In May 1990, Microsoft brought graphical computing to the masses with the launch of Windows 3.0. Versions 1 and 2 of Windows were underwhelming, underpowered and largely ignored, except by people who needed a runtime version to operate software that required windows, such as PageMaker. But the third time was the charm.

Although windows-based operating systems were in use elsewhere, notably on the Mac, Windows 3.0 was a revelation for PC users, with a graphical interface, multitasking and copy-and-paste, among other features. Finally, a reason to buy a mouse!

In 1995, Microsoft launched Windows 95, with an advertising campaign that was and was said at the time to be the biggest in history. Microsoft is rumored to have paid $12 million just to buy the rights to the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," which was and inescapable anthem.

In addition to a massive television-radio-and-PR blitz, Microsoft draped a 300-foot Windows 95 banner over Toronto's CN Tower, paid for a print run of 1.5 million copies of The Times in London and distributed them for free, and had New York's Empire State Building lit up with Microsoft's corporate colors of yellow, red and green.