Packard Bell Platinum 2220

Exhibit 003

Manufacturer	Packard Bell
Model	Platinum 2220
Date of release	1997
Date added to collection	2022

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The Packard Bell Platinum series was packed with multimedia features for the ultimate home family computer. This machine sits in a 1990s golden age of home family computers, with the ease of use of Windows 95 and popularity of online services (namely AOL) with early WWW but before broadband was a concept. This particular machine is packed with multimedia features, mainly highlighted by the MediaSelect button array for volume controls, internet, shopping, etc. While this machine doesn’t have the top-of-the-line TV tuner capture card option in the Platinum series, we are entertained by the functionality offered by the modem / sound card combo including voicemail and faxing.

We were lucky to find this machine in an estate sale with original keyboard, mouse, Media Select and CRT monitor with speakers. Packard Bell put in a lot of effort in bundling software to make these computers a complete experience, with their revolutionary “living room”-esque GUI option, the Packard Bell Navigator.

Date of Release: While the monitor has a 1995 date code, the Pentium 200 MMX CPU was not released until January 1997. So, this machine was likely released in early 1997.

An ad for a similar system, the 2240 from PC Mag Feb 1997 which had some more RAM and a video capture card for $2700.

TODO:

Memory upgrade
Keyboard is missing one key
Fax test & demonstration video
Possible speaker debug/repair
CD-ROM drive test / repair
HWiNFO

Specifications

CPU	Intel Pentium 200 MHz MMX (Socket 7)
RAM	16 MB
HDD (original)	Seagate ST32132a 2.1GB (IDE)
FDD	3.5″ 1.44 MB
Optical drive	CD-ROM 16x (IDE)
Video card	onboard
Sound card	onboard
Network	none
Display	Packard Bell SVGA 17″ Model 3020 (CRT)
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 95