Microsoft Consumer Products continuing the Microsoft tradition

Microsoft consumer products continuing the Microsoft tradition

Todd Bishop, one of the best blogging journalists I should add, has composed an interesting collection of popular keywords used in approximately 90 documents (speeches, memos, emails, interviews) spanning the three decades of Microsoft history. The way he presented the information is fun and easy to use, in pure Web 2.0 tradition, complete with custom controls and tag-clouds.

Through this, Todd has also published several rare documents from the early year of Microsoft including this gem from 1980, “Microsoft Consumer Products continuing the Microsoft tradition“, a magazine advertisement. (Pictured right)

Highlights from this document showing a very young and naive Microsoft include:

We know about the structure and capabilities of today's microcomputers than anyone else. And now we're using that power in a whole new way!

Little did they know that the advantage from this ‘extra knowledge’ would be later deemed illegal and become one of the most famous lawsuits in history.

Microsoft Consumer Products

Back in the days when software was written by a single programmer and came with printed documentations, beyond those found today which removes liability for death and the like from using the software. The definition of “can afford” must have also changed during the last 30 years.

Microsoft Adventure

The good ol’ days when games were as simple as avoiding hazards, adversaries and killer dwarves. Oh how it captured our imaginations at the time. Thank god the days of imitation or incomplete softwares are over, when companies accused each other of copying each other delivering products which did not fulfill the expectations of the customer.

Can’t wait to see how stupid we are today after the next 30 years. šŸ™‚
Speaking of 30 years, Apple has something to say too.

8 insightful thoughts

  1. It’s always funny to read old magazines! I used to have at home magazines from the 80’s (but my father donated them to a university). I still have a few of them I kept, and I laugh about the “adventures” of users having problems with INI files. So, my sugestion, keep some of today’s magazines, and read them in 2027… It will be great!
    About the apple message: If this is just the begining, then I can’t figure out what would be the rest of the history… O_O

  2. Now only if they re-enter the consumer market in a big way….remember Microsoft Home series of titles?

  3. That’s a very funny trip in the time machine. I do enjoy the wit and fine sense of irony/sarcasm.

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