3COM wanted to create an “Internet Appliance” at a time when broadband was ISDN (maximum of 500 Kbps) and the idea of a home network was incomprehensible to most people.
The idea of an internet appliance was popular in all the user research we did and we were surprised how active people were on the internet with home speeds up to 28.8 Kbps.
Audrey was intended to use regular landlines with a built-in modem, which meant you couldn’t make (or receive) a phone call at the same time as listening to internet radio or doing your shopping.
Audrey was only on the market for around 6-12 months, but enthusiasts continued hacking them for many years.
