A world of windows (1996–1999)

Microsoft first released Windows NT in 1993. The release of a “server” version of Windows, which had a popular user interface, generated considerable excitement just as AT&T was busy convincing the world that it might be out to fleece everyone for license fees. As a result, many organizations adopted Windows as their preferred platform for shared computing during the late 1990s. Without question, the Microsoft platform has come a long way, and for some organizations it is the best option.

Unfortunately, UNIX, Linux, and Windows administrators initially approached this marketplace competition in an adversarial stance. “Less filling” vs. “tastes great” arguments erupted in organizations around the world.^[4] Many UNIX and Linux system administrators started learning Windows, convinced they’d be put out to pasture if they didn’t. After all, Windows 2000 was on the horizon. By the close of the millennium, the future of UNIX looked grim.

^[4] Just for the record, Windows is indeed less filling.