I’ll never forget these three Windows apps that changed my life forever — So, where are they now as Microsoft turns 50?

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As a researcher looking back on my formative years, I can’t help but trace the origins of my passion for computing to the moment my parents introduced our first family PC running Windows 3.1 into our home. The transition to an offline-only version of Windows 95 with its iconic Start menu only fueled my fascination. Spending countless hours drawing intricate shapes in Paint and crafting school assignments in Wordpad, I found myself captivated by the boundless potential that lay within this digital realm.

Our progress really took off once we switched to Windows 98 SE, added a dial-up internet connection, and started making regular hardware updates each year. Being online from the age of 10 had a profound impact on me, shaping many aspects of my life.

Currently, as Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, let me reminisce about three influential programs that significantly impacted my personal development. Do these particular ones resonate with your memory, or perhaps you were immersed in other software during the same period?

Let me know in the comments while I overcome my pre-millennium nostalgia.

MSN Messenger

From my current standpoint, I can vividly trace back to the early days of MSN Messenger, a journey that introduced me to some of my dearest friends and significantly shaped my professional path; it holds immense significance in my life’s story.

Over time, it emerged as the preferred instant messaging platform among us, gradually overtaking both ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), after I successfully persuaded my peers to create Microsoft’s “.NET Passport”.

In the initial stages, having only a few peers didn’t hinder me from using it, and some of my most vivid recollections are associated with the rudimentary (and unattractive) design of MSN Messenger 1.0 and its successors prior to Windows XP redesigning it with a Luna-style user interface.

In my case, there were a few individuals who stubbornly persisted in using the multi-networked Trillian app on their PCs. Without having this app installed, I would’ve found myself disconnected from those who clung to Yahoo! Messenger or any other platform that was on its way out back then.

Eventually, everyone moved over to what is now known as Windows Live Messenger, which I had to keep running daily on my computer until eventually, people started moving to Skype and other platforms.

Looking back, I can’t help but reminisce about the good old days in 2003, where Microsoft’s instant messenger became the bridge connecting me with lifelong companions and opening doors to professional contacts who significantly impacted my career trajectory. It’s incredible how technology can forge such profound connections!

Where is it now?

In official terms, Windows Live Messenger no longer exists; it has been added to Microsoft’s expanding collection of obsolete products. Although Skype was intended as its successor, I never found it quite as appealing, whereas TeamSpeak and Ventrilo provided superior VOIP services for my friends.

As a researcher, I’ve come across an intriguing development: a fan-created revival of the classic MSN Messenger known as escargot.chat. This unofficial project serves as a substitute for the login service, but it’s essential to note that its security remains questionable, so I strongly advise against using your regular passwords with it.

This toy is enjoyable to use, but it lacks longevity beyond its fun factor. Nowadays, alternatives such as Discord, Telegram, and WhatsApp offer cross-device compatibility and simpler access, making MSN Messenger less essential except for sentimental value.

Microsoft FrontPage

In the era preceding smartphones and constant internet connectivity, “using the computer” seemed more like a deliberate expedition to the Internet – a destination that ended when you switched off your Windows PC or disconnected from your 56k dial-up modem, which provided a brief, time-limited connection.

During that time period, personal websites were experiencing significant growth. Many of these sites had a blog or diary-like feel, but there were areas of the internet that housed specialized hobbyist pages or dedicated fan communities for specific video games. These spaces would share strategies, secrets, and cheat codes which I’d print out on our family printer using ink.

I was lucky to attend a school that took personal computing seriously, and basic HTML was a brief segment of that class. As a pre-teen, building tables with bracketed code was mildly entertaining, but slow to satisfy.

It’s great to reflect on how Microsoft FrontPage allowed me to explore my initial design ideas with bold font selections and contrasting color schemes. Everything I created using FrontPage was far from perfect, but it was my own, and that was the charm – exchanging tips on secret clothing hues in Habbo Hotel, immersed in a sea of dancing hamster .gifs. Pure joy.

Where is it now?

Nowadays, the process of web development has been streamlined due to the widespread use of user-friendly tools such as WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) applications like Adobe Dreamweaver, along with browser-based builders and customizable templates, which have become common alongside more traditional methods.

Although blogs continue to be a common feature on today’s web, it’s social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn that have largely captured the attention of both casual and professional internet users.

It no longer seems logical for Microsoft to continue supporting FrontPage since its demand has diminished, and putting in substantial effort to improve it might not surpass the functionality offered by competitors such as Squarespace and Wix.

Windows Movie Maker

For quite some time prior to the debut of streaming services such as Google Video and the precursor to YouTube (YouTube), my interest in Windows Movie Maker grew into a passionate fascination.

It remained thrilling to create DIY videos by combining personal photos and video clips saved on my hard drive, along with overused animated labels, all synced to low-quality MP3 tracks scratched from a CD.

Individuals who recall the time when Microsoft used the .wmv (Windows Media Video) format might have reminiscent feelings about their “Received Files” folder being cluttered with low-quality compilation videos, often shared through MSN Messenger using a highly compressed codec that resembled the pixelated chaos of RealPlayer’s now extinct .rv format.

Despite this, it seemed like a significant creative leap during that period. For several weeks, I devoted time to producing stop-motion animations using LEGO figures and a standard Logitech QuickCam, which were synchronized with movie soundtracks I recorded using a low-quality 3.5mm microphone aimed at my television.

In a different phrase, you could say: I may have expressed apologies to my friends and loved ones for subjecting them to my low-quality videos, but in reality, I stand firm with no regrets. The software Windows (Live) Movie Maker held such a profound impact on me that it motivated me to nearly exhaust my savings by purchasing a MiniDV camcorder and a PCIe FireWire adapter, all so I could save as much footage as possible.

Where is it now?

Although Windows Live Movie Maker is no longer active, it continues in essence through Clipchamp, as Microsoft acquired this web-based video editing tool in 2021.

In simpler terms, with apps like CapCut and DaVinci Resolve providing robust tools under freemium models, and their premium versions offering more features, it seems unnecessary for Microsoft to continue maintaining Windows Movie Maker independently.

Although the .wmv format is now outdated, it’s being replaced by more contemporary options such as .webm, along with advanced codecs like AV1 and H.265 for .mp4, which are becoming the new norm on the web.

Without a doubt, my preference for Windows and Microsoft as a whole remains strong, as demonstrated by where I stand now. Although I might hold onto fond memories of past symbols such as Clippy, I continue to take interest in the firm’s activities within the PC sector, regardless of the outcomes that may ensue.

Join us as we delve deeper into Microsoft’s 50-year journey, a mix of festivities and scrutiny. We’ll keep you updated with our predictions, coverage, and analysis on every aspect of their operations across different sectors.

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2025-04-01 19:40