In 1995, at the peak of their Friends fame, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston starred in a 60-minute instructional video titled the Microsoft Windows 95 Video Guide. Marketed as the “world’s first cyber sitcom,” the production was released on VHS to teach users the basics of the new operating system.
The actors play themselves visiting Bill Gates' office to audition for a role in a Microsoft video guide. They are guided through the "top 25 features" of Windows 95, including the Start button, right-clicking, multitasking, and the Recycle Bin.
Along the way, they interact with a cast of eccentric characters, such as a “martial arts guru” and “Joystick Johnny,” who explain technical concepts like Plug and Play. The video features iconic era-specific moments, such as Aniston calling copy-pasting “trippy” and Perry learning how to send an email to a friend in a grunge band.
The tape was divided into three sections: the “cyber sitcom,” a step-by-step technical review, and a section answering the 20 most frequently asked questions.
It’s a fascinating piece of tech-marketing history, especially considering Windows 95 was the version that truly moved PCs into the mainstream.
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