Year of First Release | Retail Price when New |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Fury3 | 1995 | |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0 | 1993 | US$49.95/CAD$64.95 |
Scenery Enhancements for Microsoft Flight Simulator Version 5.0:
|
1995 | US$34.95/CAD$49.95 |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 | 1995 | |
| Microsoft Golf Version 2.0 | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Golf Version 1.0 (Multimedia Edition) | 1993 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
Microsoft Golf Championship Courses:
|
1993 | US$24.95/CAD$34.95 |
| Microsoft Space Simulator | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$64.95 |
| (The Best of) Microsoft Entertainment Pack | 1995 | US$24.95/CAD$34.95 |
| Microsoft Arcade | 1993 | US$34.95/CAD$44.95 |
[edit] Kids
Microsoft Home's software for kids was popular not only for home use, but also in school and educational institutions. Microsoft proved that the personal computer should not be daunting, but can be used by the whole family. Tying in with the TV series, Microsoft Scholastic's The Magical School Bus was a highly successful series that continued to be sold after Microsoft Home's kids range of software turned into a subsidiary called Microsoft Kids.
| Name | Year of First Release | Retail Price when New |
|---|---|---|
Microsoft Scholastic's The Magical School Bus:
|
1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft "How the Leopard Got His Spots" | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Gahan Wilson's The Ultimate Haunted House | 1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Fine Artist | 1993 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Microsoft Creative Writer | 1993 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
| Ghostwriter Mysteries for Creative Writer | 1995 | US$19.95/CAD$29.95 |
| 3D Moviemaker | 1995 | |
Microsoft Explorapedia:
|
1995 | US$49.95/CAD$69.95 |
[edit] Home & Small Business Management
| Name | Year of First Release | Retail Price when New | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft BOB | 1995 | US$99.00 | |
| Microsoft Great Greetings for Microsoft BOB | 1995 | ||
| Microsoft Money Version 3.0 | 1994 | US$14.95/CAD$24.95 | |
| Microsoft Publisher Version 2.0 | 1993 | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 | |
Microsoft Publisher Design Packs:
|
1993? | US$39.95/CAD$54.95 | |
| Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 | ||
| Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows on CD | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 | ||
| Microsoft Works 4.0 for Macintosh | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 | ||
| Microsoft Works and Bookshelf '94 | US$99.95/CAD$139.95 |
[edit] Sights, Sounds & Gear
| Name | Year of First Release | Retail Price when New |
|---|---|---|
Microsoft Scenes Version 2.0
|
1994 | US$24.95/CAD$34.95 |
| Microsoft Natural Keyboard | 1994 | US$99.95/CAD$129.95 |
| Microsoft Mouse | 1993 | US$64.95/CAD$84.95 |
| Microsoft Windows Sound System Version 2.0 | 1995 | US$59.95/CAD$84.95 |
| Microsoft Home Mouse | 1995 | US$44.95/$59.95 |
Microsoft SoundBits
|
1992-1994 | US$24.95/CAD$34.95 |
[edit] Other & Unsorted (Currently being Updated)
- 1994 Impressionist Collection
- 1995 Wine Guide
- 1995 Oceans
- 1995 World of Flight.
- 1995 Deadly Tides (underwater fighting machines).
- 1995 Automap Streets (cities in 48 states + Hawaii)
- 1995 Automap Road Atlas (Canada, USA & Mexico).
- 1995 500 Nations (North American Indian tribes and civilisations)
- 1996 Music Central
[edit] System Requirements
The system requirements for Microsoft Home software, by today's standards, is relatively modest.
[edit] Platforms
The Microsoft Home software series was designed to run on a variety of operating system platforms. The different platforms that have been implemented in Microsoft Home software include:
- Microsoft MS-DOS (e.g. for Flight Simulator 5.1)
- Microsoft Windows 3.xx (e.g. for Microsoft Entertainment Pack)
- Microsoft Windows 95 (e.g. for Microsoft Fury3)
- Apple Macintosh System 7 (e.g. for Microsoft Fine Artist)
- Apple MacOS 7.5 and above (e.g. for Microsoft Cinemania '96)
[edit] Media Configurations
Titles could come in several different media configurations:
- Single Media Software Package on Floppy Disk or CD-ROM (One set of media for a specific platform)
- Single Media Software Package with a Multi-Platform CD-ROM (One set of media for several platforms)
- Dual Media Software Package on Floppy Disk (Several sets of media for different platforms or densities)
Generally the floppy-disk software packages also include a disk order coupon for users of low-density floppy disk drives or 5.25" drives.
[edit] Recommended System Requirements
From Microsoft Home Software Catalog Winter/Spring 1995;
[edit] Multimedia PC
To run Microsoft CD-ROM multimedia products, you need:
- A Multimedia PC or compatible with a 386SX or higher microprocessor, 4 MB of RAM, minimum 2.5-5 MB of available hard disk space per product, CD-ROM drive, sound board, and Super VGA display capable of 256 colors.
- Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 or later.
- MS-DOS operating system version 3.1 or later.
- Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
- Headphones or speakers.
[edit] Microsoft Windows-Compatible
To run Microsoft products for Windows, you need:
- Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later.
- MS-DOS version 3.1 or later.
- 386SX microprocessor.
- 4 MB of RAM.
- High-density disk drive.
- Super VGA display capable of 256 colors.
- Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
- Sound board.
[edit] Microsoft MS-DOS-Compatible
To run Microsoft products for MS-DOS, you need:
- MS-DOS version 5.0 or later.
- 386SX or higher microprocessor.
- 2 MB of RAM (4 MB and expanded or extended memory recommended).
- High-density disk drive.
- Super VGA display capable of 256 colors.
- Microsoft Mouse of compatible pointing device recommended.
- Sound board recommended.
- Compatible with joystick.
[edit] Macintosh Series
To run Microsoft products for the Macintosh, you need:
- Any Macintosh computer with a Macintosh-compatible color monitor.
- 4 MB of RAM.
- System 7 or later.
- A hard-disk drive and one floppy-disk drive.
(CD-ROM drive required for multimedia products.)
- Compatible with joystick.
[edit] Sample System Requirements
Microsoft Scenes 2.0 Sierra Wildlife Collection - Wallpaper and Screensaver Manager Software
From the back of the box:
To use the Microsoft Scenes Sierra Club Wildlife Collection you need:
- Personal computer with a 386 or higher microprocessor
- 2 MB of available memory
- One 3.5" high-density (1.44 MB) disk drive and a hard drive with 3 MB available
- MS-DOS operating system version 3.1 or later
- Microsoft Windows operation system version 3.1 or later
- A VGA or higher-resolution monitor (256-color Super VGA monitor recommended)
- Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device recommended
Note: This package includes 3.5" high-density disks and a coupon for 5.25" high-density disks.
[edit] References
- Microsoft Home Software Catalog Winter/Spring 1995 (from Microsoft The Ultimate Frank Lloyd Wright) 1194 Part No. 098-56862
[edit] See also
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