START. 15 years ago this button gets introduced to the Windows GUI. It will be the start of 15 years (or more years) of clicking this button. It had several transformations, from redesigning it with an eye candy look, just leaving the logo, and making the logo button a little bigger. Even with these changes, the fact remains is that it became Microsoft Window's trade mark. It was to become the distinction of the Windows' GUI from the Mac's. And people started learning and getting comfortable with this button.
The launch of Windows 95 was mixed with those who loved it or hated it. Some didn't like the change, but majority liked it. This was one of the best launches Microsoft had, people talked about it and got all excited with it.
It came at a time where the PC market was evolving and Microsoft had the momentum, PCs were upgrading to faster machines, and CD-ROMs where a staple on the Desktop (imagine installing Windows 95 in floppies). This was also the time "plug and play" was introduced, although didn't work 100% (until now). Also, using 32bit computing, this Operating System also paved the way for new and more interactive applications. I remember we had a Grolier Encyclopedia installed on out beige 486 machine, Solitaire was different, games also improved, like Test drive, Where in the world is Carmen San Diego and many others. Truly the PC had become a multi media machine, and of course who could forget the videos that was included in the CD, that taught us how to use the Media Player.
Microsoft took quite a bet and quite a number of resources pulling this off, I just hope that they would be daring enough do something really different with Windows again. Maybe we should ask them "where do you want to go today?"
For nostalgia, this is what I was listening to while writing this :
Also this one :
Photos and videos from The Pop History Dig
No comments:
Post a Comment