The Story Behind That Weird Windows 1.0 Ad

Save 83% on a Surfshark subscription and get 3 additional months FREE!
Thanks to Surfshark for sponsoring this video!

Remember that hilarious Windows 1.0 ad featuring Steve Ballmer? Well what if I told you that it wasn't actually an ad? But was instead created for the entertainment of Microsoft employees. Let's discover the real story behind this video in today's episode!

● Affiliate Links

● Follow Me:

● Music/Credits:
Background Music:

Title: Bad Snacks - Future City Funk
Source: YouTube Audio Library

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Title: Bruno E. - Hanging Out
Source: YouTube Audio Library

Title: Diamond Ortiz - 8 Year Anniversary
Source: YouTube Audio Library

Title: Bad Snacks - Funhouse
Source: YouTube Audio Library

Images Used (under Creative Commons):

Info Sources:

Some materials in this video are used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, which allows "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, and research.

#MichaelMJD #Windows1 #SteveBallmer

[Gab_Rezende]

Wow! I uploaded this YouTube video in 2006, found it on a Geocities-like website. At the time I looked on YouTube and couldn't find a copy, I thought the video might disappear and I uploaded it to ensure it would stay on the web for longer. My English at the time was worse than it is today, but I remember that the video already said "Windows 1.0", maybe I missed something indicating that it was not a serious video! : D

[CretvMG]

I've been a video editor in Seattle since 1985. Yes, we used to make spoof ads all the time for internal meetings for lots of the big tech companies. The only reason people think this is a real ad is that Balmer really is that weird even in real life.

[rogehmarbi]

I still can't get over the fact they mentioned "control panel" as a must-have feature

[lustechsource]

The ad totally fooled me because I can totally see Ballmer doing this for a real ad.

[EeveeFromAlmia]

Honestly the ‘expect for Nebraska’ line only gets funnier WITH the context

[MartyTuro]

Developers developers developers developers _breathes_ developers developers developers...

[LucasIsHereYT]

As a Nebraskan, this is probably the most attention we have ever gotten. Thank you, broken US telephone service, thank you.

[nathanryan]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this about the PO box but its also talking about a 286 processor for a DOS computer of the time.

[Kernelx]

Wait a minute, there was a Windows XP ad similar to this one, with Steve Ballmer and Brian Valentine, was that a parody too?

[luigimaster]

286 DOS is clearly a reference to the Intel 80286 microprocessors of the time, and of course MSDOS.

[Photo]

Always thought it was fake, the first time I saw it I noticed the PO box and knew it couldn't have been real. Great video btw.

[NoobixCube]

Windows no longer including Reversi is why I switched to Linux.

[djpalmer]

Developers, developers, developers, developers!!

[JamesLustre]

*A* *N* *D* *C* *A* *N* *Y* *O* *U* *B* *E* *L* *I* *E* *V* *E* *I* *T* *?*
*R* *E* *V* *E* *R* *S* *I* *!*

[abdelali]

Welp, at least I learned about the reason behind the "Except in Nebraska" line.

[francescogiuseppearagona]

The 286 is a microprocessor! It was intel's 80286, and it was produced since 1982. When Win 1.0 came out in 1985, the 386 wasn't out yet, so the 286 was indeed the CPU on which the original Windows 1.0 ran.

[infernlzz]

"Wait, It's all fake?"
"Always has been."

[fionnmcgovern]

Steve was just screaming at the screen lol.

[gavincstewart]

I've watched that 'ad' many times, but it never occurred to me that it might be 'fake'. What an interesting look at this, I loved it! Thanks for your content, Michael. You're a legend. I love geeking out with you over this stuff, it's fun!! Also, I will join in the hype and offer my early congratulations on 100 k subscribers!!

[BAIGAMING]

5:43 In Canada our commercials have "Except in Quebec" because it's a strange province who have their own set of laws. 😂