Just for Fun: Celebrating 50 Years Of Microsoft & Delightfully Digital Names
Today is Microsoft’s 50th anniversary. Many digital devices and technologies are named after people so we're celebrating names inspired by digital technology. Plus, find out how easy it is to order Stikins® name labels using the digital device of your choosing!
Fun Facts About Microsoft & 50 Names Inspired By Digital Technology
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Microsoft, we’ve picked our 10 favourite facts about Microsoft and our 50 favourite names inspired by digital technology. Did you know that:
- Friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gates became the world’s youngest billionaire in 1987 at 31.
- The name Microsoft combines “microcomputer” and “software” and was spelled “Micro-Soft” until 1981.
- Microsoft’s Richmond Campus covers over 5000 acres and has over 83 buildings, including offices, event spaces, shops, cafés, treehouses, hiking trails, and sport facilities. Lake Bill was traditionally used for post-project celebrations when the project manager was thrown into the lake.
- The land was originally used for chicken farming. It is now a protected wildlife area and home to various animals, including ducks, geese, birds, squirrels, racoons, possums, bobcats, coyotes, and deer.
- There are LOTS of rabbits. It is thought that pet rabbits were abandoned onsite, which led to an explosion of bunnies in the late 1990s.
- Microsoft has over 200,000 employees worldwide, traditionally nicknamed “Softies”.
- The first version of Microsoft Office was designed for Mac computers. The Microsoft version followed a year later in 1990.
- The Window Jingle was created by musician Brian Eno (on a Mac computer!). The famous Window XP background known as “Bliss” (rolling hills under a blue sky) is a photograph by Charles O’Rear, taken in Sonoma County, California.
- Solitaire was included as a simple way to teach users how to “drag and drop” items in Windows.
- Microsoft has hidden various “Easter Eggs” in its software, including the Microsoft Bear, fireworks display, tips of the day, mini-games, flight simulator, and Magic 8 Ball simulator.
Here are our favourite names inspired by digital devices and technology. Can you think of any more?
- Acer
- Ada
- Ai
- Ajax
- Alexa
- Alice
- Ananova
- Apple
- Archie
- Azure
- Baxter
- Bixby
- Blue
- Chip
- Cisco
- Cortana
- Dash
- Dell
- Dot
- Dylan
- Echo
- Evi
- Felix
- Java
- Link
- Linux
- Lisa
- Lotus
- Lumia
- Luna
- Lynx
- Mac
- Maya
- Mycroft
- Oberon
- Page
- Pascal
- Pepper
- Perl
- Pixel
- Ram
- Rex
- Ruby
- Siri
- Tag
- Vala
- Vega
- Veronica
- Vista
- Viv
Order Stikins® Name Labels On Any Digital Device
Here at Stikins®, we’ve tried to make it as simple to order our name labels as it is to use them. You can order online at anytime using our simple online order form.
Simply visit stikins.co.uk. For each pack you want to order, enter your personalisation and pick your pack size. Add a school fundraising number if your school has provided one. Checkout via Stripe (debit/credit card), Link, ApplePay, GooglePay, or PayPal. If you choose Stripe, you’ll need to enter your delivery information and card details. Our site will autofill your details if you pay by account. Check the details of your order and checkout. Job done!
We’ll send you two emails; one to confirm that we’ve got your order and one to confirm that your name labels are ready for posting.
For more digital delights, you can check out our website, which features tips and advice, FAQs, and our blog. You’ll also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.