Microsoft Windows Family

From Windows Vista Wiki

[edit] Early Versions

[edit] Windows 1.0

Windows 1.0

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	November 20, 1985
Followed By	Windows 2.0

Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows to be released, and the very first Graphical Environment for computers created by Microsoft. Windows 1.0 offers limited multitasking of existing MS-DOS programs and concentrates on creating an interaction paradigm (cf. message loop), an execution model and a stable API for native programs for the future. Due to Microsoft's extensive support for backward compatibility, it is not only possible to execute Windows 1.0 binary programs on current versions of Windows to a large extent, but also to recompile their source code into an equally functional "modern" application with just limited modifications.

Windows 1.0 is often 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. However, Windows .exe files had their own "new executable" (NE) file format, which only Windows could process and which, for example, allowed demand-loading of code and data. Applications were supposed to handle memory only through Windows' own memory management system, which implemented a software-based virtual memory scheme allowing for applications larger than available RAM.

[edit] Windows 2.0

Windows 2.0

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	November 16, 1987
Followed By	Windows 3.0

Windows 2.0 was a 16-bit Microsoft Windows graphical user interface-based operating environment that superseded Windows 1.0. Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386 in 1988. Windows 2.0, Windows/286 and Windows/386 were superseded by Windows 3.0 in May 1990. Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each other, unlike its predecessor Windows 1.0, which could only display 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.

[edit] Windows 3.0

Windows 3.0

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	May 22, 1990
Followed By	Windows 95

Windows 3.0 is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and came out on May 22, 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows (see history of Microsoft Windows) and a powerful rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front. It was succeeded by Windows 3.1. Windows 3.0 succeeded Windows 2.1x 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. Text-mode programs written for MS-DOS could be run within a window (a feature previously available in a more limited form with Windows/386 2.1), making the system usable as a crude multitasking base for legacy programs. However, this was of limited use for the home market, where most games and entertainment programs continued to require raw DOS access.

[edit] Modern Versions

[edit] Windows 95

Windows 95

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	August 24, 1995
Followed By	Windows 98

Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft,[2] and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products. During development it was referred to as Windows 4.0 or by the internal codename Chicago. Windows 95 was released with great fanfare, including a commercial featuring the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up" (a reference to the Start button). In New York City, United States, the Empire State Building was lit to match the colors of the Windows logo. In Toronto, Canada, a 300-foot banner was hung from the top of the CN Tower. Copies of The Times were available for free in the United Kingdom where Microsoft paid for 1.5 million issues (twice the daily circulation at the time).

[edit] Windows 98

Windows 98

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	June 25, 1998
Followed By	Windows ME

Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product based on MS-DOS. Windows 98 was succeeded by Windows Me on September 14, 2000.

[edit] Windows 2000

Windows 2000

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	February 17, 2000
Followed By	Windows XP

Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptive, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It is part of the Microsoft Windows NT line of operating systems and was released on February 17, 2000.[4] It has been succeeded by Windows XP in October 2001 and Windows Server 2003 in April 2003.[5] It is a hybrid kernel operating system.[6]

Four editions of Windows 2000 were released: Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server.[7] Additionally, Microsoft sold Windows 2000 Advanced Server Limited Edition and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Limited Edition, which were released in 2001 and run on 64-bit Intel Itanium microprocessors.[8] While each edition of Windows 2000 was targeted to a different market, they share a core set of features, including many system utilities such as the Microsoft Management Console and standard system administration applications. Support for people with disabilities has been improved over Windows NT 4.0 with a number of new assistive technologies,[9] and Microsoft increased support for different languages[10] and locale information.[11] All versions of the operating system support the Windows NT filesystem, NTFS 3.0,[12] the Encrypting File System, as well as basic and dynamic disk storage.[13] The Windows 2000 Server family has additional features,[14] 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 2000 can be installed through either a manual or unattended installation.[15] Unattended installations rely on the use of answer files to fill in installation information, and can be performed through a bootable CD using Microsoft Systems Management Server, by the System Preparation Tool.[16]

[edit] Present Versions

[edit] Windows XP

Windows XP

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	October 25, 2001
Followed By	Windows Vista

Windows XP is a family of 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The name "XP" stands for eXPerience.[1] Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel (version 5.1) and architecture. Windows XP was first released on October 25, 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst

[edit] Windows Vista

Main Article: Windows Vista

Windows Vista

Publisher	Microsoft
Release Date	February 4, 2008
Followed By	Windows 7

Windows Vista (pronounced /ˈvɪstə/) is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and media center PCs. Prior to its announcement on July 22, 2005, Windows Vista was known by its codename Longhorn.[2] Development was completed on November 8, 2006; over the following three months it was released in stages to computer hardware and software manufacturers, business customers, and retail channels. On January 30, 2007, it was released worldwide,[3] and was made available for purchase and download from Microsoft's website.[4] The release of Windows Vista came more than five years after the introduction of its predecessor, Windows XP, the longest time span between successive releases of Microsoft Windows.