The winner of the Finnish New Music Competition, Windows95man, also known as Teemu Keisteri, has brought Microsoft's ancient Windows 95 operating system into the spotlight, turning it into a phenomenon of popular culture.
For many, the PC operating system released by Microsoft is merely a relic of the past, with its age of 28 years surpassing that of many Eurovision fans.
Back in the day, Windows 95 marked a significant shift in PC usage. It debuted at a time when Finland was transitioning into the era of the internet.
In the 1990s, many households acquired a computer equipped with Microsoft's operating system. Without irony, this era of the so-called "information superhighway" was often accessed via a dial-up modem, which in turn used a fixed landline connection.
These connections opened up a world of internet exploration on the computer screen for teenagers, long before the internet became the playground of tech giants. For many teenagers, this provided access to a world of wonders, making Windows 95 a nostalgic reminder of youthful exploration.
While many remember Windows 95, few recall the reality of using it.
But fear not. Trying it out is not only possible but also easy – right on that same internet where Windows 95 once struggled to connect.
Several browser-based emulators mimicking the system are available online. These emulators faithfully replicate the Windows 95 user experience and graphical interface. They boot up in a matter of seconds, providing a glimpse into what the operating system was like back in the day.
