One of the most famous icons in the history of PC software got a physical version. WinRAR and the fashion brand tern once again released a bag inspired by the program's legendary logo, and WinRAR spiced up the whole story with a joke about users who never paid for the license.
If you've used a computer in the last twenty years or so, chances are you've seen three stacked books tied together with a belt at least once.
Of course, it's about WinRAR, one of the most famous programs for compressing and decompressing files.
Over the years, its logo has become part of the Internet and PC culture, and now you can wear it over your shoulder.
The legendary WinRAR logo is now a bag
French fashion brand dull, in official cooperation with WinRAR, made WinRAR Archive Messenger Bag, a bag whose design almost literally transfers the program's famous icon into the real world.
Image illustration by GamersLife
The model is not completely new - the collaboration was presented earlier, but after a lot of attention on social networks, the bag was sold out. On September 21, Tern announced that she was back in stock again.
And then the official WinRAR account got involved.
Their message was completely in line with the brand's style:
"For all of you who haven't paid for WinRAR yet - which is practically all of you - why don't you just buy a WinRAR bag?"
It's hard to imagine better marketing for a product that is already an internet meme in itself.
Price? $150
On the US version of the tern store WinRAR Archive Messenger Bag costs $150, while European buyers are shown a price of around €115.
So, if you've been ignoring WinRAR's message about buying a license all these years, you now have a much more expensive way to support one of the most popular programs on computers.
The bag is not made just as a decoration.
Image illustration by GamersLife
Its dimensions are 21,4 × 14 × 7 centimeters, is made of vegan leather, has a magnetic closure and an adjustable, removable strap.
The manufacturer states that a phone, wallet, keys, power bank, headphones and even a smaller portable console can fit inside.
In addition, it is an officially licensed WinRAR product, and tern states that part of the revenue from each sale goes to WinRAR.
WinRAR has long been much more than just a program
Humor is precisely the reason why this collaboration has been so well received.
WinRAR has been known for decades for its usage model that has enabled generations of users to continue using the program even after the trial period has expired, with a familiar notification reminding them to purchase a license.
This eventually became one of the PC community's longest-running jokes.
"Do you know anyone who actually bought WinRAR?" has become almost as recognizable a question as the program itself.
Instead of distancing itself from that meme, in recent years WinRAR has increasingly accepted and used it in communication with the community.
The new announcement about the bag is perhaps the best example.
Internet nostalgia becomes fashion
The WinRAR bag is part of a wider collection of the tern company, which finds inspiration precisely in technology and internet culture.
In addition to the bag, their WinRAR collection includes sweatshirts, jackets, t-shirts, caps, belts and other products inspired by the program.
Image illustration by GamersLife
Archive Messenger Bag still attracts the most attention because its appearance is immediately recognizable to everyone who grew up with Windows computers.
Maybe you don't need a $150 bag.
But you have to admit – walking around town with a giant WinRAR icon over your shoulder is definitely one of the better ways to show how long you've been behind a computer.
And if you've been using WinRAR for twenty years without purchasing a license...
Maybe this is their way of finally billing you.
