Windows History

Microsoft first began development of the Interface Manager

(subsequently renamed Microsoft Windows) in September 1981.Although the

first prototypes used Multiplan and Word-like menus at the bottom of

the screen, the interface was changed in 1982 to use pull-down menus

and dialogs, as used on the Xerox Star.Microsoft finally announced

Windows in November 1983, with pressure from just-released VisiOn and

impending TopView.

This was after the release of the Apple Lisa, and before Digital

Research announced GEM, and DESQ from Quarterdeck and the Amiga

Workbench , or GEOS/GeoWorks Ensemble, IBM OS/2, NeXTstep or even

DeskMate from Tandy.Windows promised an easy-to-use graphical

interface, device-independent graphics and multitasking support.The

development was delayed several times, however, and the Windows 1.0 hit

the store shelves in November 1985. The selection of applications was

sparse, however, and Windows sales were modest.

Windows 1.0 package, included:
MS-DOS Executive, Calendar, Cardfile, Notepad, Terminal, Calculator,

Clock, Reversi, Control Panel, PIF (Program Information File) Editor,

Print Spooler, Clipboard, RAMDrive, Windows Write, Windows Paint.


Windows 2.0,
introduced in the fall of 1987, provided significant useability

improvements to Windows. With the addition of icons and overlapping

windows, Windows became a viable environment for development of major

applications (such as Excel, Word for Windows, Corel Draw!, Ami,

PageMaker and Micrografx Designer), and the sales were spurred by the

runtime ("Single Application Environment") versions supplied by the

independent software vendors.
In late 1987 Microsoft released Windows/386. While it was functionally

equivalent to its sibling, Windows/286, in running Windows

applications, it provided the capability to run multiple DOS

applications simultaneously in the extended memory.

Windows 3.0,
released in May, 1990, was a complete overhaul of the Windows

environment. With the capability to address memory beyond 640K and a

much more powerful user interface, independent software vendors started

developing Windows applications with vigor. The powerful new

applications helped Microsoft sell more than 10 million copies of

Windows, making it the best-selling graphical user interface in the

history of computing. Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1, released in April, 1992 provides significant improvements

to Windows 3.0. In its first two months on the market, it sold over 3

million copies, including upgrades from Windows 3.0.
Windows 3.11, added no new features but corrects some existing, mostly

network-related problems. It is replacing Windows 3.1 at the retail and

OEM levels, and the upgrade was available free from ftp.microsoft.com.

Windows for Workgroups 3.1 , released in October, 1992, was the first

integrated Windows and networking package offered by Microsoft. It

provided peer-to-peer file and printer sharing capabilities highly

integrated into the Windows environment. The simple-to-use-and-install

networking allows the user to specify which files on the user's machine

should be made accessible to others. The files can then be accessed

from other machines running either Windows or DOS.
Windows for Workgroups also includes two additional applications:

Microsoft Mail, a network mail package, and Schedule+, a workgroup

scheduler.
On November, 1993 Microsoft ships Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

Windows NT 3.1,
94-03-01 is Microsoft's platform of choice for high-end systems. It is

intended for use in network servers, workstations and software

development machines; it will not replace Windows for DOS. While

Windows NT's user interface is very similar to that of Windows 3.1, it

is based on an entirely new operating system kernel.

Windows NT 3.5,
94-04-12 provides OLE 2.0, improved performance and reduced memory

requirements. It was released in September 1994. Windows NT 3.5

Workstation replaces Windows NT 3.1, while Windows NT 3.5 Server

replaces the Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server.

Windows NT 4.0, ("Cairo")
94-03-15 Microsoft's project for object-oriented Windows, and a

successor to the "Daytona" release of Windows NT.

Windows 95,
released in August of 1995. A 32-bit system providing full pre-emptive

multitasking, advanced file systems, threading, networking and more.

Includes MS-DOS 7.0, but takes over from DOS completely after starting.

Also includes a completely revised user interface.

Windows CE has the look and feel of Windows 95 and NT. Users familiar

with either of these operating systems are able to instantly use

Handheld PCs and Palm-size PCs.

Windows CE 1.0 devices appeared in November 1996. Over the next year,

approximately 500,000 Handheld PC units were sold worldwide.

Windows CE 2.0
became available in early 1998 addresses most of the problems

experienced by Windows CE 1.0 users and also added features to the

operating system that make it more viable for use by corporate rather

than home users.

Windows CE 3.0
Availability June 15, 2000 -- Embedded operating system and its

comprehensive development tools -- Platform Builder 3.0 and eMbedded

Visual Tools 3.0 -- which enable developers to build rich embedded

devices that demand dynamic applications and Internet services. Windows

CE 3.0 combines the flexibility and the reliability of an embedded

platform with the power of Windows and the Internet.

Windows 98,
released in June of 1998. Integrated Web Browsing gives your desktop a

browser-like interface. You will 'browse' everything, including stuff

on your local computer. Active Desktop allows you to setup your desktop

to be your personal web page, complete with links and any web content.

You can also place active desktop items, such as a stock ticker, that

will update automatically. Internet Explorer 4.0 New browser that

supports HTML 4.0 and has an enhanced user interface. ACPI supports

OnNow specs for better power management of PCs. FAT32 with Conversion

utility Enhanced & Efficient support for larger hard drives. Includes a

utility to convert your FAT16 to a FAT32 partition. Multiple Display

Support can expand your desktop onto up to 8 connected monitors. New

Hardware support will support the latest technology such as DVD,

Firewire, USB, and AGP. Win32 Driver model Uses same driver model as

Windows NT 5.0 Disk Defragmentor Wizard Enhanced hard drive

defragmentor to speed up access to files and applications.

Windows NT 5.0 will include a host of new features. Like Windows 98, it

will integrate Internet Explorer 4.0 into the operating system. This

new interface will be matched up with the Distributed File System,

which Microsoft says will provide "a logical way to organize and

navigate the huge volume of information an enterprise assembles on

servers, independent of where the servers are physically located.
As of november 1998, NT 5.0 will be known as Windows 2000, making NT a

"mainstream" operating system.

Windows Xp
Release in 2001. Most stable windows.

you are a nice hostory write. pls send this on microsoft web site.

ooooo . nice one!

Hm did you really think that all up yourself. Anyways good job on the brief history, i wasnt even born yet when that windows was out.

This has been copied from a website.

zhangzy, if you are going to copy things from other websites, the least you can do is credit them with it. And it wouldn't hurt to properly format your text either.

Nice job Spectre, i hate when people try to take credit for other peoples work, his reputation is not going to be so good anymore.

v_v

you left one out......Win.ME(you know,the crappy one)

otherwise,good history

You also left out Windows Server 2003....But heck, who cares? Its a crappy one anyways just like Windows ME....

Just to familiarize people;-
Windows 2000 = Windows NT 5.0, corresponding server software is IIS 5.0
Windows XP = Windows NT 5.1, corresponding server software is IIS 5.1, but it is not recommended to set up a server on a Windows XP machine.
Windows Server 2003 = Windows NT 5.2, corresponding server software is IIS 6.0.

IIS 4.0 for Windows 98 was also known as Microsoft Personal Web Server 98, V4.0.
There was a version of Windows called Windows 97, but it was only available illegally as it was a early leak of Windows 98, and at that time Microsoft was expecting a '97 release so they named it Windows 97 at that time...

It´s a nice story that you can publish on the microsoft site!
It´s good to know some things about the WIN!

yes, that was interesting windows+walls+doors+roof = house