Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

"Excessibility" and Win95

"Excessibility" and Win95 — In case you were visiting the outer planets last week and missed the news, we thought we’d let you know that Microsoft finally shipped Windows 95. We also thought we’d point out some of the marketing excesses committed in its honor. For instance, Microsoft projected the Windows 95 logo on the Empire State Building in New York City; paid for the free distribution of a reported 1.5 million copies of the London Times, which were (of course) filled with large ads for Windows 95; and floated a forty-foot tall replica of the Windows 95 box in the Sydney harbor, prompting at least one observer to ask how many floppies the update required.

Apple countered with several smug advertisements, but a particularly appropriate one was plastered on the sides of buses driving Seattle’s route 253, which goes directly through the main Microsoft campus:

C:\ONGRTLNS.W95

Perhaps the saddest part about this particular Apple ad is that people understand it. [GD]

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any TidBITS articles!

Every week you’ll get tech tips, in-depth reviews, and insightful news analysis for discerning Apple users. For over 33 years, we’ve published professional, member-supported tech journalism that makes you smarter.

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.