Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary in an unusual way: with Crocs. The company has revealed a Microsoft Limited Edition Crocs Bundle that puts a nostalgic spin on footwear, including shoes inspired by Windows XP.
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The bundle comes with Crocs styled after the iconic operating system, custom Jibbitz charms, and a drawstring bag featuring the famous Bliss wallpaper. That green hill and blue sky photo from Sonoma County, California became a cultural touchstone for millions of Windows XP users in the early 2000s. Now, more than two decades later, it returns in the form of fashion.
Microsoft is also running a contest to promote the launch. The #MicrosoftCrocSweepstakes is open on Instagram through October 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with details and rules available on the company’s account.
Look, Crocs are surely comfortable, but it feels like a sad way for a multi-trillion dollar company to mark such a milestone. Microsoft helped define the personal computer era, yet its golden anniversary is being tied to rubber shoes?! Whether these limited-edition XP Crocs become collectible or just a novelty, the move shows how nostalgia and pop culture can sometimes overshadow true innovation.
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“…yet its golden anniversary is being tied to rubber shoes?!”
Microsoft has much to distract attention from: Their heavy-handed attempt to get people to ditch Windows 10. Patches that introduce new bugs. Mandatory price hikes supposedly for a feature (AI) that many people would happily forego to avoid the hikes. Layoffs while making record profits.