Windows, history of the operating system that shaped computing

When you think of a computer and its software, except for "rare" cases, your thoughts always go to it, Windows.

A true set of windows connecting man and machine, the Windows operating system with its evolution has accompanied the computer user over the last 40 years.

In fact, it all began in 1985 and 37 years later we are still here, anxiously (and a little worried) waiting for the launch of a new version.

Versions which, with their novelties, questionable choices, flops, and interventions by the various competition guarantors have shaped our experience of surfing the net.

The history of Windows is therefore the history of information technology, at least from the non-specialized "consumer" side. Let's see together the various steps and what lies ahead for the future...

Where everything is born

1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen decide to found a new company that will deal with software, Microsoft is born. The Redmond company entered the nascent personal computer market by offering an optimized version of BASIC for the computers of the time. The success is evident and will then lead to the creation of MS-DOS, the progenitor operating system of the Windows family.

We are in 1983, MS-DOS has now been launched and Microsoft begins to introduce the Windows galaxy through one of the applications that will become its cornerstone, Word.

Birth of Windows

MS-DOS is a success, but it can be improved especially as regards the usability of the system, also because the mouse was recently born, another revolution in information technology and must be used to its best advantage.

Thus, in 1985, to be precise on November 20th, the software that will give a graphical environment to MS-DOS was born. This is Windows, an operating system that allows the user to view several programs simultaneously. Windows 1.0 is little more than a graphical representation of the MS-DOS code, but the idea is the right one and the market seems to appreciate it.

An idea that further evolved with Windows 2.0, the first version of the operating system in which the first icons appeared, it was 1987 and Microsoft understood that the idea could really be successful. Even more so if ad hoc programs are also created together with the operating system; in fact, the optimized version of Word and the first version of Microsoft Excel were born.

Windows 3.0, the consecration

Year 1990, the evolution of the previous versions led to the creation of a new operating system, equipped with useful (the first Office suite) and fun (the very first version of the legendary Minesweeper) software, all enclosed in Windows 3.0.

In addition to the new features from a software point of view, Windows 3.0 presents for the first time the File Manager, a utility for searching and managing files on the PC.

A good but improvable operating system, as will happen with version 3. which will finally give voice to the PC thanks to the support of the first sound cards and Windows NT, the first 32-bit version designed for server and LAN uses.

Windows 95, the parent of the operating system we all know

Windows starts to become what we know now. The Windows 95 edition features the Start button and other interesting innovations that will become part of our desktop for the next twenty years.

Windows 95 will also be the first edition to receive a Service Pack (cumulative package of drivers and updates) for a mid-term upgrade that will become a Windows classic.

98, the modern era begins

Natural evolution of the operating system launched only three years earlier, Windows 98 represented an important evolution especially from the point of view of hardware management. This version was in fact the first to be equipped with the renowned support for the FAT32 file system which allowed the 2GB disk partition limit to be “broken”.

The famous Second Edition (SE) version of this operating system then allowed users to share the connection to an internet network and manage DVDs.

Version 2000 also known for its evolution, ME

In February 2000, the first version of the operating system was released, differentiated by version. In fact we find the Professional, Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter Server. Five different versions to which the specific one for personal users, the Millennium Edition, will shortly be added. The "millennium" version will also be remembered for being the first to support USB and IEEE1394 devices. The ME evolution then presents Movie Maker and Media Player software for the first time.

The computer thus abandons its "work-only" declination to become a real multimedia center.

2001, the symbolic version par excellence, XP, was born

In October 2001 Microsoft introduced Windows XP, a heavily redesigned version of previous operating systems. This new release features redesigned menus, new preview functions and the management and speeding up of each phase, including turning the computer off and on.

Windows XP is also the version that first allows you to exceed 4 GB of RAM and 64-bit support. From a commercial and marketing point of view, Windows continues its separation process into different editions, in particular Home Edition and Professional.

This version will probably become the most used and long-lived over time, thanks also to the release of three different Service Packs.

A couple of years later XP was also available in a Server version, with the release of Windows Server 2003.

Not every edition is born perfect, this is the case with Vista

Creating a better product than XP seemed very difficult to everyone and probably even to Microsoft itself, which took a good five years to develop Vista. To improve on what had been done previously, Microsoft's goal became to create a user interface that would leave "everyone speechless". Mission only partially successful, as the Aero features implemented in this version were very promising, but also really expensive. Furthermore, the poor support for peripherals and software has made Vista an operating system criticized and never too loved.

From the half-failures comes the relaunch, here is Windows 7

Making the most of its mistakes, three years later Microsoft released a new operating system that brought together the best of what was hypothesized for Vista and created in XP. Windows 7 has become “the operating system”. Stable, with excellent memory and consumption management and finally a quick startup procedure. Windows 7 also "leaves" PCs to move to tablets and touch screens thanks to a specially designed interface and functions.

History repeats itself: Windows 8

After a super performing operating system, Microsoft falls back into it and even for Windows 8 it gets caught up in the desire to evolve and amaze. Windows 8 is remembered for the "tiled" screen and like Vista and some other previous versions it becomes an operating system that is "skipped" during the update phase by many users. However, this version contains some interesting ideas, which will then be carried over into the next version, the one that will achieve the greatest success ever.

Windows 10

Introduced in 2015 amidst skepticism and distrust, this version of Windows, thanks also to various updates in succession, has quickly revolutionized the operating system market. This version will also be the first, after many years, to prepare the farewell to Internet Explorer which will be joined and then replaced by Edge.

And now?

6 years after the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft is ready to amaze the world again and tries to do so with Windows 11.

A new version that promises many improvements and new features, but which at first glance did not win over users also due to the rigorous hardware requirements required for the upgrade.

Will the new version be able to replace Windows 10 in hearts and computers? Or, as with other versions in the past, will it just be a not-so-loved "bridge" for a new future version?

Only time will tell…