A retrospective of Windows packaging: Paper or plastic
Image 1 of 22
It's all about the packaging
It's all about the packaging
If you purchased Windows Vista, you know that the packaging represented a completely new design. The traditional cardboard box was gone and in its place was a small, hard, plastic container with sleek curves that gave a futuristic look. Unfortunately, the boxes were very difficult to open.?
?Recently, Microsoft revealed the packaging for Windows 7 and announced that the new design will look like the Vista packaging, but the new boxes will be much easier to open. ?
?In this gallery, we’ll take a look at the Windows packaging over the years.?
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows 7 Ultimate
This is the Windows 7 Ultimate box. As you can see, this box has the same basic shape as the Vista box and the Ultimate box color remains black.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Professional
The Windows 7 Professional box uses the blue color scheme from Vista Business.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Standard DVD
Standard DVD
According to the Windows Blog site, the Windows 7 box opens more like a standard DVD case.?
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Ultimate
This is the Windows Vista Ultimate box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business
This is the Windows Vista Business box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Home Premium
This is the Windows Vista Home Premium box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic
This is the Windows Vista Home Basic box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Help page
Help page
The Windows Vista box was so complicated to open that Microsoft even created a Help page titled Opening the Windows Vista box. ?
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
More help needed
More help needed
Unfortunately, the Opening the Windows Vista box help page failed to point out the tabs you must press in order to release the inner compartment. Even then, opening the box can be a frustrating experience as the locking catches don’t always release properly.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic
Windows XP SP2 Professional
Windows XP SP2 Professional
Before Vista, Microsoft used the more traditional cardboard box packaging. This is the Windows XP SP2 Professional box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
This is the Windows XP SP2 Home Edition box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
The Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows 98 SE Upgrade
Windows 98 SE Upgrade
Both the Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE boxes were the same except for the red star. This is the cover of the Windows 98 SE Upgrade box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
The Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 box. At this point in time, the server product was actually called Advanced Server.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Window 3.11
Window 3.11
The Window 3.11 box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows for Workgroups 3.1
Windows for Workgroups 3.1
The Windows for Workgroups 3.1 box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows 286
Windows 286
Version 2.10 of Windows came in two versions–one for the Intel 80286 processor and one for the 80386 processor. This is the Windows 286 box cover.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0
The Windows 1.0 box featured an IBM PC running the operating system. ?
?Notice that this version includes FREE copies of Windows Write and Windows Paint!?
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
MS DOS 6.22
MS DOS 6.22
Even though the theme here is Windows Packaging, I came across some old DOS box images. This is the MS DOS 6.22 box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
MS DOS 6
MS DOS 6
The MS DOS 6 box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
MS DOS 5
MS DOS 5
The MS DOS 5 box.
Images compiled by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic courtesy of Microsoft
