The Sega Dreamcast: Microsoft on consoles before the days of Xbox

[Windows Central]

Before there was Xbox, Microsoft partnered with Sega to bring Windows to the console. Sort of.
This is the tale of the Sega Dreamcast, possibly my favorite console of all time, released to the world in 1999 (or late 1998 in Japan). In the early days it was basically Sega or Nintendo, but as the Dreamcast approached, Sony had entered the arena with the might of the PlayStation brand.
Sadly, the Dreamcast ended up being Sega's final console — and a short-lived one at that. But at its launch, it was something quite different to what Nintendo and Sony had to offer. And it had Microsoft at its side.
Well, it kind of had Microsoft at its side. What started out as a coming together of two giants, one of gaming, one of computing, ultimately fizzled out into being nothing more than a memory.

Full story from the WindowsCentral blog...