Exactly 20 years ago, on August 24, 1995, Microsoft launched Windows 95, and ultimately changed the way people interact with their computers.
At that time, Microsoft had $6 billion in sales with 17,800 employees. New York Times called the launch of Windows 95 as "the splashiest, most frenzied, most expensive introduction of a computer product in the industry's history." One of the most important additional features it had was what is now known as the "Start" menu.
Microsoft even capitalised on this feature on their launch advertisements. Along with the "Start" menu, Windows 95 also introduced other important features, including the minimize-and-maximize window, the multi-tasking toolbar, and the Internet Explorer. The IE indicates that Microsoft is planning to dominate the entire internet industry.
Windows 95 launch was the biggest mainstream computing push during its time. Before its launch, consumers didn't consider having computers in their. This is something inconceivable in the present day where technology is saturated.
The "Start" menu indicated that people could literally "Startanything." It also boost the CD-ROM title boom. Gates wanted Windows to be very consumer-friendly. He also made sure that the launch will reach across the board.
It was the first time that software was launched in amassive global scale. There was a very long queue of enthusiast that stretched around the block just to get a copy of Windows 95 on its release day. This is something people only see on an iPhone release.
On its first seven weeks, the OS sold 7 million copies, which then were packaged as CDs and disk at $210 each. On its first year, it sold over a whopping 40 million units.
At present, the Windows 95 OS is out of Microsoft's pedestal. Its latest Windows 10 OS is given for free. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, "Our industry does not respect tradition - it only respects innovation."
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