Windows 1.0
-Graphical Personal
Computer Operating System Environment.
-Release date – 20 Nov,
1985
Features
-Windows 1.0 is regarded
as a "front-end to the MS-DOS operating system", a
description which has also been applied to subsequent versions of Windows.
Windows 1.0 is an MS-DOS program. Windows 1.0 programs can call MS-DOS functions,
and GUI programs are run from .exe files just like MS-DOS programs.
-Windows 1.0 runs a shell program
known as the MS-DOS Executive, which is little more than a mouse-able output of
the DIR command that does not support icons and is not Y2K-compliant. Other
supplied programs are Calculator, Calendar, Clipboard Viewer, Clock, Notepad,
Paint, Reversi, Cardfile, Terminal and Write.
-Windows 1.0 does
not allow overlapping windows. Instead all windows are tiled. Only dialog
boxes can appear over other windows.
Windows 2.0
-16 bit Microsoft
Windows GUI based Operating Environment.
-Release date – 09
Dec, 1987
Features
-Windows 2.0 allowed
application windows to overlap each other unlike its predecessor Windows
1.0, which could display only tiled windows. Windows 2.0 also introduced
more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts and the terminology of
"Minimize" and "Maximize", as opposed to
"Iconize" and "Zoom" in Windows 1.0.
- Windows 2.0 was
also the first Windows version to integrate the control panel.
- New features in
Windows 2.0 included VGA graphics (although 16 colors only). It was also the
last version of Windows that did not require a hard disk.
Windows 3.0
-Windows 3.0, a graphical
environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows.
-Release date – May
22, 1990
Features
- Windows 3.0
succeeded Windows 2.1 x and included a significantly revamped user
interface as well as technical improvements to make better use of the memory
management capabilities of Intel's 80286 and 80386 processors.
- The MS-DOS
Executive file manager/program launcher was replaced with the icon-based Program
Manager and the list-based File Manager, splitting files and programs
- A number of simple
applications were included, such as the text editor Notepad and the
word processor Write, a macro recorder the paint program, and a calculator.
Also, the earlier Reversi game was complemented with the card
game Solitaire
- The Windows icons
and graphics support a full 16 colors in EGA and VGA mode
- Windows 3.0 was
the last version of Windows to advertise 100% compatibility with older Windows
applications.
Windows 3.1 x
- Windows 3.1 x (code named
Janus) is a series of 16-bit operating systems, produced by Microsoft for
use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first
sold during April 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0. Subsequent versions
were released between 1992 and 1994 until the series was superseded by Windows
95. During its lifespan, Windows 3.1 introduced various enhancements to the
still MS-DOS-based platform, including improved system stability, expanded
support for multimedia, True Type fonts, and work group networking.
Windows 3.11
On August 11, 1993,
Microsoft released an update for Windows 3.1 known as Windows 3.11. Thus, Windows
3.11 is not a standalone version of Windows, but rather a software update
from Windows 3.1, much like modern Windows service packs.
Windows 3.2
On November 22,
1993, Microsoft released a Simplified Chinese version of Windows for
the Chinese market. A year later, an update was released, which identified
itself as Windows 3.2. Thus, Windows 3.2 is an updated version of the Chinese
version of Windows 3.1. The update was limited to this language version,
as it fixed only issues related to the complex writing system of the Chinese
language.
Windows NT
- Windows NT 3.1 is
a 32-bit operating system developed by Microsoft. It constitutes
the first operating system of the Windows NT family and was released
on July 27, 1993. Although it is the first version in the NT line, the name was
chosen as a brand extension of the similar Windows 3.1.
- The operating
system's success on the market was only limited, mostly due to the high system
requirements for its time and the lack of 32-bit applications which used the
capabilities of Windows NT 3.1.
Windows
95
- Windows 95 (code named
Chicago) is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating
system developed by Microsoft. It was released on August 24, 1995 and
was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products.
- Windows 95
integrated Microsoft's formerly separate MS-DOS and Windows products.
- There were also
major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from
a mainly 16-bit architecture to a preemptively multitasked 32-bit
architecture.
- It also
introduced numerous functions and features that were featured in later Windows
versions, such as the taskbar,the 'Start' button, and the way the user
navigates.
Windows
98
- Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis)
is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the
second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was
released to manufacturing on May 15, 1998 and to retail on June 25, 1998.
Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a
hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product with an MS-DOS based boot
stage. Windows 98 was succeeded by Windows 98 Second Edition on May 5,
1999, then by Windows ME(Millennium Edition) on September 14, 2000.
Windows
2000
- Windows 2000 is
an operating system for use on both client and server computers.
It was produced by Microsoft and released to manufacturing on
December 15, 1999 and launched to retail on February 17, 2000.
- Four editions of
Windows 2000 were released: Professional, Server, Advanced
Server, and Datacenter Server.
- All versions of
the operating system support NTFS 3.0, Encrypting File System,
as well as basic and dynamic disk storage. The Windows 2000 Server family
has additional features, including the ability to provide Active Directory
services (a hierarchical framework of resources), Distributed File System (a
file system that supports sharing of files) and fault-redundant storage
volumes.
Windows
XP
- Windows XP is
a personal computer operating system produced by Microsoft as
part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. The operating
system was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, and generally released
for retail sale on October 25, 2001.
- Windows XP
was a major advance from the MS-DOS based versions of Windows in
security, stability and efficiency due to its use of Windows NT
underpinnings. It introduced a significantly redesigned graphical user
interface and was the first version of Windows to use product
activation in an effort to reduce software piracy.
- Windows XP
eventually proved to be popular and widely used. It is estimated that at least
400 million copies of Windows XP were sold globally within its first five years
of availability, and at least one billion copies were sold by April 2014.
- Windows XP
remained popular even after the release of newer versions, particularly due to
the poorly received release of its successor Windows Vista. Vista's 2009
successor, Windows 7, only overtook XP in total market share at the end of
2011.
Windows
Vista
- Windows Vista is
an operating system by Microsoft for use on personal
computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs,
and media center PCs.
- Windows
Vista was known by its codename "Longhorn". On January 30, 2007,
it was released worldwide and was made available for purchase and download
from Microsoft's website.
- New features of
Windows Vista include an updated graphical user interface and visual
style dubbed Aero, a new search component called Windows Search,
redesigned networking, audio, print and display sub-systems, and new multimedia
tools including Windows DVD Maker.
- Windows Vista
included version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, allowing software
developers to write applications without traditional Windows APIs.
Windows
7
- Windows 7 is
a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft, a
version of Windows NT. Development of Windows 7 occurred as early as 2006
under the codename "Blackcomb." Windows 7 was released to
manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became generally available on October
22, 2009.
- With
the addition of a redesigned taskbar that allows applications to be
"pinned" to it, and new window management features. Other new
features were added to the operating system, including libraries, the new file
sharing system Home Group, and support for Multitouch input. A new
"Action Center" interface was also added to provide an overview of
system security and maintenance information, and tweaks were made to the User
Account Control system to make it less intrusive. 7 also shipped with
updated versions of several stock applications, including Internet
Explorer, Windows Media Player, and Windows Media Center.
- Among Windows 7's
new features are advances in touch and handwriting recognition, support
for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved
boot performance, Direct Access, and kernel improvements.
Windows
8
- Windows 8 is
a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft as
part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. The operating
system was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012, and was
released for general availability on October 26, 2012
- Windows
8 introduced major changes to the operating system's platform and user
interface to improve its user experience on tablets, where Windows was now
competing with mobile operating systems, including Android and iOS.
- In
particular, these changes included a touch-optimized Windows shell based
on Microsoft's "Metro" design language, the Start
screen (which displays programs and dynamically updated content on a grid
of tiles), a new platform for developing apps with an emphasis on touchscreen input,
integration with online services (including the ability to sync apps and
settings between devices), and Windows Store, an online store for downloading
and purchasing new software. Windows 8 added support for USB 3.0, Advanced
Format hard drives, near field communications, and cloud
computing. Additional security features were introduced, such as built-in antivirus
software, integration with Microsoft Smart Screen phishing filtering service
and support for UEFI Secure Boot on supported devices with UEFI
firmware, to prevent malware from infecting the boot process.
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