1. Windows 95 uses the Explorer utility program,
2. The Windows 95 interface creates a 3D effect,
3. Every object in Windows 95-, icons, files in Explorer, the taskbar and even the desktop, displays a floating toolbar of related options, (right click)
4. The Plug and Play (PnP) feature allows Windows 95 to automatically detect almost everything and if it can not detect it you can manually enter the data.

Kyle

95 was Microsoft’s first atempt at pre-emptive multitasking, Win 3.1 and even WFWG 3.11 were cooperative multaskers, so a nasty application could take over for quite a while. With 95 the DOS was simply a way to get 95 going (boot loader) as I’m sure you know. It was, with 95C, the start of USB support - in my opinion, the last nail in the coffin of OS/2 - IBM did not move quickly enough to incorporate USB support - it truly was ‘great connectivity for dummies’.

I’m sure everyone who reads me thinks I am the worst of MS bashers, but 95 was OK - (still OS/2 was better - the problem was even IBM wasn’t sure if they wanted to really push it. OS/2 could have been the XP of today, as it might have continued, in IBM tradition, to be worked on for quite some time - Microsoft was the ‘inventor’ of the planned obsolescence for operating systems.)

I remember waiting outside Best Buy in August to get a copy, as I had lost my ‘in’ to get a non-beta version. Gates using the Stones’ ‘Start Me Up’ was genius - it spoke to a generation not quite sure what to make of computers.

Oh, and it completed the destruction of Netscape by including IE 4.0 within 95.

That’s pretty much it. I remember using Windows 95 on a Packard Bell computer when I was like 6. After I shut the computer down it become corrupted lol, It might have been my fault but then again, Even if I shut down my computer and cut the power before it finishes shutting down ( my screen is blank so therefore I think it’s done ) it doesn’t become corrupt. Besides the basics of Windows 95 everything else would be that it’s a gaming platform because that’s where companys had the most time and resources, and end users to develop for.

If I recall correctly, Windows 95 was the first Operating System made by Microsoft that used 32-bit processing and It also used usb. Other than the hardware improvements, (that had nothing to do with Microsoft) I don’t see many huge milestones. (except making Bill Gates super rich)

Hi Kyle,
Thanks. I completely forgot about PnP.

Hi Marc,
Oh yes….The Stones. The Start button.

Heh FearedBliss,
Nothing has changed. It seems we still blame ourselves when Windows screws up!

Commodore256,
Good take - 32 bit computing…….finally.

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Thanks also for the refresher course.

I think what Big Bucks Bill was probably referencing was how much money he made from win95, since that’s all Bill thinks about.

Don’t forget, the blue screen of death on a desktop computer was a major milestone of Windows 95.

Thanks for the comments.

Bill - and just think. MS liked it so much they continued it to 98,ME, Win2k & XP!