I really need some lore behind this Windows 1.0 ad. Why Microsoft hated Nebraska? Where can I buy the same jacket Steve Balmer wears? Where did reversi go?

Better question, where can you buy the drugs he is using

Whatever it is I bet there's no delivery to Serbia!

You dont need drugs like those trust me

Computer vendors in the 20th century had a phone with a free long distance "800" area code in their advertisements. If the call center was in Nebraska (often the case), then Nebraska customers were instructed to call an alternate number, as "800" worked for long distance only.

Ah that would make sense,we had some similar system

Crazy times! Microsoft was targeting two segments. TV ads were created to parody the aggressive mail-order and TV-retail advertising style of that time, targeted at home users. Paper ads were the medium for the business segment, and were more sober.

Reversi did go here

Nebraska didn't have toll-free 800 numbers in the 80s, so ads always had that disclaimer. I think he's making fun of that

Its not a real ad, just a parody video to show during events to employees.

i will switch to windows for his plug’s number

The kids have forgotten the war. smdh.

"A control panel"

I have a similar looking jacket in the wardrobe, bought for cheap in Waikiki a few years ago 🙂

Microsoft was a wild company back in pre-2000. I heard some wild stories from the old timers when I joined in 2008.

I wish Steve Martin would do a shot for shot remake of this.

That collar wins all.

Raymond Chen wrote about this video!

Dude was barely 30 in that.

you know, different cultures, different perversity; ))

Allegedly, this never actually aired on TV. It was a parody made by Microsoft execs & shown to their own employees during a conference. The joke was Windows 1.0 wasn't selling despite being a good value

something tells me this didn't sell many copies 🤔

Some people would say that's AI. They'd be wrong.