In 2001, Microsoft shipped Windows XP with a default background that has become one of the most recognized images in digital history. Known as “Bliss,” this serene photo of rolling green hills and a bright blue sky has silently greeted over a billion computer users worldwide. But what’s the real tale behind it?
It All Started on a Road in California
Photographer Charles O’Rear, once a National Geographic contributor, was driving through Sonoma County, California, in January 1996. The recent rains had turned the hills into a lush, glowing green. He pulled over, grabbed his medium-format camera, and captured what he later described as a “perfect moment” — untouched by humans or digital filters.
At the time, the land had recently recovered from a vineyard disease, and the absence of vines created that vast, clean landscape. No filters, no edits — just pure, natural beauty caught at exactly the right moment.
Microsoft’s Secret Acquisition
Years later, Microsoft was preparing to launch Windows XP and wanted an image that symbolized calm, optimism, and simplicity — a clean slate for users around the world. They found O’Rear’s image in a photo stock collection and purchased the exclusive rights.
The deal was so valuable that no courier service would insure the original film. So Microsoft paid for O’Rear to fly it to Seattle in person, hand-delivering what would become the backdrop of over a billion desktops.
The Bliss Isn’t Forever
Although “Bliss” became immortal, the hill itself didn’t stay the same. Today, the spot has been re-planted with grapevines, and the landscape looks completely different. The untouched green is gone — making that photo a once-in-a-lifetime moment in history.
Why It Still Matters
More than two decades later, people still feel a wave of nostalgia when they see “Bliss.” It’s not just a background — it’s a memory of a simpler, more digital-beginning time. It captured something universal: peace, clarity, and a hint of escape.
