Today marks the 20th anniversary of Windows XP, whose success came from the failure of two other ideas.
Microsoft wanted to continue developing Windows 2000 separately with Neptune for consumers and Odyssey for business projects, but both initiatives were scrapped and merged. Hence the Whistler Project.
However, it would take some time and a lot of development work before the new Windows received its well-known name, not least because Microsoft was forced to make a series of tweaks, contrary to their own ideas, by decision of a US court.
Computer manufacturers have earned the right to include their own programs on desktop computers. And what was even more painful for Microsoft: the ability to remove Internet Explorer and Outlook Express from the start menu.
For many users, the most representative of Windows XP was the new user interface, which was different from the look of previous versions of Windows.
Instead of gray, blue became the most used color throughout the interface, and the start menu was bright green.
There’s also a part of the new desktop that many will probably never forget: the iconic green hill wallpaper. Years later, that hill was no longer as green as in the original photo.
Windows XP was able to remain among the operating systems in use around the world for some time.
However, on today’s birthday, the Windows veteran has to settle for 0.3% but can still sit at the table of the 10 most used desktop operating systems.