Microsoft Windows through the years

"Windows 95 is so easy, even a talk-show host can figure it out." Bill Gates

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 11:36 by Dinesh Dhiman

The latest blitzkrieg launched by tech colossus Microsoft has taken everyone, including critics, customers and competitors alike, by tremendous surprise. As the erstwhile market hops from one product launch to another, we cannot resist but to have a relook at its journey from text to touch.

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems through the years

1. MS-DOS -- text based operating system launched in 1981
2. Microsoft Windows 1.0
3. Microsoft Windows 2.0
4. Microsoft Windows 3.1 (Windows NT)
5. Microsoft Windows 95 - First completely GUI based OS(1995)
6. Microsoft Windows 98 (1998)
7. Microsoft Windows XP (2001)
8. Microsoft Windows Vista (2007)
9. Microsoft Windows 7 (2009)
10 Microsoft Windows 8 (2012)

MS-DOS
Though was around less than 30 years ago, MS-DOS seems to be light years in the past. It was a text based operating system which had to be given inputs in form of text based commands. It used to be around in most PCs till some time back, but nobody cares to have a look at anymore.

Windows 1.0, 2.0 and NT
From 1985 to 1993, Microsoft presented Windows 1.0, 2.0 and 3.1 (NT) with which it dabbled with graphical user interface (GUI). It even had a legal scuffle with Apple over Windows 1.0 which it later won. It was beginning of an era, the one which was going to reshape user experience in coming years.

Windows 95
"Windows 95 is so easy, even a talk-show host can figure it out," the charismatic Bill Gates had joked on a chat show with Jay Leno while talking about this trendsetting operating system. It was an operating system like never before.

Windows featured a Start button for the first time, a button which was the route to what lay inside. Users could work on icons, move things around and do all such crazy stuff that seemed to be unthinkable earlier.

Windows 98 and Millennium
Microsoft kept enhancing the Windows experience with Windows 98 and Windows Millennium or ME Few of us could lay their hands on the latter that remained around for a short while. Better graphics, speed and robust operation made the operating system tremendously popular.

Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
Then came another big shift in the form of Windows XP, which got released in 2001. It completely redefined user experience with cool new graphics, icons, internet tools, networking and themes and so on. Like wine, Windows just kept getting better and better with age.

Windows 8
We have written in great detail about this cool new operating system which marks the transformation of Windows from text to touch. You can refer to these articles: Windows 8 applications, Windows 8 help and Windows 8 tablet

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tsfeedsfilmy/~3/KkE7LZXNY7w/microsoft-windows-through-years.html

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