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Google Terminal Easter Egg

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Quick Facts

ℹ️ Summary

Access Google via a BBS‑style terminal: dial‑up tones, ASCII art, and command‑line search take you back to the 1980s.

👨‍💻 Creator

N. Landsteiner

🚀 Launched

2012

🟢 Status

Available on elgooG

Interact with the Easter Egg

How It Was Made

Concept Overview

Before graphical browsers took over, Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) connected early netizens. People dialed in by modem to read messages, share files, and chat — everything in text on monochrome screens. Those BBSs helped shape the online world we know today.

Google Terminal brings that era back with care and craft, offering a nostalgic, hands-on tour of computing’s text-based roots.

Inspiration and Development

Created by N. Landsteiner of mass:werk (www.masswerk.at), Google Terminal debuted in 2012 as the “Google BBS Terminal.” The idea: imagine modern Google through 1980s hardware. We’re excited to host this fan-favorite, helping keep retro computing easy to discover and enjoy.

The Easter Egg Experience

Key Features

Expect a faithful vintage vibe — think green phosphor glow, flickering text, and the familiar chirp of a modem handshake. You’ll search Google with text commands on a terminal that feels straight out of the 80s. Connection pauses and terminal-style responses complete the time-travel.

How It Works

Step back to the dawn of online life with a fully interactive terminal interface.

How to Play

  1. Click the button above to begin.
  2. Watch the simulated modem connect — sounds and all!
  3. Read the welcome message and wait for the prompt.
  4. Type your search and press Enter.
  5. Browse results in crisp monochrome, just like the 80s.
  6. Try other commands to explore the full BBS experience.

Landsteiner’s meticulous details turn this into more than nostalgia — it’s a slice of interactive digital history. The original, hosted at Mass Werk, drew media coverage (including Business Insider) and still charms newcomers today.

Final Thoughts

Google Terminal captures the charm of 1980s computing in a playful, practical way. It’s an unofficial project, but it celebrates the preservation and curiosity that keep the web fun. Fire up the terminal and see how earlier generations explored the online world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Google Terminal?

Google Terminal reimagines Google Search as if you were using a 1980s computer terminal — ASCII art, monospaced type, and that classic blinking cursor included. Modern search, command-line style.

Inspired by Squirrel-Monkey.com’s video “If Google were invented in the 1980s,” this project by N. Landsteiner nails the BBS look and feel. It isn’t an official Google product, but it’s a thoughtful, affectionate nod to computing history.

You’ll find a virtual keyboard, green or amber monochrome modes, optional CRT scan lines, and special query parameters for extra control — a fun way to learn command-line basics while you search.

What are the benefits of using Google Terminal? Is it just for fun?

It’s both playful and instructive. If you love retro computing or prefer keyboard-driven navigation, you’ll feel right at home. It also introduces terminal concepts in a gentle, hands-on way — teaching command-line thinking while you browse the web.

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👈 button to go back.

Google Terminal Interface

Credits

“Google Terminal – What Google would have looked like in the 1980s”
(c) 2012 mass:werk – media environments, N. Landsteiner, [www.masswerk.at]
A working service after a video by Squirrel-Monkey.com: “If Google were invented in the 80s”.

Google™ is a registered trademark of Google Inc., Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
The artistic layout is the intellectual property of Squirrel-Monkey.com.

Disclaimer:
Neither this page nor its author is affiliated with Google Inc. This page uses Google™ search and news services to display realistic results within an artistic layout by Squirrel-Monkey.com. The last item in any results list links directly to the corresponding Google™ search on [www.google.com].
Search requests are sent directly from your browser to google.com; they are not proxied through this site.

Usage Notice:
•  Page through results with the arrow keys.
•  Press “0” (zero) to return to the home screen and start a new search.
•  Press Esc to start a new search at any time.

Additional Features: URL Parameters & Special Queries:
q=query  ...  search term
u=username  ...  log in as a specified user
kbd=1  ...  force-show the virtual keyboard
display=color  ...  set the display to color mode (default)
display=green  ...  set the display to monochrome green
display=amber  ...  set the display to monochrome amber
crt=1 or scanlines=1  ...  show scan lines
For example, this URL runs a search for “elgoog” as “Spider-Man”:
Link: /?u=Spider-Man&q=elgoog

See also:
•  “Google Images Terminal – What Google Images would have looked like in the 80s” –
   [elgoog.im/terminal/images/]
•  Don’t miss the “prequel”: “Google60 – Search Mad Men Style” – [ www.masswerk.at/google60]
•  Gamified: “Google-Asteroids – Arcade Style Search” – [ www.masswerk.at/googleAsteroids]
•  Archived: “Bing Terminal – What Bing would have looked like in the 80s” – [www.masswerk.at/bingBBS]

FAQ

What is Google Terminal?

Google Terminal reimagines Google Search as if you were using a 1980s computer terminal — ASCII art, monospaced type, and that classic blinking cursor included. Modern search, command-line style.

Inspired by Squirrel-Monkey.com’s video “If Google were invented in the 1980s,” this project by N. Landsteiner nails the BBS look and feel. It isn’t an official Google product, but it’s a thoughtful, affectionate nod to computing history.

You’ll find a virtual keyboard, green or amber monochrome modes, optional CRT scan lines, and special query parameters for extra control — a fun way to learn command-line basics while you search.

What are the benefits of using Google Terminal? Is it just for fun?

It’s both playful and instructive. If you love retro computing or prefer keyboard-driven navigation, you’ll feel right at home. It also introduces terminal concepts in a gentle, hands-on way — teaching command-line thinking while you browse the web.

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