[aembleton]

I never used Acorn Arthur but I did use RiscOS 3 whilst at primary school circa '91, and this had an X in the corner: http://www.mjpye.org.uk/images/screens/riscos-02.gif

I'm sure the GUI design of RiscOS 3 helped to inspire Windows 95.

[ianetaylor]

I don't remember where the [X] came from specifically but there were a bunch of Brits on the Windows team at the time (myself included) and we had a number of Archimedes machines around. A lot of Lemmings was played.

I remember there was nearly endless debate about where the [X] should go so people wouldn't accidentally. I think the desire to make it visually distinct was a big factor.

[kybernetikos]

Interesting. That surprises me - I'd always assumed that the UK scene didn't have much influence on the US technology world.

[ianetaylor]

At the time Microsoft's Languages Division was run by a Welsh guy (David Jones) and he liked to hire fellow Brits.

[ianetaylor]

*so people wouldn't accidentally click it