The first Macintosh operating system popularized the concept of graphical user interfaces when it was launched in 1984, and a year later Microsoft responded with the first version of Windows--and no GUI has been as blocky or garish since. To be fair, the first Windows wasn't so much an operating system as an add-on to MS-DOS, which meant living with design groaners like ALL-CAPITAL file names and the still-very-DOS-like graphics standard. Though more than a few people would contend that Microsoft has been playing catch-up with Apple's design sense ever since, the ugly duckling did eventually turn into a swan with Windows Vista. And, as we understand it, Windows has done kind of okay in the marketplace.
- Recommend:
- 0 Comments
The Ugliest Products in Tech History
All of this gear may have worked just fine, but it sure looked bad doing it. Here are 10 examples of the worst product designs in the tech industry's storied past.
Microsoft Windows 1.0
Osborne 1
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
Microsoft Windows 1.0
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Tiger Electronics Furby
iMac Flower Power and Dalmatian
Neuros II Digital Audio Computer
Commodore 1541 Floppy Disk Drive
Microsoft Zune Player
Comments
- Hollywood's Top 12 Tech Heroes
- Top 15 iPhone Apps of 2012, So Far
- 10 Terrific LTE Smartphones for $150 or Less
- Maker Faire 2012: A Gallery of Creations
- Top 20 Windows 8 Features
- CTIA Wireless 2012 Product Primer
- Photo Contest: Hot Pics for April
- 25 Facebook Apps for Savvy Users
- Samsung Galaxy S III: A Visual Tour
- Digital Workflow Basics: Fine-Tune Your Photos Effectively
- 10 PC Apps to Increase Your Business Productivity
- Top Earth Day Apps
- iPod Nano Watchbands -- A Roundup
- 10 Retina Display-Friendly iPad Apps
- 3G and 4G Wireless Service in 13 U.S. Cities
- Groovy 1970s Consumer Tech
Similar Articles:
- The 10 Worst Microsoft Product Names of All Time
- CES 2012 Top Picks: Just the Best Gear, Gadgets, and Tech
- The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time
- 10 New Tech Ailments
- Ten Most Ridiculous Tech Lawsuits of the 21st Century
- Tech Killers: Challengers That Have Tried to Beat Hugely Successful Competitors




























