Bring back this style of UI, you cowards. Let me compute with whimsy 


The UI that looked like a classroom, complete with a hallway as it was logging in?
I remember it was called "NetVista" and basically it replaced the Win95/98/NT explorer shell, and added some unique functions, basically Microsoft BOB for classrooms and user management. The teacher login had a view from the teachers desk and show students enrolled in the class.
You can try Googling it, but IBM would recycle the name Netvista for their business/school PC line in the end, so you'll see NetVista PC's more.