21/09/2018
HISTORY OF MICROSOFT WINDOWS: FROM WINDOWS 1.0 TO WINDOWS 10
Microsoft Windows has been so effective in the Operating Systems market since 1980’s that it is hard to imagine life without it. From the start Microsoft divided Operating System into two family lines. The one is MS DOS Family and the other is Windows NT. Windows went from an obscure operating system to the world’s most popular operating system. Here’s a brief look at the history of Windows, from its birth at the hands of Bill Gates with Windows 1, to the latest arrival under new Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella. Check out some of the past versions and features that paved the road to Windows 10.
1. Windows 1.0
The very first version, Windows 1.0, released in November 1985 by founder Bill Gates, was Microsoft’s first true attempt at a graphical user interface in 16-bit.
It had basic functionality, with gadgets like the calendar and calculator and the first version of MS Paint and a primitive word processor.
It ran on top of MS-DOS, which relied on command-line input.
It relied heavily on the use of a mouse as a computer input device.
2. Windows 2.0
Released in 1987, Windows 2 wasn’t much better than the first. The big innovation for Windows 2 was that windows could overlap each other, and it also introduced the ability to minimize or maximize windows instead of “iconizing” or “zooming”.
It supported the Video Graphics Array (VGA) display system, which allowed use of 16 colors at 640×480. Windows 2.0 supported the 286 processor, but to keep up with the changing times, Microsoft released a provisional version of Windows 2.0 called Windows/386 2.03 to support the new 386 processor.
Many applications were introduced like Excel, Word, CorelDraw and PageMaker to users.
Windows 2 started the control panel, where various system settings and configuration options were collected together in one place.
3. Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0 was released in 1990 and was so successful that it was not discontinued until 2001. The GUI in Windows 3.0 was updated with all new icons and was the first Windows that required a hard drive.
Virtual memory, improved graphics, and the ability to multitask helped propel Windows to sell 10 million copies.
The driving force behind the popularity of this version of windows was the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK), which made it easier for developers to write applications for Windows.
Windows 3.0 supported virtual device drivers (VxDs), which minimized hardware dependencies by adding a virtual device (another software layer) between the devices and the OS.
More importantly it gave us Solitaire!
4. Windows 3.1
Windows 3.1, released in 1992, contained necessary fixes and improved font functionality in the form of TrueType fonts, making Windows a viable publishing platform for the first time.
Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time.
Windows 3.1 was also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, although once installed on a hard drive it only took up 10 to 15MB.
It added multimedia functionality, which included support for connecting to external musical instruments and MIDI devices.
Windows 3.1 added the ability to close applications by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and terminating hung applications from the running programs.
Minesweeper also made its first appearance.
5. Windows 95
It changed the face of Windows forever. Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 with the first ever Start button and Start menu, the task bar and focused on multitasking.
Windows 95 also introduced a 32-bit environment and was designed for increased compatibility; the “plug and play” concept – connect a peripheral and the operating system finds the appropriate drivers for it and makes it work.
Win95 was the first MS Operating System that supported long filenames. Unlike its predecessors, it did not require DOS to be installed first.
6. Windows 4.0
The follow-up to Windows 3.0, Windows 4.0 was released in 1996 with minor improvements and is not considered a major Windows release.
7. Microsoft Windows 98
Windows 98 was the first release designed specifically for consumers that provided support for reading DVDs and using USB devices. USB support was much improved in Windows 98 and led to its widespread adoption, including USB hubs and USB mice.
Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons, the address bar in Windows Explorer, and the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories – one driver to support all future versions of Windows.
Windows 98 built on Windows 95 and brought with it IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat and NetShow Player, which was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2 in Windows 98 Second Edition in 1999.
8. Microsoft Windows ME
Released on September 14, 2000, Windows Millennium Edition (ME) was the last OS built on MS-DOS kernel, with added improved support for digital media. Image Acquisition was added for downloading images from digital cameras.
IE 5.5, Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker all made their appearance for the first time.
Windows ME added the system restore feature, which used to restore any deleted system files.
Another important feature was system file protection, which prevented important OS files from being changed.
9. Windows 2000
Windows 2000 based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT and later became the basis for Windows XP.
It made everyone’s lives easier by increasing the number of plug and play devices compatible with the operating system, defragmenter and device manager.
Microsoft’s automatic updating played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation.
10. Windows XP
Windows XP was the longest running Microsoft operating system, released in 2001, seeing three major updates and support up until April 2014. Windows XP offered plenty of ease and functionality for laptop and desktop users.
The Start menu and task bar got a visual overhaul, bringing the familiar green Start button, blue task bar and vista wallpaper, along with various shadow and other visual effects.
ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were built-in CD burning, autoplay from CDs and other media, plus various automated update and recovery tools, that unlike Windows ME actually worked.
Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall built in, it was turned off by default. Windows XP’s huge popularity turned out to be a boon for hackers and criminals, who exploited its flaws, especially in Internet Explorer.
11. Windows Vista
Windows Vista was released in 2006, with a supposed strong security system. It had BitLocker Drive Encryption for data protection, enhancements for Media Player, home entertainment, photographs customization, videos editing and better display design.
The version lasted only for three years, during which some users downgraded back to XP to avoid the pitfalls of Vista. It was buggy, burdened the user with hundreds of requests for app permissions under “User Account Control,” which meant that users had to approve or disapprove attempts by programs to make various changes.
PC gamers saw a boost from Vista’s inclusion of Microsoft’s DirectX 10 technology.
Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 debuted, along with Windows Defender an anti-spyware programme.
Vista also included speech recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery, as well as being the first Windows to be distributed on DVD.
12. Microsoft Windows 7
Windows 7 released in October 2009, was faster, more stable and easier to use. It became the operating system most users and business upgraded to from Windows XP, forgoing Vista entirely.
It provided new ways to work with windows—Snap, Peek, and Shake.
Windows Touch enabled you to use your fingers for browsing, flipping photos, and opening files/folders. You could stream music, videos, and photos from your PC to stereo or TV.
Handwriting recognition debuted in 7, as did the ability to “snap” windows to the tops or sides of the screen, allowing faster more automatic window resizing.
13. Windows 8
Released in October 2012, Windows 8 was Microsoft’s most radical overhaul of the Windows interface, ditching the Start button and Start menu in favor of a more touch-friendly Start screen.
Windows 8 was faster than previous versions of Windows and included support for the new, much faster USB 3.0 devices.
The Windows Store, which offers universal Windows apps that run in a full-screen mode only, was introduced.
The new tiled interface saw programme icons and live tiles, replace the lists of programmes and icons.
It also took advantage of new technologies such as near field communications, Universal Serial Bus 3.0 (USB 3.0), low-power ARM architecture, cloud computing and UEFI firmware, latest and updated security features like malware filtering, spam detection, built-in antivirus capabilities and intrusion prevention system.
14. Windows 10
Announced on 30 September 2014, Windows 10, is very much still a work in progress and has only been released as a test version for keen users to try.
Windows 10 is bringing back the Start menu and more balance to traditional desktop computer users.
Some interesting features include the ability to switch between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, for those computers like the Surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard.
It is meant to unify all Windows platforms across multiple devices, including Windows Phone and tablets, with universal apps that can be downloaded from the Windows Store and run on all Windows devices.
