Strong Bad's Computers Surpassing Their Assumed Capabilities

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[[File:sbemail51.png|thumb|The Compy displaying a full-color photo]]
[[File:sbemail51.png|thumb|The Compy displaying a full-color photo]]
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Despite [[Strong Bad]]'s [[Strong Bad's Technology|preference for older computers]], his computers are nevertheless somehow capable of '''performing tasks that their real-life counterparts are not'''.
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Despite [[Strong Bad]]'s [[Strong Bad's Technology|preference for older computers]], they are nevertheless capable of '''performing tasks that the real-life computers they are based on cannot'''. The [[Tandy 400]], [[Compy 386]] and [[Lappy 486]] all run [[wikipedia:Operating system|operating systems]] that are heavily based on [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], and each computer's graphics capabilities are based on those of real-life monitor types. Mouse pointers have also appeared on these computers, when none have been shown to have a mouse or laptop pad, in the Lappy's case.
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==Appearances==
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*Almost all [[Strong Bad Email]]s — The program that Strong Bad used to check his emails before he got the [[Compé]] is called "strongbad_email.exe" ("strongbad's_email" on the [[Tandy 400]]), even though filenames on DOS computers can only be up to eight characters long. Also, in the Tandy's case, the filename contains an apostrophe, which is not allowed in DOS filenames.
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=== [[Tandy 400]] ===
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== Appearances ==
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*[[homestar hair]] —
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**The Tandy 400 displays a [[Hairstyle Runner]].
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**The file used to run [[wikipedia:Temple of Apshai|Temple of Apshai]] is the long name "temple_of_apshai".
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**Temple of Apshai is in color.
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*[[credit card]] — Strong Bad somehow uses a mouse on the Tandy 400.
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*[[sugarbob]] — The Tandy 400 plays Mac OS X-style sounds and displays full-color fonts.
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*[[sisters]] — The Tandy 400 plays the Windows 9x "ding" [[Sound Effects|sound]].
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*[[retirement]] — The Tandy highlights spelling and grammar errors in yellow.
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=== [[Compy 386]] ===
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=== Irregular File Names ===
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*[[website]] — The Compy 386 plays several animated GIFs and displays two full-quality photos.
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File names of actual MS-DOS computers have an eight-character limit, with certain characters that are disallowed (such as apostrophes and slashes). Some of Strong Bad's file names have these.
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*[[marzipan]] — The Message Thyme pop-ups are in Windows style.
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*[[huttah!]] — [[take-a-break.exe]]'s long filename.
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*Tandy 400 — "strongbad's_email" (Contains an apostrophe)
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*[[interview]] and [[pizzazz]] — The Compy 386 displays a Gothic font.
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*Compy 386, Lappy 486, [[Corpy NT6]] and [[Lappier]] — "strongbad_email.exe"
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*[[homestar hair]] — "[[wikipedia:Temple of Apshai|temple_of_apshai]]"
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*[[huttah!]] — "[[take-a-break.exe]]"
*[[autobiography]] —
*[[autobiography]] —
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**The spell-checking program is known as the long name "spellchecka.exe".
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**"spellchecka.exe"
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**The Compy 386 plays the Windows 9x "ding" sound.
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**"print_of_it.exe"
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**The printing program is known as the long name "print_of_it.exe".
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*[[big white face]] —
*[[big white face]] —
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**The file used to open the picture of [[The Poopsmith]] is called "mr.smith", even though periods are not allowed in DOS filenames. The extension of the file was the only exception to this rule, and it was limited to three characters.
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**"[[The Poopsmith|mr.smith]]" (Contains a period within the file name itself)
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**The Compy 386 has a Macintosh-style GUI, which cannot possibly be installed on a DOS computer.
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**"[[b/w]]" (Contains a slash)
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**The file used to run the Macintosh GUI is called "[[b/w]]", even though slashes are not allowed in DOS filenames.
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*[[mascot]] — "fightsong"
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*[[mascot]] — The file used to play the [[Crazy Go Nuts University]] fight song is known as the long name "fightsong".
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*[[privileges]] — "medalliongoldplus.txt"
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*[[privileges]] — The file containing a list of Medallion Gold Plus Club Member privileges is known as the long name "medalliongoldplus.txt".
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*[[date]] — "[[Extra Real Dating Sim XR|hsramerdsxr.exe]]"
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*[[date]] &mdash; The file used to run the [[Extra Real Dating Sim XR]] is known as the long name "hsramerdsxr.exe". <!--Not sure if the bit about the dating sim's graphics belongs, since many real-life computers of the Compy's supposed kind can display those graphics-->
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*[[couch patch]] &mdash;
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*[[couch patch]] - Strong Bad tries out several bogus commands, all of which are too long, and several of which have different faults:
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**"print out million dollar bill.exe"
**"print out million dollar bill.exe"
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**"no for real, print me out a million dollar bill, man.exe" (Contains commas, which are disallowed in DOS filenames)
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**"no for real, print me out a million dollar bill, man.exe" (Contains a comma)
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**"um, this time really print me out a million dollars bill.nofoolin'" (Contains a comma. Also, the extension is not only too long [DOS filename extensions can only be up to 3 characters long], but contains an apostrophe)
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**"um, this time really print me out a million dollars bill.nofoolin'" (Contains a comma and an apostrophe)
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**"make homestar's head explode.exe" (Too long and contains an apostrophe)
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**"make homestar's head explode.exe" (Contains an apostrophe)
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**"print out million dollar bill, please.exe" (This one actually works despite its length and the fact that it contains a comma)
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**"print out million dollar bill, please.exe" (Contains a comma, this command works)
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*[[lunch special]] &mdash; The Compy once again plays the "ding" sound, and also displays a Microsoft Paint drawing.
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*[[other days]] &mdash; "[[Block|polish_email.exe]]"
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*[[virus]] &mdash;
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*[[virus]] &mdash; "[[Edgar|Edgarware.exe]]"
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**The file used to run the [[Edgar|virus scanner]] is known as the long name "Edgarware.exe".
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*[[technology]] &mdash; "screen_savior.exe"
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*[[retirement]] &mdash;
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**"clncknmsfrmyslf.txt"
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**"cldshplog.txt"
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**"ltr2bkrythrftstr.txt"
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*[[the movies]] &mdash; "[[Karate Car|karatecar.exe]]"
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*[[SBCG4AP Advertisement]] &mdash; "strongbad3Dtotal.wad"
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*[[being mean]] &mdash;
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**"other_gems.exe"
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**"more_other_gems.exe"
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=== Irregular Graphics and Sound ===
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==== Tandy 400 ====
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The Tandy has a monochrome green/orange display, yet multi-color graphics and photos have appeared on it. Its sound capabilities also surpass those of computers of its era.
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*[[homestar hair]] &mdash;
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**The Tandy displays a [[Hairstyle Runner]].
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**Temple of Apshai is in color.
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*[[credit card]] &mdash; Strong Bad somehow uses a mouse on the Tandy.
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*[[sugarbob]] &mdash; The Tandy plays [[wikipedia:Mac OS 9|Mac OS 9]] [[Sound Effects|sounds]] and displays full-color fonts.
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*[[sisters]] &mdash; The Tandy plays the [[wikipedia:Windows 9x|Windows 9x]] "ding" sound.
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*[[retirement]] &mdash; The Tandy highlights spelling and grammar errors in yellow, and again plays Mac OS 9 sounds.
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==== Compy 386 ====
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The Compy has a monochrome white/blue display, yet multi-color graphics and photos have appeared on it. While it has been shown to be capable of playing musical notes in the form of scratchy tones (its start-up/error sound, [[Crazy Go Nuts University]] [[mascot|fight song rendition]] and (possibly) [[caper|The Cheat is Not Dead music]]), sounds from more modern computers have been heard from it.
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*[[ghosts]] &mdash; The Tandy-rendered [[Bad Graphics Ghost]] appears on the Compy, though this is likely caused by the Tandy's ghost.
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*[[website]] &mdash; The Compy plays several animated GIFs and displays two full-quality photos.
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*[[marzipan]] &mdash; The Message Thyme pop-ups are in Windows style, and has vocalized [[wikipedia:Instant messaging|instant messager]]-like sounds accompanying them.
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*[[interview]] and [[pizzazz]] &mdash; The Compy displays a Gothic font.
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*[[autobiography]] &mdash; The Compy plays the Windows 9x "ding" sound.
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*[[big white face]] &mdash;
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**The Compy displays color (but heavily pixelated) photos of [[Marzipan]], [[Bubs]], [[Homestar Runner]], [[Strong Mad]], [[The Cheat]] and The Poopsmith.
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**In addition, a [[wikipedia:Macintosh 128K|Macintosh 128K]]-like operating system is displayed, which could just be an image.
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*[[couch patch]] &mdash; The Compy plays a Mac OS 9 sound after Strong Bad's first two attempts to print a million dollar bill.
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*[[flashback]] &mdash; The Compy shows the email from [[some kinda robot]] in the Tandy's font and green color.
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*[[lunch special]] &mdash;
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**The Compy once again plays the "ding" sound.
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**Additionally, a [[wikipedia:Paint (software)|Microsoft Paint]] drawing is displayed.
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*[[virus]] &mdash;  
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**The Compy plays the "ding" sound.
**The Compy gets many more [[The Virus|viruses]] than could possibly fit on a computer of its kind.  
**The Compy gets many more [[The Virus|viruses]] than could possibly fit on a computer of its kind.  
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**The Compy yet again plays the "ding" sound.
 
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=== [[Lappy 486]] ===
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==== Lappy 486 ====
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*[[death metal]] &mdash; The Lappy 486 is used to video chat with [[Larry Palaroncini]] on webcam.
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In addition to running a DOS-like operating system, further technical specifications for this computer were listed in [[animal]]:
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*[[technology]] &mdash; The file used to run the screen saver is known as the long name "screen_savior.exe".
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*2 MB hard drive
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*[[retirement]] &mdash; Three text files saved on the Lappy are named "clncknmsfrmyslf.txt", "cldshplog.txt", and "ltr2bkrythrftstr.txt".
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*512 KB [[wikipedia:Random Access Memory|RAM]]
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*[[the movies]] &mdash; The file used to run [[Karate Car]] is known as the long name "karatecar.exe".
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*5 minute battery life
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*[[SBCG4AP Advertisement]] &mdash; A 3D video game is started with the long name "strongbad3Dtotal.wad".
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*"Several" color monitor
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*[[being mean]] &mdash; The files used to open up additional emails from a certain email address are known as the long names "other_gems.exe" and "more_other_gems.exe".
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=== Other Computers ===
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While these specifications are greater than Strong Bad's earlier computers, they have occasionally been challenged as well.
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*[[other days]] &mdash; The program used to check Eastern European emails on the [[Block]] is known as the long name "polish_email.exe".
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*[[from work]] &mdash; The [[Corpy NT6]] displays a full-quality spreadsheet program.
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==Variations==
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*[[death metal]] &mdash; The Lappy runs a full-color video chat with [[Larry Palaroncini]] on a webcam that it doesn't seem to have.
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*[[flashback]] &mdash; The Compy 386 shows the email from [[some kinda robot]] in Tandy 400 style.
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*[[retirement]] &mdash; Strong Bad says he has "a lot of important text files on that 5 Meg hard drive" when it was previously stated that the Lappy's hard drive holds two megabytes. It is possible Strong Bad since upgraded it.
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*[[from work]] &mdash; In this Lappy 486-era email, the Corpy NT6 (which is also DOS-based) displays a full-quality spreadsheet.
==See Also==
==See Also==
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*[[Angled Pixels]]
*[[Angled Pixels]]
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{{incomplete list}}
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{{stub}}
[[Category:Strong Bad Email running gags]]
[[Category:Strong Bad Email running gags]]
[[Category:Electronics running gags]]
[[Category:Electronics running gags]]
[[Category:Research]]
[[Category:Research]]

Revision as of 23:04, 8 January 2016

The Compy displaying a full-color photo

Despite Strong Bad's preference for older computers, they are nevertheless capable of performing tasks that the real-life computers they are based on cannot. The Tandy 400, Compy 386 and Lappy 486 all run operating systems that are heavily based on MS-DOS, and each computer's graphics capabilities are based on those of real-life monitor types. Mouse pointers have also appeared on these computers, when none have been shown to have a mouse or laptop pad, in the Lappy's case.

Contents

Appearances

Irregular File Names

File names of actual MS-DOS computers have an eight-character limit, with certain characters that are disallowed (such as apostrophes and slashes). Some of Strong Bad's file names have these.

Irregular Graphics and Sound

Tandy 400

The Tandy has a monochrome green/orange display, yet multi-color graphics and photos have appeared on it. Its sound capabilities also surpass those of computers of its era.

Compy 386

The Compy has a monochrome white/blue display, yet multi-color graphics and photos have appeared on it. While it has been shown to be capable of playing musical notes in the form of scratchy tones (its start-up/error sound, Crazy Go Nuts University fight song rendition and (possibly) The Cheat is Not Dead music), sounds from more modern computers have been heard from it.

  • ghosts — The Tandy-rendered Bad Graphics Ghost appears on the Compy, though this is likely caused by the Tandy's ghost.
  • website — The Compy plays several animated GIFs and displays two full-quality photos.
  • marzipan — The Message Thyme pop-ups are in Windows style, and has vocalized instant messager-like sounds accompanying them.
  • interview and pizzazz — The Compy displays a Gothic font.
  • autobiography — The Compy plays the Windows 9x "ding" sound.
  • big white face —
  • couch patch — The Compy plays a Mac OS 9 sound after Strong Bad's first two attempts to print a million dollar bill.
  • flashback — The Compy shows the email from some kinda robot in the Tandy's font and green color.
  • lunch special —
    • The Compy once again plays the "ding" sound.
    • Additionally, a Microsoft Paint drawing is displayed.
  • virus —
    • The Compy plays the "ding" sound.
    • The Compy gets many more viruses than could possibly fit on a computer of its kind.

Lappy 486

In addition to running a DOS-like operating system, further technical specifications for this computer were listed in animal:

  • 2 MB hard drive
  • 512 KB RAM
  • 5 minute battery life
  • "Several" color monitor

While these specifications are greater than Strong Bad's earlier computers, they have occasionally been challenged as well.

  • death metal — The Lappy runs a full-color video chat with Larry Palaroncini on a webcam that it doesn't seem to have.
  • retirement — Strong Bad says he has "a lot of important text files on that 5 Meg hard drive" when it was previously stated that the Lappy's hard drive holds two megabytes. It is possible Strong Bad since upgraded it.
  • from work — In this Lappy 486-era email, the Corpy NT6 (which is also DOS-based) displays a full-quality spreadsheet.

See Also

STUB'D! This article is a stub. You can help the Homestar Runner Wiki by expanding it.

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