When most people think of Microsoft, they think of spreadsheets and PowerPoints.
Obviously, Microsoft has always dominated in the office.
Of course, you use their spreadsheets and their email at work,
but it wasn't a brand that really meant anything to consumers.
That's our colleague Ben Fritz.
He says that as far back as the 90s, Microsoft had aspirations to expand beyond computers and cubicles.
Microsoft's bet was that they could build a very strong consumer brand that would give them a presence
in people's living rooms and make them relevant to especially young consumers.
You may have been wondering what this draped device was here.
In 2001, founder Bill Gates took the stage at a conference in Las Vegas.
He was there to show off the tech giant's new attempt to break into entertainment.
And so, for the first time, let me now unveil Xbox.
The Xbox.
I'm thinking back to the 2000s when there were all sorts of consoles on the market.
You had Wii's, you had GameCubes, and each of those systems had a certain reputation.
What would you say was Xbox's vibe?
Xbox's vibe was like it was really for the hardcore gamers.
The Nintendo Wii was for casual players.
Grandparents played it together, like Wii bowling and stuff.
Anybody could do it.