If you weren't able to snag a pair of Microsoft's XP-themed Crocs in the company's sweepstakes this month, don't worry. Starting today, you can buy your own pair of the hideously ugly shoes for a cool $80. Microsoft has started selling the limited-edition shoes from its online store.
The Windows XP Crocs -- which come with a Bliss bag and six Jibbitz charms -- are part of Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration. The charms include the famous Office Assistant known as Clippy, the Windows Recycle Bin, the Internet Explorer logo, the original MSN logo, a cursor arrow and a manila file folder. The shoes come in women's sizes 4 to 19 and men's sizes 2 to 17.
In its official blog post announcing the special Crocs, Microsoft says that the shoes are "part of a broader set of moments marking Microsoft's 50th anniversary, bringing together culture, creativity and community in ways that honor the past while looking toward the future."
I'm no Crocs fan, but I like these shoes because of the calm, cloud-filled background, which honors the famed Windows XP wallpaper of a green hill and cloudy sky, a photo taken by photographer Chuck O'Rear on the Napa-Sonoma county border in 1996.
I'm not sure, however, that I like that cloudy scene enough to fork over $80. To see exactly what the Microsoft Crocs look like, check out CNET's unboxing of the wacky shoes.