[norvvryo]

Windows 95 is so good because Microsoft put significant effort into making it that way. The design process was backed by usability studies featuring users of all skill levels. It was designed to be approachable by new users (new not only to Windows, but to computers in general), without hindering more advanced users.

https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.1145/238386.238611

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12330899

I believe that the limitations of common consumer hardware of the time also helped. Designing around 640x480x4 basically forces designers to focus on function over form. Whereas today, one could get so lost in trying to make an interface beautiful, that they forget it's ultimately a tool.

[meerita]

Yes, 95 was a remarkable achievement. Both Mac OS 9 and 95 were top of the UX back then. But after that, Apple made OS X, which introduced a new paradigm, look, etc. Windows just crashed with rare translucid UI implementation, then, on the flat design introduction they did Metro, another failure because the need to be on the same train