Compy 386

From Homestar Runner Wiki

Revision as of 08:19, 2 June 2006

Strong Bad checks his email.

The Compy 386 logo.

The Compy 386 was Strong Bad's second computer, and in his words, "a spectacle of graphics and sound." He used this machine to answer his emails after the Tandy 400 was thrown out at the beginning of invisibility. This machine was built by Compy, Inc. and seemed to have something against The Cheat. Strong Bad did 78 emails on the Compy, more than double the number of emails he checked on the Tandy (38). If you look at it from the side or from the far front, you can see that the keyboard is wireless, even though all other features of the computer are of lesser technology. Every Compy 386 email had Easter eggs. Although lures & jigs didn't have any Easter eggs when it was first released, they were added later.

Quick Facts

Debut: invisibility

Interactive Feature: You can click on the little wheels repeatedly to change the screen contrast from black to blue and then back to black again.

Death: Destroyed by Bubs' shotgun after being infected by 423,827 viruses in the email "virus." Bubs later sold it to Homestar Runner as seen in the Broken Compy Menu.

Font: Commodore 64

Error Screen: The Compy had a blue Flagrant System Error screen that appeared when it encountered a major problem. Resembling the Windows '9X famous Blue Screen Of Death, it gave Strong Bad some vague information as to what went wrong. This screen appeared in "50 emails," when Homestar's many failed attempts to delete an email crashed the system. It later appeared in "virus," after Strong Bad learned that the Compy was infected with 423,827 viruses. It also was mentioned in Biz Cas Fri 3, but not seen.

Programs

Some of the programs Strong Bad had on the Compy 386, most of which were started by typing the filename only after the prompt:

• strongbad_email.exe (emails 41-118, except email 78 (anything) (see below) and email 87 (mile), which The Cheat answers)
• Message Thyme (marzipan - an IM similar to AOL Instant Messenger)
• take_a_break.exe (huttah! - a relaxing animated beach scene)
• spellchecka.exe (autobiography - checks the spelling of the email Strong Bad is reading)
• print_of_it.exe (autobiography - prints out the email Strong Bad is reading)
• M4RZ1P4N, bu-hubs, undabite, no-neck, dacheese, mr.smith (big white face - These bring up pixellated pictures of Marzipan, Bubs, Homestar Runner, Strong Mad, The Cheat, and The Poopsmith respectively. Each of these is run by typing run "M4RZ1P4N" etc.)
• b/w (big white face - converts display to a black-and-white Macintosh; run by typing run "b/w")
• fightsong (mascot - plays the Crazy Go Nuts University fight song: run by typing run "fightsong")
• In funny, Strong Bad accidentally types:
  • stongbad_email.exe (File not found)
• sb_enail.com (anything, which is answered by Homestar Runner who actually uses this prompt to get an email)
• hsramerdsxr.exe (date - Dating simulator; run by typing run "hsramerdsxr.exe")
• In couch patch:
  • Strong Bad tries these unaccepted prompts:
    • print out million dollar bill.exe (Bad command or file name)
    • no for real, print me out a million dollar bill, man.exe (Syntax error)
    • um, this time really print me out a million dollars bill.nofoolin' (Cut it out, you.)
    • make homestar's head explode.exe (No can do.)
  • print out million dollar bill, please.exe - This one is accepted and the computer prints out an ASCII art million dollar bill.
• Edgarware.exe - runs Edgarware virus scanner

The Real Computer

The Compy (or at least an Apple II monitor and a Dell keyboard) appearing in Puppet Time.

Like the Tandy 400, this was an almost-reference to a real computer. There was a 386 processor made by Intel, which was very popular in its day, but there was no company called "Compy" that made a 386 version of their computer. The "386" logo in "invisibility" is most likely a reference to the real-life logo of IBM, though the Compy 386 is running DOS (programs are .exe), the blue startup screen is a reference to the IBM PC-XT.

The Compy could also be based on the Commodore 64, as the computer was built into the keyboard (which could explain the no tower) it also uses the same font and the screen turns blue (like the Commodore 64) if you adjust the contrast.

The design of the computer itself seems to be a take on the old Compaq Deskpro 386, which has a similar monitor and keyboard. However, the monitor in the Puppet Time movie is an old Apple II monitor. The keyboard is a recent model of the Dell QuietKey keyboard that came with earlier Dell computers.

Interestingly, both the exploded Compy 386 and Tandy 400 contain identical gears and fans, despite being built by different manufacturers and being different generations of computer.

Variations

Side view seen in fingers (with "fingers" edited out)	Slightly Shotgunned	Flagrant system error	The Compy appearing in Powered by The Cheat form in mile, under the name "Compa".
Compy 386 Version 1.5 Screen logo from invisibility.