What Happened to Packard Bell? A Short Documentary - Part 1, the Rise

This is the fantastic story of this upstart computer maker that influenced many of my generation. I was always interested in the history of Packard Bell, what happened to Packard Bell, what made Packard Bell successful and other things since it was the first computer brand I owned.
This first part talks to who the founders were, how they got started and a brief look into the business model that set them apart and enabled explosive growth in the late 80's and early 90's.
The second part will talk more to the issues that eventually forced Packard Bell to cease trading in the USA in 1999.
Please pop in comments, annecdotes or suggestions. It was hard work researching this and finding images of the older machines. Lots of great stuff is on vogons, the PBclub forum and a few others, but it was also interesting to read news articles from the time period that are still archived on a few of the major sites.
Watch the full Packard Bell advert from the start of this video at Analogue Indulgence's channel: • Packard Bell | Televis...

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Part 2, the decline, has been published here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p36Xlquurr-hqJY

[@matthewpaulargall9102]

The first computer I used was a Packard Bell corner computer. I loved it!

[@HB-Productions]

The first PC I had at home was a Packard Bell one of the European Models. It only died because it got hit by lightning 🌩

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Oooh thats a bad way to go. My family never used surge protectors back in the day but I sure do use them now for my retro collection.

[@utubeb14]

First computer I ever opened was a Packard Bell. Dad and I upgraded the graphics card to play a game I got for Christmas, Medal of Honour Allied Assault. Guess I was around 11 at the time.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

My first computer also was a PB - a 486 dx2-50. We upgraded the RAM one Christmas to 8mb so I could play Origin's Wings of Glory. Loved that machine at the the time but no idea where it went after my parents upgraded to a Pentium...

[@UncleAwesomeRetro]

Medal of Honor allied assault was a fantastic game :)

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

It is indeed. I remember playing it and it was a game changer. Call of Duty surpassed it but I still enjoy revisiting it (I need to build up a good Windows XP gaming PC though)

[@LaserGryph]

Our first home family computer was a Packard Bell. Got it about October of 1993. Ran Windows 3.11. Had a CD Rom and 3 inch floppy and that was pretty much it. I don't even think it originally came with a modem card. Think we had to get that separately. But boy it made me feel like we were so technologically ahead of our neighbors.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thanks for sharing the memory! I vividly remember playing doom 2 and jurassic park on the kitchen table when I first got mine :D

[@kantraa]

Packard Bell still exists in Turkey to this day. I see their newer laptops in work places and computer shops all the time.

[@rayf.5040]

I was fortunate to begin my employment at Packard Bell, where I served as one of the executives in operations. Subsequently, I left the company to join the HP computer division in 1998

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thanks for commenting! There are a lot of people who love PB, and a lot of haters too. I think the haters forget that a lot of people worked their butt off to get the company to where it got to :)

[@mihela8167]

That Legend 115 was our first computer back in 1992. We used it until 1999.

[@Indrid__Cold]

Among the many names that were influential in the 90s, few were more so than the venerable purveyor of what came to be known as 'frankenparts,' Packard Bell (or 'Packard Smell' as they were known by those in the business). Show me a person whose early passion for computing was crushed like an egg, and I'll show you a Packard Bell owner. Few computer manufacturers could more effectively avoid direct price comparisons. By slightly altering the model number and configurations of every computer based only upon the retailer who actually sold it, you could not hope to comparison shop (let alone get a retailer to price match the competition). So effective was this scheme that Packard Bell computers held some of the thickest margins in the PC industry. They were also among the first to leverage the marketing of pre-installed software, generating huge profits from companies like Prodigy (remember them?) and Quicken.

[@plaguex1]

My first computer:) fond memories. Windows 97 then upgraded to windows 98. Dial up modems. Figuring how to install stuff. Accidently bios locking it. Simpler times.

[@eee1470]

i literally have a packard bell computer that still works, oww too much memories

[@wilm3864]

When I had to call Packard Hell's customer support, it was NOT toll free. It was a standard long distance call. I was placed on hold, and no one ever answered.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Yes I agree I am quite misty eyed with nostalgia as I was quite young. Im sure my dad has a different view of my old 486! Being charged for long distance back then wouldve been bloody expensive I bet

[@91_C4_FL]

My family’s first computer was a Packard Bell Legend. We got it in December 1996. It must have been like what a family in the 1950s felt like getting their first television set. We had that thing all the way until early 2005, still running Windows 98 on dialup before it was replaced with a Dell and a DSL modem. I wish I still had it. Looking forward to part 2!

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thats pretty awesome run for that machine hey! Unfortunately Packard Bell has a predominantly bad reputation for poor quality components but interestingly there are some models that kept chugging away. Glad you enjoyed this video and hope that you will find the second part equally interesting! :D

[@kirkhammett2107]

Guys does anybody remember getting a VHS bundled with a PC bought from PC world around this time? a setup guide "starring" Jim Sweeney and Steve Steen?

[@wilm3864]

I had a Packard Hell computer in the early 90s. It had a 486DX 66 Mhz processor, which was good at the time, but it had a 2400 baud modem HARD WIRED to the motherboard. The computer could support a much better modem but came with a seriously outdated modem which I could not remove. One time I had to call tech support for another issue but was left on hold and never reached a person.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Yes, thats a bit of a shocker, having a half speed modem wouldve been so frustrating so I understand that. And support lines cutting you off after a long wait makes me boil over in rage (still happens to me every so often when I have to call utilities or other services!!)

[@wilm3864]

@@ByteSizeThoughts The support line did not cut me off. I never spoke with a person, not even at the beginning. I eventually gave up because it was a long distance call. The computer was capable of handling a 14.4k modem, and do hard wiring a greatly inferior modem made no sense, except as a cost cutter for them.

[@bloqk16]

What always bothered me about Packard-Bell was the _play on word_ it used with _Packard,_ as where I lived in the Silicon Valley of California, there resided the gigantic high-tech company we are familiar with nowadays as _H-P,_ but it was also widely known as *Hewlett-Packard* back in the 1950s through the '90s. So, the unsuspecting public may have assumed the _Packard-Bell_ PCs were connected with the *H-P Corporation.*

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Yeah, cheeky marketing! Still see it happening all the time these days too.

[@alanfitzgerald9026]

the first computer I owned was a Packard bell. I was in like 5th grade in 2002, and it was given to me by a family member, It was a windows 95 pc. No clue what model. All I remember is the sound card was horrible.

[@Martin_Skywatcher]

I had a Packatd computer too in 1995, mine was made by Hewlett Packard though. 😉 Suppose your family had a Packard Bell back in the day so you chose to tell the story of Packard Bell. The first computer you lay your hands on is always the most fondly remembered. For me that was a 486 by Headstart, although during my internship at a large governmental organization I already worked with the IBM XT computer.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Yep, in fact I do remember my dad bringing home a monochrome pc for a month or so, maybe a 286 or 386 but my dad's friend tried to put in a colour graphics card and blew it up and I never saw it again. Maybe I was 10 or so - the Packard Bell however was the first one I really used

[@blasphemy619]

I didn’t miss the soundcard modem combo, Sound144.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

yes, a strange combination indeed but must've brought some cost savings for them I guess that made it worth it

[@imperfectxennial3008]

This computer was my first in 1996

[@cebukid70]

My first PC in 1992 was a Packard Bell from Montgomery Ward's

[@krazykat64]

A PB 286 was the first PC we ever owned, after a Mac SE my mother in law bought us as a wedding present. When I got rid of it I went back to Apple with a Power Mac 7200, but I learned a lot about computers during those few years we had it.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thanks for watching! Back then the experiences were very different between mac and pc. I still love the mac vs pc tv ad's from the 90's too :D I think PC has somewhat closed the gap but mac is certainly still the more premium experience and more simplified for the average user

[@krazykat64]

@@ByteSizeThoughts That 7200 was great. Had a DOS compatibility card in it so I kind of had the best of both worlds. Kept it right up until I got my first iMac around 2000.

[@spyder000069]

Bought my first ibm pc (packard bell 486 dx2-66) used from a coworker around 1996. It was basically new but they fell on hard times and sold it to me for around $400 with monitor. My live in girlfriend was furious I didn't run my purchase past her. I told her I was going to educate myself with it and make good money some day. Day 2 I crashed windows 3.1 and had to figure out DOS and how to reload everything from scratch. She rubbed salt in that wound. Figured it out and a year later got a job in the tech industry making decent money. Relationship didn't work out. Upgraded computer and girlfriend. Learned microcontroller programming on the computer, started my own company building temperature control products, and have been in business 20 years and married for 18 (together for 23). All started with Packard Bell and an ex who told me I wouldn't be able to acheive my dreams. :^)

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Ha - that is a cracking story! Never let someone bring you down - surround yourself with people who support you and help you grow to the next level. Plus, buy a Packard Bell :D

[@TotallyCrispyy]

still got one!!! ❤❤

[@50shadesofbeige88]

I do love their wavy styling. 😊

[@the_stuart115]

I remember growing up with those machines

[@qbasicmichael]

My family's 2nd computer was a packard bell 486 with windows for workgroups 3.11. I don't remember the rest of the specs. I think it had ms-dos 6.xx, possibly 6.22. It came with pb navigator, chessmaster 3000, mavis beacon teaches typing, san diego zoo, and windows entertainment pack for packard bell. It had a canon bj-200e printer. My dad bought it at walmart. I also played math-ace and dinosaur safari, but those might have been acquired separately.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

San Diego Zoo was mind blowing for me. I remember being amazed by the video clips! One day I will visit there in real life :D

[@edward_lee]

@1:10 that's similar to my very first PC as a kid.. the Legend 386SX/16 with 2MB of RAM. My dad bought it for me at a Circuit City. Only difference was that I got an 80MB HDD, which I think my dad opted for even though he had no clue about computers.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

80mb would've been massive back in the day (and expensive :D). It's insane how much data requirements have grown since back then!

[@PhilMoskowitz]

It was Packard Bell who really brought the multi-media PC to the average home.

[@ordersforsplitdogs4315]

IBM: Intense Bowl Movement

[@billgateskilledmyuncle23]

PB's quality was above the rest. I still have a m400 and the original power supply is still working. The only thing that ever needed replaced was the HDD, it started developing bad sectors in scandisk.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thanks for watching!

[@UncleAwesomeRetro]

Great video :)

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Thanks mate, now I have to finish the script for the concluding part ;)

[@retrogameroom9019]

America grew up listening to them....it doesn't anymore

[@anitafelder9999]

Does anyone know how to turn the ringer on a Dect 6.0 cordless phone

[@ruthun]

Our first home PC was a PB with 8mb ram, 500mb hdd. We splashed out for a 15inch CRT> WOW

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Ha - those were the days my friend. Bet that played Doom well though! :D

[@ruthun]

@@ByteSizeThoughts I tried playing Doom. Folks would not have it. It was used for Encarta. Haha

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

@@ruthun San Diego Zoo was my fav edutainment. I remember marvelling at the FMV!

[@TheBigBentley911]

Pack-Hard Bell

[@rager8178]

I restored my packard bell to factory mode and its not finishing loading its been 3 days now i need help😭😭

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Oh no. That doesn't sound right. Either the installers crashed or maybe your HDD is on its last legs? Id probably start it again - maybe just try installing a fresh OS instead of the Packard Bell one just to see if it works?

[@rager8178]

When i bought it it was running on windows 10.. now tht i clicked to restore it just keeps on loading up to 10% than it restarts it has done that in the last three days

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

@@rager8178 hmm. If it's a more modern PB then I can't help. Maybe the HDD needs to be formatted to clear something that's bugging out windows. But I guess check first if you have restore partitions etc on the hdd

[@rager8178]

Aight.. thanks for trying🙌🙌

[@richardsequeirateixeira]

They made nice PCs.

[@AskHateYourself]

To be continued. Can I do part 2.

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Hehe I am half way through finishing the conclusion, it's a rapid fall from grace! Hope to have it finished in the next week :)

[@pcfan9241]

I use packard bell easynote ts

[@cristytorno7131]

i have a packard bell laptop

[@cristytorno7131]

with a broken keyboard

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

bummer, maybe a deep clean under the keys or checking the connection to the main boards might fix it?

[@1234ainixiangni]

The first computer I bought was a Packard Bell. It's a terrible one probably it used Cyrix CPU.

[@clou174]

Over priced computer