That brings us back to the paper and ink part of the process. While the CD ROM manufacturers are stamping out discs, another group of printing and packaging companies are producing the manuals, certificates, and packaging required for the boxed editions of Windows 98 software distributed through retail outlets. You may have seen this process on TV when Windows 95 was being produced. People working on conveyer lines stuff CD's, manuals, certificates, and other materials into bright blue boxes, which are then shrink-wrapped. Stacked onto pallets, piles and piles of Windows 98 boxes are then sent on their way to distributors, for the next to last leg of their journey.
Some retailers operate from storefronts while others operate via mail order.
Still others are cropping up on the Internet. Regardless of the means by which these companies reach out to you, all but the largest retailers rely on distributors to supply the product to stock their shelves. Distributors buy enormous quantities of hardware and software from manufacturers. These largely hidden businesses play a crucial role by helping speed the flow of product from a few massive production facilities out to thousands of retail outlets. When June 25 arrives, all the attention will focus on the launch-day events.