The 10 Most Important Moments in Microsoft’s Operating Systems

Windows 1.0 

Released on November 20, 1985, the original Windows was better known by its more formal name: MS-DOS Executive. The OS environment/GUI included a calendar, clipboard, calculator, and more. Unfortunately, the windows in this 1.0 release couldn’t overlap. The patent for that feature was owned by Apple at the time.

Windows 2.0 

Released two years later in October 1987, this version featured overlapping windows like the Apple OS, albeit in a chunkier, more DOS-y looking way. The end result was an Apple
lawsuit that lasted for almost 10 years. It’s worth noting that both Windows 1.0 and 2.0 were more GUI than OS—DOS still handled all fi le-system services and data requests. In defense of the GUI, it was paired with a fairly fl exible virtual memory system, which allowed for multitasking functionality that was ahead of its time.

Windows 3.0

Microsoft capitalized on the explosion of desktop sales in homes and offi ces, selling millions of copies of Windows 3.0 in its fi rst year. This version made major UI changes and took even more advantage of virtual memory and virtual device drivers. It wasn’t the most stable OS, however, and Microsoft quickly scrambled to release a 3.1 version in 1992 that enhanced stability. This iteration of Windows also introduced Protected Mode, which granted applications access to additional megabytes of memory.

OS/2 

It’s hard to believe that there was a time when even Microsoft believed that Windows wouldn’t last more than fi ve years. The company’s open collaboration with IBM on OS/2 (Operating System 2) was important for two reasons. First, it helped Microsoft realize the true potential of a protected-mode, multitasking environment. Second, the failed partnership with IBM—which wanted to use OS/2 exclusively to drive sales of its own hardware— reinforced Microsoft’s decision to keep Windows an open-architecture operating system with support for lots of different hardware configurations.

Windows NT  The fi rst release of Windows NT 3.1 was in 1993, and was a ground-breaking moment because it marked the debut of the NT kernel that has been the foundation of every version of Windows from Windows XP on. 

Windows 95

A new interface, support for 32-bit applications, and native support for PC games compliments of Direct X were the high points of Windows 95, which debuted 15 years ago in August 1995. It was unanimously hailed as a signifi cant step forward in terms of performance and gaming. 

Pocket PC 2000 

This marked the debut of the Windows Mobile OS. It looked and functioned like Windows 95, and featured built-in support for Word, Excel, and Outlook.

 
Windows XP
It was fairly stable and it lasted long enough that it became ubiquitous. ’Nuff said.  

Windows Home Server

Released in July 2007, WHS represented Microsoft’s important initial foray into providing a network framework for homes as opposed to enterprise environments. It remains fairly underground, but power users have found Home Server stable, easy to use, and extremely confi gurable.

Windows 7 

Talk about rebounds. After listening to all the chatter about how badly it had screwed up Windows Vista—which was mired in production delays and bugs—Microsoft saved the day with a stable and easy-to-get-into OS that shattered all previous sales records. 

 

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