Windows from 95 to 20 years of OS Microsoft. Another time – ZDNet France

“This is the greatest thing since New Coke”

It was one of many reactions collected in the queues formed in front of stores for the launch of Windows 95 August 24, 1995, or 20 years ago. Windows 95 was then distributed in boxes edition. Its price. $ 210

A month earlier this year, Microsoft launched its latest version of Windows, hosted this time in a more calm atmosphere and without making the customer crane foot buy it. And for good reason since Windows 10 is, for one year, available as a free download to holders of a valid license of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

Microsoft dominated PC industry

But the world of technology is also very different than it was 20 years ago. And Microsoft itself has changed during those two decades. Already, the publisher was smallest with $ 5.9 billion in revenue and 17,800 employees in 1995.

In 2015, the firm realizes 93.6 billion dollars in revenue and employs 117,354 people worldwide. But in 1995, Microsoft was well positioned to win in the PC industry.

“The use of computers has become so widespread, and the grip of Microsoft on so powerful industry, the introduction of Windows 95 has the impact of a national event, almost a new holiday in August that could be dubbed the Day of Bill Gates billionaire chairman of Microsoft, “wrote the New York Times on the occasion of the release of Windows 95.

There are only five years, Microsoft and its Windows business were in different positions compared to what they are today.

Steve Ballmer was CEO. Steven Sinofsky ran Windows, and Microsoft’s strategy revolved around protection to any Windows franchise price. The company was in the middle of the development of Windows 8 and IE9. The secret and public participation under external testers were the key to Microsoft’s plans for Windows.

” Our industry does not respect the tradition “

There are not so long, some of us were wondering whether Microsoft might timing the launch of Windows 10 to coincide with the 20th anniversary Windows 95. Looking back, I understand why Microsoft has decided otherwise.

No Windows will launch the height and also symbolic than Windows 95. And Microsoft’s Satya Nadella looks to the future, taking vis-à-vis distances of old products and processes of the publisher.

“Our industry does not respect the tradition. It only respects innovation “Nadella wrote in an email to Microsoft employees, shortly after his appointment in February 2014.