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From Windows 1 To Windows 10
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Windows 1
This is where it all started for Windows. Windows 1 was released in November 1985 and was Microsoft's first attempt to create a graphical user interface -
Windows 2: it's Windows 1, but better
Windows 2 was released in December 1987. The big innovation for Windows 2 was that windows could overlap each other, and it also introduced the ability to minimise or maximise windows -
Windows 3
The first Windows that required a hard drive launched in 1990. Windows 3 introduced the ability to run MS-DOS programmes in windows, which brought multitasking to legacy programmes, and supported 256 colours bringing a more modern, colourful look to the interface. -
Windows 3.1x
Windows 3.1 released in April 1992. It introduced new fonts and the first game that was included in system by default - Minesweeper. Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time. -
Windows 95
Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 and with it brought the first ever Start button and Start menu. It caused gigantic advertising campaign. 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 (but it obviously didn't always work in practice). Internet Explorer also made its debut on Windows 9 -
Windows 98
Released in June 1998, Windows 98 built on Windows 95 and brought with it IE4, Outlook Express, Microsoft chat etc. USB support was much improved in Windows 98. Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. Also it included the new file system FAT32 that allowed to work with hard drives that has more than 2 GB space. -
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 was released in February 2000 and was based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT. It became to support DirectX that made it possible for the first time for many modern games to work on the NT kernel -
Windows ME
Windows Millennium Edition was the last Windows to be based on MS-DOS, and the last in the Windows 9x line. Released in September 2000, Windows ME introduced Windows Movie Maker - a new multimedia-editing application. Also backup feature made its first appearance. But the operating system was notorious for being buggy, failing to install properly and being generally poor. -
Windows XP: It's a legend
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. It was based on Windows NT like Windows 2000, but brought the consumer-friendly elements from Windows ME. Windows XP was the longest running Microsoft operating system, seeing three major updates and support up untill April 2014.Windows XP was still used on an estimated 430 million PCs when it was discontinued. -
Windows Vista
Windows XP stayed the course for close to six years before being replaced by Windows Vista in January 2007. Windows Vista intended to have enhanced security by introducing a new restricted user mode, replacing the "administrator-by-default" philosophy of Windows XP. Vista was the target of much criticism and negative press, and in general was not well regarded. The original start button was replaced with the Windows icon in a circle. Vista also features new graphics features -
Windows 7
Considered by many as what Windows Vista should have been, Windows 7 was first released in October 2009. It was faster, more stable and easier to use, becoming the operating system most users and business would upgrade to from Windows XP. Windows 7 saw Microsoft hit in Europe with antitrust investigations over the pre-installing of IE, which led to a browser ballot screen being shown to new users allowing them to choose, which browser to install on first boot. -
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. The desktop interface is also present for running windowed applications. New features also include USB 3.0 support, the Windows Store, the ability to run from USB drives with Windows To Go, and others -
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 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. -
Windows 10: Why it is not Windows 9?
Windows 10 represents another step in Microsoft’s U-turn, bringing back the Start menu and more balance to traditional desktop computer users. 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 – despite being the ninth version of Windows – is designed to unify all Windows platforms across multiple devices, including Windows Phone and tablets
