Microsoft and the Internet Revolution (Windows 95)

In August 1995, Microsoft's 'Windows 95' launch was an unprecedented brand event that popularized personal computers (PCs) and connected the world. Before then, computers were the domain of experts and a few enthusiasts, but Windows 95's intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the introduction of the 'Start button' made PCs easy for anyone to operate. Especially as 'web browsers,' internet access programs, began to be integrated into the PC environment by default, it became a catalyst for the spread of high-speed internet and the explosion of websites. Microsoft monopolized over 90% of the global PC operating system market, making Bill Gates the world's richest man and leading the 'Third Industrial Revolution' centered on the IT industry. As PCs became essential items in every home and office, a solid foundation was laid for the 2000s dot-com bubble and the venture startup craze.