I bought Microsoft’s Windows XP Crocs, and I have opinions

Price When Reviewed

79.95

Best Prices Today: Microsoft Windows XP Crocs (Limited Edition)

Microsoft Windows XP launched within the fall of 2001. Crocs adopted in 2002. There could also be some historical past I’m lacking right here, however I didn’t anticipate an intersection of the 2.

And but right here I’m scripting this evaluate, having impulsively bought a pair of Microsoft’s limited-edition Window XP “Bliss” Crocs, a particular collaboration for Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration. (I used to be inspired to do that by my PCWorld colleagues, apparently I’m not immune to see stress, even at my more and more creaky age.)

I’ve by no means been a Crocs particular person. I’ve by no means owned a pair. People have raved about their consolation, however I stroll by means of metropolis streets and like full-coverage sneakers.

Obviously, you will get significantly better worth from shopping for an ordinary pair of Crocs, for those who solely need them for regular sporting and luxury. Classic clogs value $50 retail with a rainbow of colours to select from.

But add on Jibbitz charms, and nicely, you get to about Microsoft’s value of $80 for these sandals.

So is it well worth the nostalgia issue to get this specific set? Uh, nicely…

Microsoft Windows XP Crocs: Performance

Willis Lai / Foundry

I’ve been writing tech evaluations for over a decade. Video sport evaluations earlier than that. I would like to speak about how merchandise reside up in the true world. So, right here we go.

This restricted version relies on the Classic Clog mannequin. If you’ve owned a pair of such Crocs earlier than, you possibly can skip this half.

Positives: The perforations let your ft breathe, regardless of the plastic construct. The optionally available strap does make the match safer (to my shock, after years of disappointment with girls’s slingback sandals). And the soles are surprisingly grippy. On the linoleum tiles on the PCWorld workplace, I attempted sliding my ft round and they didn’t budge from the place I stood.

Cons: Zero arch assist. These sneakers are a reduction from stiff, unyielding sneakers (they’re the anti–costume shoe on a number of ranges), however long-time put on was fatiguing for my ft.

Other notes: These solely are available in entire sizes. I bought very fortunate that the dimensions I selected ended up completely becoming my ft. (Truly good—no hole on the again, and comfortably so.) These sneakers are additionally broad, so that they might not be well-suited to slim ft.

Would I personal a pair of Crocs after this expertise in a traditional shade? Probably not, since I would like extra assist and like a completely enclosed shoe for wandering round San Francisco. But if I needed to rating the shoe, it’s a strong 7.5/10 for me. 8/10 for anybody who doesn’t want arch assist.

Score: 7.5/10

Microsoft Windows XP Crocs: Aesthetics and high quality

I’ve to say, I’m form of upset on this branded merch.

The look feels cheaper than I anticipated. The iconic Bliss wallpaper copy on the shoe finally ends up having a low-resolution vibe, with an virtually smeary impact. 

It’s seemingly the wallpaper picture exceeds the capabilities of Crocs regular print course of as a result of the corporate’s personal sample variations like marbled or leopard print fare a bit higher. Still. A bummer.

Also, with how zoomed-in the image is on the shoe, you possibly can’t actually inform it’s the Bliss wallpaper. One particular person within the workplace even made this remark to me unprompted, after I was tromping round. Someone else stated you’d need to know the unique supply to catch on to what it’s alleged to be—and with out the customized Jibbitz, it might be even more durable to guess.

Speaking of Jibbitz—that brings me to the saddest half about these sneakers.

I used to be most excited for these charms after I positioned my order. They actually bought the entire nostalgia vibe… or so I assumed from taking a look at footage on the web product web page. I didn’t anticipate fancy enamel pins, however I additionally didn’t anticipate equipment that look as if somebody printed stickers on an previous low-grade, low-resolution inkjet printer, then utilized them to a plastic backing.

Willis Lai / Foundry

Even extra of a bummer: The selection of icons represented. I’ve so many questions. Why no Microsoft brand from that period? How is the outsized arrow extra iconic?! Why remind us of Internet Explorer’s reign of terror? Why that specific folder icon? It seems like a manilla blob! Why no love for Windows Media Player?

(Will Smith, PCWorld contributor, dryly famous that he thought this collab was spearheaded by a youngster making an attempt to seize what they felt represented Windows XP. Personally, my cash’s on “the result of voting by committee.”)

That stated, I benefit from the inclusion of the MSN butterfly. Not solely is it very clearly dated to that period, but it surely additionally jogs my memory of a time when somebody was positively a sure form of particular person in the event that they used MSN Messenger. (IYKYK.)

Also, I’ve had enjoyable sporting these Crocs with my AMD and Intel-branded socks, as a result of my humorousness runs that method. Is it ugly? Yeah. Could I most likely get away with it higher by sporting the Intel socks, that are white-and-blue and go somewhat higher with these Crocs? Sure. But I’m nonetheless favoring the black AMD socks in honor of my Athlon 64 X2 construct, which is the primary system I ran Windows XP on.

Score: 4/10

Final ideas

Willis Lai / Foundry

I’m a sucker for nostalgia-based merch. (Hi, I’m scripting this evaluate.) But I’d’ve anticipated larger high quality from this collaboration, particularly given the usual set by Microsoft’s ugly vacation sweaters.

Speaking of: Microsoft, you’d most likely generate income for those who re-released a few of these. I’d be open to selecting up a Windows XP one to mix with these Crocs.

But actually, the Windows nostalgia merch I’m ready for is a Windows 2000 revisit. So maybe I’m being unfair to Windows XP. I’ve much less room in my coronary heart for fondly remembering on it, although it was a a lot appreciated successor to Windows 98.

Overall rating: 6.5/10
(You can ask me how I common numbers. I could not reply.)