Microsoft launches a $75 'ugly Christmas jumper' featuring its iconic cartoon paperclip Clippy
www.dailymail.co.uk
By Fiona Jackson For Mailonline
14:27 GMT 16 Nov 2022 , updated 14:27 GMT 16 Nov 2022
The tech giant has released an 'ugly Christmas jumper' featuring its iconic cartoon paperclip Clippy.
Clippy was introduced as a 'virtual office assistant' in Microsoft Office programmes back in 1997, periodically offering advice and tutorials.
However, he received a bad reputation from users, being dubbed as distracting and irritating when the character popped up unprompted.
He was scrapped from the software in 2007, but briefly reappeared in 2019 as a sticker in Teams, and then as an as an emoji on Microsoft Office in 2021.
Now, he has been resurrected once more in the form of a cosy $75 (£65) sweatshirt that 'Clippy may or may not have knitted', according to Xbox Gear Shop.
Microsoft has released an 'ugly Christmas jumper' featuring its iconic cartoon paperclip Clippy
While it does bear a hefty price tag, Microsoft says that all proceeds from sales will be donated to the College Success Foundation this year
Clippy (pictured) was introduced as a 'virtual office assistant' in Microsoft Office programmes back in 1997, periodically offering advice and tutorials
The digital mascot was designed to help Microsoft Office users carry out a number of tasks by offering advice and tutorials.
But it became loathed by many as a distraction and an annoyance for frequently popping up on screens unprompted and the firm killed him off in 2007.
While it does bear a fairly hefty price tag, Microsoft says that all proceeds from sales will be donated to the College Success Foundation this year.
The nonprofit helps low-income students to pursuit higher education through support services and scholarships.
Microsoft will also be making a $100,000 donation to the College Success Foundation on top of jumper sales.
This is the fifth in a line of nostalgic knitter Microsoft releases annually, after a Windows 95-inspired Christmas jumper was debuted in 2018.
A similar one was launched in 2019 that featured the retro Windows XP logo, and in 2020 a version came out that covered in icons from Microsoft Paint.
Last year's offering was themed around the famous Windows game Minesweeper, and features a Christmas-tree shaped version of the game.
That jumper retailed at $68.95 (£57.95), and $100,000 (£75,000) of the proceeds were donated to the AbleGamers charity.
Clippy was the default Office assistant for purchases of the software package, but users may remember some of the other available characters.
This is the fifth in a line of Christmas jumpers that Microsoft releases annually, after a Windows 95-inspired one was debuted in 2018 (left).
In 2019, a follow-up was released which featured the retro Windows XP logo (right)
In 2020 a version came out that covered in icons from Microsoft Paint (pictured)
A score of 1990 is also displayed at the top of the jumper, which is no coincidence – 1990 is the year that Minesweeper first came out
This includes 'Hoverbot' the robot, an Einstein caricature called 'The Genius' and the yellow dog called 'Power Pup'.
However, Clippy's designer Kevan Atteberry would later admit to Motherboard that 'people f*****g hate him', and TIME magazine named him as one of the worst inventions of all time.
The Clippy jumper can be purchased now on the Xbox Gear Shop, claiming to make you the 'best dressed at your holiday sweater party with the best-looking paper clip on your sweater'.
It is currently only available in sizes 2XL and 3XL, and may not arrive with UK shoppers until next month.
June 25, 1981 Microsoft incorporates
November, 1983 Microsoft Windows announced
Novenber, 1985 Microsoft Windows version 1.0 released
February 26, 1986 Microsoft moves to corporate campus in Redmond, Washington where it is today
March 13, 1986 Microsoft stock goes public
August 1, 1989 Microsoft introduces earliest version of Office suite of productivity applications
August 24, 1995 Microsoft launches Windows 95
1995 - Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, becomes the richest man in the world aged 39 with a fortune of $12.9 billion at the time
October 25, 2001 Microsoft launches Windows XP
November 15, 2001 Microsoft launches Xbox
October 21, 2003 Microsoft launches Microsoft Office System
November 22, 2005 Microsoft launches Xbox 360
January 30, 2007 Microsoft launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System to consumers worldwide
June 28, 2011 Microsoft launches Office 365
April 24, 2019 Microsoft becomes the third company in the world to peak at more than $1 trillion in market capitalisation value
www.dailymail.co.uk
By Fiona Jackson For Mailonline
14:27 GMT 16 Nov 2022 , updated 14:27 GMT 16 Nov 2022
- Microsoft has resurrected its cartoon paperclip Clippy in a Christmas jumper
- Clippy was a 'virtual office assistant' in Microsoft Office from 1997 to 2007
- The nostalgic knitwear is currently retailing for $75 (£65) on the Xbox Gear Shop
The tech giant has released an 'ugly Christmas jumper' featuring its iconic cartoon paperclip Clippy.
Clippy was introduced as a 'virtual office assistant' in Microsoft Office programmes back in 1997, periodically offering advice and tutorials.
However, he received a bad reputation from users, being dubbed as distracting and irritating when the character popped up unprompted.
He was scrapped from the software in 2007, but briefly reappeared in 2019 as a sticker in Teams, and then as an as an emoji on Microsoft Office in 2021.
Now, he has been resurrected once more in the form of a cosy $75 (£65) sweatshirt that 'Clippy may or may not have knitted', according to Xbox Gear Shop.
WHO IS 'CLIPPY'?
Clippy, a friendly anthropomorphic paper clip, was introduced as a 'virtual office assistant' in Microsoft Office back in 1997.The digital mascot was designed to help Microsoft Office users carry out a number of tasks by offering advice and tutorials.
But it became loathed by many as a distraction and an annoyance for frequently popping up on screens unprompted and the firm killed him off in 2007.
While it does bear a fairly hefty price tag, Microsoft says that all proceeds from sales will be donated to the College Success Foundation this year.
The nonprofit helps low-income students to pursuit higher education through support services and scholarships.
Microsoft will also be making a $100,000 donation to the College Success Foundation on top of jumper sales.
This is the fifth in a line of nostalgic knitter Microsoft releases annually, after a Windows 95-inspired Christmas jumper was debuted in 2018.
A similar one was launched in 2019 that featured the retro Windows XP logo, and in 2020 a version came out that covered in icons from Microsoft Paint.
Last year's offering was themed around the famous Windows game Minesweeper, and features a Christmas-tree shaped version of the game.
That jumper retailed at $68.95 (£57.95), and $100,000 (£75,000) of the proceeds were donated to the AbleGamers charity.
Clippy was the default Office assistant for purchases of the software package, but users may remember some of the other available characters.
This includes 'Hoverbot' the robot, an Einstein caricature called 'The Genius' and the yellow dog called 'Power Pup'.
However, Clippy's designer Kevan Atteberry would later admit to Motherboard that 'people f*****g hate him', and TIME magazine named him as one of the worst inventions of all time.
The Clippy jumper can be purchased now on the Xbox Gear Shop, claiming to make you the 'best dressed at your holiday sweater party with the best-looking paper clip on your sweater'.
It is currently only available in sizes 2XL and 3XL, and may not arrive with UK shoppers until next month.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF MICROSOFT
April 4, 1975 Microsoft founded by Bill Gates and Paul AllenJune 25, 1981 Microsoft incorporates
November, 1983 Microsoft Windows announced
Novenber, 1985 Microsoft Windows version 1.0 released
February 26, 1986 Microsoft moves to corporate campus in Redmond, Washington where it is today
March 13, 1986 Microsoft stock goes public
August 1, 1989 Microsoft introduces earliest version of Office suite of productivity applications
August 24, 1995 Microsoft launches Windows 95
1995 - Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, becomes the richest man in the world aged 39 with a fortune of $12.9 billion at the time
October 25, 2001 Microsoft launches Windows XP
November 15, 2001 Microsoft launches Xbox
October 21, 2003 Microsoft launches Microsoft Office System
November 22, 2005 Microsoft launches Xbox 360
January 30, 2007 Microsoft launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System to consumers worldwide
June 28, 2011 Microsoft launches Office 365
April 24, 2019 Microsoft becomes the third company in the world to peak at more than $1 trillion in market capitalisation value
