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In addition to the gala event in San Francisco, an estimated 65,000 people attended regional launch events. The keynote was also shown live on the web and on ZDTV. The theme of the launch was "Route 98": highway decorations, diner-style refreshments, songs from the likes of the Beach Boys, and more were all over. According to Microsoft, the launch theme "reflects the excitement and adventure of the open road of technology and the innovative new destinations to which Windows 98 will take users." Microsoft Vice President of Windows Marketing and Developer Relations Brad Chase started with a demonstration of Windows 98. He showed off the integrated Internet features, increased hardware support for devices such as DVD, and increased accessibility features of Windows 98. Chase's demonstration was augmented with video clips showing Windows 98 users. The keynote was delivered by Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates. Gates stayed with the "Route 98" theme, even comparing the current state of the computer industry with the earlier stages of the auto industry. "The auto gave people freedom to go new places. The PC is doing the same thing, but it is doing it far faster." Not surprisingly, Gates referred to Windows 98 as an "early milestone." He predicted that within 3 years, the PC wouldn't look anything like it did now. Tablet-sized, self-repairing, inexpensive, easy to use--the features many yearn for. Gates also predicted that by 2001, 60 percent of homes would have PCs, and 85 percent of those homes would have access to the Internet. That, of course, was why Windows 98's new "True Web Integration" was so beneficial to users. The Microsoft CEO also referred to, in an indirect way, the lawsuit being brought against Microsoft by the state attorneys general and U.S. Department of Justice. He said that GM believed that the car had to integrate more and more functions, just as the PC would have to as well. Before the launch, Gates told PC Week that he was confident that Windows 98 would sell far more copies than Windows 95, far quicker. Microsoft also told the press that it estimated 90 percent of PCs will be preloaded with Windows 98 as of today. Go To Page: 1 2 |
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