Microsoft's best (and strangest) Windows commercials

Microsoft Windows 10 is yet to come. Haven't you heard? So he lets these babies tell you. As Redmond's latest TV ad explains, babies will never know a world without Windows 10 and they can smear their fingerprints on the screens of computers, tablets and phones without any care.

Windows 10 Bug Art In the same way that Windows is the stolid and almost inevitable operating system for many, Windows commercials can be a bit predictable. In a way, that's not Microsoft's fault. By the time it was ready to release Windows 1.0, the world had already seen Apple's 1984 announcement for the Macintosh ushering in a new world a year earlier. Beaten by Steve Jobs, Microsoft executives probably felt like screaming. Which is exactly what Steve Ballmer did during the entire Windows 1.0 commercial.

There is a stark difference between how Macs and PCs are advertised, as evidenced by the Mac versus PC ads starring Justin Long and John Hodgman. But after 30 years of selling operating systems, Microsoft has had some successes among its failures.

We found 12 commercials for Windows 1.0 to 8. Some of them we could do without, others we can't get enough of, and others left us confused. Check them out in the slideshow for a trip down memory lane before Windows 10 arrives to delight a generation of kids on July 29.

The following is a blog post that looks at some of the best and strangest Windows commercials ever.

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Windows is one of the most popular and influential operating systems in the world, powering millions of devices, from desktop computers to laptops and smartphones. But how did Microsoft market its flagship product over the years? What were the strategies, messages, and styles you used to persuade consumers to choose Windows over its competitors?

In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most memorable and strange Windows commercials, from Windows 1.0 to Windows 8, and see how they reflect the evolution of the operating system, the company, and the culture.

## Windows 1.0: The Scream

The first Windows 1.0 commercial was released in 1986, two years after Apple's iconic 1984 ad for the Macintosh. The ad features a young and energetic Steve Ballmer, who would later become the CEO of Microsoft, shouting at the top of his lungs about the features and benefits of Windows 1.0.

The ad is loud, chaotic and almost manic, as Ballmer repeatedly yells "Windows!" as he holds up boxes of floppy disks and points to various screenshots of the graphical user interface. The ad also attempts to appeal to budget-conscious consumers by emphasizing the low price of Windows 1.0 compared to other software products at the time.

The ad is clearly a product of its time, when personal computers were still new and exciting, and when Microsoft was still an underdog trying to catch up to Apple. The ad also reflects Ballmer's personality and passion for Microsoft, which would later become his signature style as a leader.

## Windows 95: Start me

The launch of Windows 95 was one of the most important events in the history of technology, as millions of people lined up to buy the new operating system that promised to revolutionize computing. To promote the launch, Microsoft spent millions of dollars on a massive marketing campaign that included television ads, print ads, billboards, and even licensing the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up" as the theme song.

The ad features several scenes of people from different walks of life using Windows 95 on their computers, while the song plays in the background. The ad shows off some of the new features of Windows 95, such as the Start menu, taskbar, plug-and-play devices, and multitasking. The ad also conveys a sense of excitement, fun, and empowerment that Windows 95 brings to its users.

The announcement is widely considered one of the most successful and influential technology announcements ever made, as it helped create enormous demand for Windows 95 and established Microsoft as a dominant force in the industry. The ad also captured the spirit of the mid-'90s, when personal computers were becoming more accessible and common, and when people were eager to explore the possibilities of technology.

## Windows XP: Yes, you can

The next major milestone for Windows was Windows XP, which was released in 2001. Windows XP combined the best features of Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000 into a unified operating system that offered stability, security, performance,

If you were in Japan in the early 1990s, you may have seen some strange commercials for Windows 3.1. They featured a man dressed as a window, dancing and singing "Windows, Windows, Windows" in various locations. The ads were intended to promote the new operating system, but they also confused and amused many viewers. Why did Microsoft choose such a strange way to announce Windows 3.1 in Japan?

One possible explanation is that Microsoft wanted to create a memorable and catchy slogan that would appeal to the Japanese market. Windows 3.1 was the first version of Windows to support Japanese characters and was a major breakthrough for Microsoft in Japan. The company wanted to emphasize that Windows was the best option for Japanese users and that it was easy and fun to use. By repeating the word “Windows” three times, the ads created a simple, memorable message that anyone could understand.

Another possible explanation is that Microsoft wanted to differentiate itself from its competitors, especially Apple. At the time, Apple dominated the personal computer market in Japan, with its line of Macintosh computers. Apple's ads were sleek and sophisticated, highlighting the design and features of the Macintosh. Microsoft wanted to show that Windows was different from the Macintosh, and that it had its own personality and style. By using humor and absurdity, the ads created a contrast with Apple's ads and attracted the attention and curiosity of viewers.

Whatever the reason behind the Windows 3.1 announcements in Japan, they certainly achieved their goal of making a good impression. The ads became a cultural phenomenon, spawning parodies and remixes on television and online. They also helped Microsoft increase its market share in Japan, as more people became interested in Windows 3.1. The ads may have been disconcerting, but they were also effective.

One of the most memorable aspects of Windows 95 was its iconic Start menu, which introduced a new way to access applications and settings on the desktop. To promote this feature, Microsoft chose a catchy song by The Rolling Stones: "Start Me Up." The song perfectly captured the excitement and innovation that Windows 95 represented and became synonymous with the operating system. In this blog post, we'll explore how Microsoft decided to use this song, what impact it had on public perception of Windows 95, and how it influenced the future of Windows marketing.