Microsoft: Windows turns 20

"Windows provides unprecedented power to users today and a foundation for hardware and software advancements of the next few years."

That quote might be right at home in a press release for the upcoming Windows Vista. But it's actually Bill Gates trumpeting the release of Windows 1.0, way back on November 20, 1985.

So how did Microsoft celebrate the Big Day? Well, there hasn't been quite the blowout party that we expected. So far, there's been a mention of the Windows milestone (and much speechifying) as part of the company's 30th anniversary party in September.

And, curiously, Microsoft has chosen Japan for the bulk of its celebration so far. Reports circulated last week that Microsoft will launch a special edition of Windows XP in honor of Windows 20th anniversary that will include trinkets such as Windows box origami and a preview version of Vista.

Blog community response:

"20th Anniversary Edition of Windows? Just wait until XP is 20 years old after all of the Windows Vista delays??"
--Mac User's Blog

"What??s most interesting about this (Japanese) edition is everything that's not actually Windows XP: buyers will receive replica (e.g. not working) installation CDs of Windows 95, 98, Me, and 2000, Windows box origami, memorial stamps, memorial stickers, a memorial video from the man himself, and a special early "preview" version of Windows Vista, whatever that means."
--Engadget

"Windows at 20: 20 things you didn't know about Windows 1.0. Believe it or not, it's exactly 20 years since Microsoft released Windows 1.0. And, although the company is being fairly low-key in its celebrations of the event (except in Japan), I think it's worth commemorating. To celebrate the 20th, here are 20 facts about Windows 1.0"
--Download Squad