It was 15 years ago today that the first sweaty nerds managed to get their hands on Windows 95 after camping out all night. It could be had on a CD-ROM, or 13 individual floppy discs. Yes, things were different in those days. Windows 95 brought support for long file names, true 32-bit applications, and a spiffy (by the standards of the day) user interface. It was a big step forward in most respects.
Some critics of Microsoft, however, point to this time as the beginning of Microsoft's run as the bully. Internet Explorer came in the first service pack, and this kicked off the browser war that would eventually claim Netscape. But Windows 95 also offered support for faster hardware, leading to a renaissance in PC gaming that continues to this day.
The US Department of Justice eventually found that Microsoft acted unfairly in encouraging manufacturers to limit their sales of non-Windows PCs. It might be the success of Win95 that led them down that path, but we still have fond memories of the OS. So on this momentous occasion, we'd like you to share your memories of Windows 95. Was it running on your first PC? Did you wait in line to buy a copy?
