When it comes to marketing new products, Microsoft has historically been happy to spend gobs of money. Yet, Forbes was still shocked to learn that the software giant plans to roll out Windows 8 with a marketing campaign estimated at $1.5 to $1.8 billion. “Yes, billion with a ‘B,’” it jokes. “That’s the biggest product launch in the history of the industry; it dwarfs the $200 million Microsoft spent to market Windows 95.”