Strong Bad's Computers Surpassing Their Assumed Capabilities
From Homestar Runner Wiki
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.
- Tandy 400 — "strongbad's_email" (Contains an apostrophe)
- Compy 386, Lappy 486, Corpy NT6 and Lappier — "strongbad_email.exe"
- homestar hair — "temple_of_apshai"
- huttah! — "take-a-break.exe"
- autobiography —
- "spellchecka.exe"
- "print_of_it.exe"
- big white face —
- mascot — "fightsong"
- privileges — "medalliongoldplus.txt"
- date — "hsramerdsxr.exe"
- couch patch —
- "print out million dollar bill.exe"
- "no for real, print me out a million dollar bill, man.exe" (Contains a comma)
- "um, this time really print me out a million dollars bill.nofoolin'" (Contains a comma and an apostrophe)
- "make homestar's head explode.exe" (Contains an apostrophe)
- "print out million dollar bill, please.exe" (Contains a comma, this command works)
- other days — "polish_email.exe"
- virus — "Edgarware.exe"
- technology — "screen_savior.exe"
- retirement —
- "clncknmsfrmyslf.txt"
- "cldshplog.txt"
- "ltr2bkrythrftstr.txt"
- the movies — "karatecar.exe"
- SBCG4AP Advertisement — "strongbad3Dtotal.wad"
- being mean —
- "other_gems.exe"
- "more_other_gems.exe"
- April Fool 2014 — "strongbad_eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee_windows98desktoptheme"
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.
- homestar hair —
- The Tandy displays a Hairstyle Runner.
- Temple of Apshai is in color.
- credit card — Strong Bad somehow uses a mouse on the Tandy.
- sugarbob — The Tandy plays Mac OS 9 sounds and displays full-color fonts.
- sisters — The Tandy plays the Windows 9x "ding" sound.
- retirement — The Tandy highlights spelling and grammar errors in yellow, and again plays Mac OS 9 sounds.
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 —
- The Compy displays color (but heavily pixelated) photos of Marzipan, Bubs, Homestar Runner, Strong Mad, The Cheat and The Poopsmith.
- In addition, a Macintosh 128K-like operating system is displayed, which could just be an image.
- 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.
- April Fool 2014 — After inexplicably reappearing, the Compy runs Windows 98, plays a sound clip of Strong Bad's voice, and has a microphone extend to the front of his face, which he uses to record a new startup sound for his desktop theme.
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
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