Microsoft Corporation's Windows operating system or OS celebrated on Nov. 20 its 30th year, as the first version of the popular platform was released in 1985.
Windows succeeded MS-DOS and henceforth, received subsequent versions such as Windows 2 in 1987, Windows 3.x in 1990 to 1992, Windows 95 in 1995, Windows 98 in 1998, Windows 2000 and Me in 2000, Windows XP in 2001, Vista in 2006, 7 in 2009 and 8 in 2012. In 2013, Microsoft released version 8.1 and this year, Windows 10, reported Microsoft News.
Before Microsoft Corporation's Windows OS, people used MS-DOS or the Microsoft Disk Operating System where all inputs came from the keyboard.
While DOS commands are all based on typed text, Windows introduced the use of the mouse with which the user can move, point and click on something. On screen, scroll bars, icons, drop-down menus, apps and dialog boxes were introduced. It was a huge milestone for the PC that paved the way to today's advanced platform versions.
Microsoft Corporation's Windows OS 1.0 changed entirely the way people used the computer, along with the original Macintosh.
Windows started the battle between Apple, Microsoft and IBM in the computing world. Windows 1.0 required the PC to have 256 or 512 kilobytes of memory, two floppy disks and a graphics card. More memory is needed to run multiple programs.
Apple at that time produced mouse-driven Graphics User Interfaces and focused on hardware-software combo while Microsoft created low-cost PC DOS for IBM PCs and was known more as a software company.
While IBM focused on PC architecture, Microsoft was on the core software and apps, and set Windows as an open OS where rivals can create apps as it was easy to tweak and reconfigure. Windows then got the support of hardware firms.
It made the platform a huge one for Microsoft Corporation, allowing upgrades through Windows OS versions and dominated the PC for 30 years, even developing business applications and moving to the cloud these days. Its only strongest challenge is the coming of mobile devices. The Verge said Microsoft may enjoy the same stable position if it rekindles its roots as a software company.
