This Friday, November 20, 2015, Windows reaches a historic milestone. It's been exactly thirty years since the launch of Windows 1.0 in 1985. From there to here, there have been many versions, some beloved by the public, others not so much.
It's 30 years of updates, errors, successes, blue screens, new interfaces, and new methods of interacting with the computer. Not all versions were well received by users, but it's undeniable that Windows has a rich history.
Windows 1.0
During its development, it was known by the less friendly name "Interface Manager" or "Interface Manager." Fortunately, Microsoft had the good sense to change the name to "Windows" because of the window interface. The system was basically a graphical interface controlled by the mouse, running on top of MS-DOS, whose command lines were too complex for the average user at the time.
It was announced in 1983 but took two years to be released. The delay led many to believe it was "vaporware," a term in the technology industry for products that are announced but never released.
Among the new features, enthusiastically listed in this video by Steve Ballmer, were features like a calendar, calculator, Paint, clock, notepad, among others. It already had expandable menus, scroll bars, icons, among other novelties that made Windows more user-friendly.
Windows 2.0
Launched in 1987, this version brought graphical improvements and allowed window overlapping. It also added the feature that allowed the use of keyboard shortcuts to make the user's life easier. It was initially created for Intel 286 processors but received an update for the 386.
Those familiar with Windows settings should be familiar with a tool born during this time: the Control Panel first appeared in Windows 2.0.
Windows 3.x
Released in May 1990, it was the first Windows to advance into the new decade, receiving an update to version 3.1 in 1992. Together, the two versions sold 10 million copies in two years. It was the biggest commercial success for Windows up to that point.
Now Windows supported graphics with 16 colors and gained features for program, file, and printer management. It also included the classic games Solitaire, Hearts, and Minesweeper. To install, a box full of floppy disks with heavy instruction manuals was required. Different times.
Microsoft also released Windows for Workgroups 3.11, aimed at corporate networks, but it was far from a commercial success.
In parallel, Windows NT (New Technology) 3.1 was also created, the first truly 32-bit system released by Microsoft, no longer based on MS-DOS. NT also served as the basis for all the company's systems after Windows 2000.
Windows 95
Microsoft started naming its systems with the year of release in this version, launched on August 24 of that year. 7 million copies were sold in just five weeks, with an aggressive campaign that included TV commercials featuring the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up," showing the Start button, a novelty at the time.
The system saw the release of the first version of Internet Explorer. It was adapted for the internet in general, with support for dial-up connections and the new plug-and-play system, making hardware installation easier. In addition to the Start button, Windows gained the taskbar and the minimize, maximize, and close buttons, which would soon become a standard.
To run, a 486 processor (who remembers?) and 8 MB of RAM were recommended. It was released on floppy disks or CD-ROM in 12 different languages.
Windows 98
Launched on June 25, 1998, it was the last version to be based on MS-DOS. It was designed with the end user in mind and aimed to evolve Windows 95 for both work and play. It facilitated internet connection and brought the ability to pin programs to the taskbar next to the Start menu. The system also brought support for DVD playback and recognition of USB devices.
Windows 2000
Launched on February 17, 2000, it was created to replace Windows 95, 98, and NT Workstation 4.0 on all corporate computers. It was built on the code of NT Workstation 4.0 itself.
Among its features were simplified hardware installation with expanded plug-and-play, support for advanced networks and wireless products, and USB devices.
Windows ME
Widely recognized as one of the biggest flops ever released by Microsoft, the "Millennium Edition" (dubbed the "Mistake Edition") was launched on September 14, 2000. PC World even considered it one of the worst technology products of all time, stating that "users had problems installing it, getting it to run, getting it to work with other hardware and software, and getting it to stop working."
It was designed for home use and aimed to bring improvements to media playback and home networking. It also introduced system restore, which is still present in recent versions of Windows. It was the last Microsoft system developed on the Windows 95 code.
Windows XP
Retired recently by Microsoft, it hit the market on October 25, 2001, and was a success. It remains popular to this day, with many users refusing to abandon it even after support ended.
It was built from scratch after Microsoft abandoned the Windows 95 base, with a refreshed look and improved usability. It took 45 million lines of code to create the system. For home use, it brought improvements to Media Player and Movie Maker, and enhanced support for digital photos. For businesses, it introduced file encryption, remote desktop, and improved support for digital photos. For businesses, it introduced file encryption, remote desktop, and improved support for digital photos. It also brought support for 802.1x wireless networks, making life easier for XP users on laptops.
Trying to address advancing security threats, Microsoft began issuing updates over the internet. XP was also the first to impose a limit on OS installations. Previously, it was possible to buy just one copy and install it on multiple computers, which became unfeasible. Perhaps that's why XP, in addition to being a commercial success, was also one of the most pirated software in history.
Windows Vista
Following the success of Windows XP, Microsoft released Windows Vista in 2006, which is also recognized as a misstep by the company. The software had problems during its development phase. It was supposed to be released two or three years after XP, but it was delayed five years. Nevertheless, it brought some innovations, such as User Account Control to prevent viruses and malware from making dangerous changes to the victim's computer.
Design was a crucial part of Vista, introducing Aero, a new visual identity that allowed window borders to have an interesting transparency effect, even though it made the software heavier. The Start button was also redesigned.
At launch, Vista was available in 35 languages, and 1.5 million devices were compatible at the time. However, flaws undermined its potential success. Incompatibility issues abounded, and there are no shortage of reports on the disaster that was its development.
Steve Ballmer, CEO at the time, reveals that in the middle of the creation process, it was necessary to reset the Vista source code, previously known as Longhorn. This was his biggest regret of his tenure: "we tried to tackle a task that was too big, and in the process, we lost thousands of hours of work and innovation," he says.
Windows 7
Now, Microsoft got it right. In 2009, Windows 7 was released, taking what was good about Vista and improving what was wrong, making the system much more compatible and user-friendly. Before its release, it had already been tested by 8 million people during the beta period.
Windows 7 brought some interface changes and new ways to interact with the system windows, like Aero Shake, which allowed you to "shake" a window to isolate it from the rest, and Aero Peek, which allowed you to "peek" at a preview of each minimized window on the taskbar. Aero Snap also brought something that would be expanded in Windows 8, the ability to pin programs to one side of the screen, taking up 50% of the space.
Windows 7 also introduced the beginning of Windows Touch, allowing touch screen interaction with the system. This was further developed in the next version of the software.
Windows 8 and 8.1
Introduced in 2012, the system brought radical interface changes. The main one was the elimination of the traditional Start Menu in favor of a Start Screen full of squares and rectangles representing apps, which Microsoft calls "live tiles."
Windows 8 also launched the Windows app store, Microsoft's attempt to have more control over the PC ecosystem. However, the feature was never really attractive to developers, and to this day, the store options are limited.
However, the system failed to convince users to switch from Windows 7, unable to surpass the popularity of its predecessor. Even now, the 2009 system remains the most used in the world.
One of the main novelties of Windows 8, the live tiles, is also one of the reasons it fell behind. Users and companies claimed that the new usability made the system unlike what they were used to, making it difficult to adapt to the new features. Additionally, the tiles, optimized for touch, were not very good for use with a mouse and keyboard.
The generation also brought Windows RT, an adaptation of Windows 8 for tablets that did not run traditional legacy Windows programs, only apps from the Windows Store. It was an even bigger failure, and most partners abandoned ship in the first year.
Windows 10
Released this year, Windows 10 introduces a new strategy for the company: offering Windows as a service, meaning it should be improved over months and years with gradual security updates and new features.
Version 10 of the system still relies on the concept of live tiles, but this time they are much more discreet and are part of a Start Menu that is both new and old. New because it was modified compared to what we saw in 7 and also in 8, but old because it brings familiarity with Windows 7, solving the main issue with Windows 8.
A novelty of Windows 10 was the introduction of the Windows Insider program, allowing users to receive frequent test builds of Windows and try out new features before the general public. This way, Microsoft can release updates without fearing as many compatibility issues, as everything is tested by a large base of test users before being released to an even larger base of regular users.
The system brought other novelties like the Cortana assistant and the Microsoft Edge browser, which put an end to the ill-fated Internet Explorer. The old browser is still present in the system, but in the background, only for backward compatibility reasons.
Another significant difference from all previous versions of Windows is that Microsoft allowed users of Windows 7 and 8.1 to upgrade for free to the new platform, rapidly boosting the user base of 10. In 4 months, there are already over 100 million people on the latest system, approaching the peak of Windows 8 users.
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