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Microsoft 1.0
First mass-produced personal computer with graphical user interface that enables users to see user friendly icons on screen.
It was notable because it relied so much on a mouse before the mouse was a common computer device. To help people become familiar with the item, Microsoft included a game called Reversi that relied on mouse control. -
Windows 2.0
The major change in this update was that windows could overlap each other. It also had the ability to minimize and maximize instead of iconising and zooming. It also introduced the control panel which lives to this day. -
Windows 3.0
The first Windows to require a hard drive. The first version to see widespread success and be considered a challenger to Apple's Macintosh. Windows 3 introduced the ability to run MS-DOS programs in windows. It supported 256 colors, bringing a more modern, colorful look to the interface. It introduced the card-moving timesink Solitaire. -
Microsoft 3.1
Is notable for introducing TrueType fonts making windows a viable publishing platform for the first time. Minesweeper made it's first appearance. Required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time. Windows 3.1 was also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, although once installed on a hard drive it only took up 10 to 15MB (a CD can typically store up to 700MB). -
Windows 3.11
This allows you to select support for third party DOS based networking system (they can not be used at the same time as the Windows Network), but in this case the Windows Network is selected, enabling the other options. -
Windows 95
It brought the first ever Start button and Start menu (launched with a gigantic advertising campaign that used the Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up) It also introduced the concept of “plug and play” – connect a peripheral and the operating system finds the appropriate drivers for it and makes it work.Windows 95 also introduced a 32-bit environment, the task bar and focused on multitasking. Internet Explorer also made its debut on Windows 95. -
Windows 98
Released in June 1998, Windows 98 built on Windows 95 and brought with it IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat. Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories – one driver to support all future versions of Windows. -
Windows 2000
The enterprise twin of ME, Windows 2000 was released in February 2000 and was based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT and later became the basis for Windows XP. Microsoft’s automatic updating played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation. -
Windows ME
Considered a low point in the Windows series by many until they the Vista. Windows Millennium Edition was the last Windows to be based on MS-DOS. It introduced some important concepts to consumers, including more automated system recovery tools.IE 5.5,Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker all made their appearance for the first time. Autocomplete also appeared in Windows Explorer,but the operating system was notorious for being buggy,failing to install properly and being generally poor -
Windows XP
Arguably one of the best Windows versions, Windows XP was released in October 2001 and brought Microsoft’s enterprise line and consumer line of operating systems under one roof. ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were built-in CD burning, autoplay from CDs and other media, plus various automated update and recovery tools, that unlike Windows ME actually worked. Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall, it was turned off. -
Windows Vista
Vista changed the look and feel of windows, with new security and search. It's development was troubled though, with ambitious elements abandoned in order to get it into production. It also ran slowly on older computers despite them being deemed as “Vista Ready” - a labelling that saw it sued because not all versions of Vista could run on PCs with that label. Vista also included speech recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery, as well as being the first Windows to be distributed on DVD. -
Windows 7
Considered to be what Windows Vista should've been. It was intended to fix all the problems and criticism faced by Vista. It was faster, more stable, and easier to use, becoming the operating system that most people and businesses used. Includes less dialog box, and slight tweaks to the look of the system -
Windows 8
Released in October 2012, Windows 8 was Microsoft’s most radical overhaul of the Windows interface, ditching the Start button and Start menu in favour of a more touch-friendly Start screen. Windows 8 was faster than previous versions of Windows and included support for the new, much faster USB 3.0 devices. -
Windows 8.1
A free point release to Windows 8 introduced in October 2013, Windows 8.1 marked a shift towards yearly software updates from Microsoft and included the first step in Microsoft’s U-turn around its new visual interface. Windows 8.1 re-introduced the Start button, which brought up the Start screen from the desktop view of Windows 8.1. Users could also choose to boot directly into the desktop of Windows 8.1. -
Windows 10
Some interesting features include the ability to switch between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, for those computers like the Surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard. Windows 10 represents another step in Microsoft’s U-turn, bringing back the Start menu and more balance to traditional desktop computer users.
