There was nothing like the hypetrain for Windows 95 ever before -- and the only thing that might compare after was the release of the iPhone. There was a guy in

There was nothing like the hypetrain for Windows 95 ever before -- and the only thing that might compare after was the release of the iPhone. There was a guy in Software Etc. whose whole job was to stand at the door and remind people that Windows 95 was coming out on August 24th. Time for computer enthusiasts could be divided into two eras: before and after Windows 95. Before Windows 95, computers were for nerds and office drones only, pretty much. After Windows 95, awareness and curiosity about computers among normies increased phenomenally. That's how much effort Microsoft put into raising Windows awareness, and how much it paid off.