A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF

MICROSOFT WINDOWS

All windows variants1981: MS‑DOS emerges into light

MS‑DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System. It introduced a whole

new language to the general public but also proved difficult to understand for many people.

1985: Introducing Windows 1.0Now, rather than typing MS‑DOS

commands, you just moved a mouse to point and clicked your way through screens, or “windows.” Interface Manager is the code name and is considered as the final name, but Windows prevails.

Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256 kilobytes (KB). A hard disk and 512 KB

memory was recommended for running multiple programs or when using DOS 3.0 or higher.

1990: Windows 2.0–2.11—More windows more speed

Windows 2.0 was a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI- based operating environment. The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel ran on Windows 2.0.

1990–1994: Windows 3.0–Windows NT—Getting the graphics

A new wave of 386 PCs helped drive the popularity of Windows 3.0. Windows now had significantly better performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and improved icons.

Unlike Windows 3.1, however, Windows NT 3.1 was a 32-bit operating system, which made it a strategic business platform that supported high- end engineering and scientific programs.

1995: Windows 95—the PC comes of ageWindows 95 had built-in Internet

support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and Play capabilities that made it easy to install hardware and software. The 32-bit operating system also offered enhanced multimedia capabilities, more powerful features for mobile computing, and integrated networking.

1998: Windows 98—Works Better, Plays Better.

Improvements included the ability to open and close programs more quickly, and support for reading DVD discs and universal serial bus (USB) devices. Windows 98 is the last version based on MS‑DOS.

2001: Windows XP—Stable, usable, and fast

It’s both fast and stable. Navigating the Start menu, taskbar, and Control Panel are more intuitive. Awareness of computer viruses and hackers increases, but fears are to a certain extent calmed by the online delivery of security updates. There’s more emphasis on Help and Support. Windows XP 64-bit Edition (2001) is the first

Microsoft operating system for 64-bit processors designed for working with large amounts of memory and projects such as movie special effects, 3D animations, engineering, and scientific programs. Windows XP is compiled from 45

million lines of code.

2006: Windows Vista—Smart on securityWindows Vista is released in 2006 with the strongest security system yet. User

Account Control helps prevent potentially harmful software from making changes to your computer. Design plays a big role in Windows Vista, and features such as the taskbar and the borders around windows get a brand new look. It's available in 35 languages.

2009: Windows 7 introduces Windows TouchIt marks the debut of Windows Touch,

which lets touchscreen users browse the web, flip through photos, and open files and folders. Windows 7 is evaluated by 8 million beta testers worldwide before it's released.

2012-2014: Windows 8–Windows 8.1Windows 8 is a reimagined operating

system, from the chipset to the user experience, and introduces a totally new interface that works smoothly for both touch and mouse and keyboard. Power users notice that Windows 8 makes the detection and correction of file system errors both more transparent and less intrusive.

Windows 8.1 advances the Windows 8 vision of providing a powerful collection of apps and cloud connectivity on great devices.

2015: Windows 10—They say it’s the best Windows

This is the first time that a Windows upgrade is offered free to customers. The operating system delivers an upgraded Windows interface, focusing on the iconic Start menu and building an intuitive experience from there. It is equipped with more security, a new browser, the Cortana assistant, its own version of Office for on-the-go editing and plenty of new features intended to make life simpler.