Microsoft : A Look

Microsoft : A Look

In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed the partnership called Microsoft which later turned to be the world’s biggest business enterprise.

MS DOS

MS DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.

Developed with the help of Steve Balmer.

It was developed when IBM approached Microsoft about a project code named “Chess”

Windows 1.0

Launched on Nov 20,1985.

Code name : Interface Manager

It enabled the use of mouse for clicks rather than writing codes.

Windows 2.0

Launched on Dec 9, 1987

Desktop icons and Control panel first appeared.

Designed for Intel 286 processor

Windows 3.0

Launched on May 22, 1990

Included gamws like Solitaire, Hearts and Minesweeper.

Windows NT

Launched on July 27, 1993

“Windows NT represents nothing less than a fundamental change in the way that companies can address their business computing requirements”, Bill Gates said this about NT during itas launch.

The group that developed Windows NT was originally called the “Portable Systems” team.

Windows 95

Launched on August 24, 1995

Released with the phrase “ It’s here”.

TV commercials featured the Rolling Stones singing “ Start Me Up” over the picture of the new Start button.

Start menu, taskbar, minimize, maximize and close buttons appeared for the first time. It also provides built-in internet support, dial up networking etc.

First version of Internet Explorer was also released.

Windows 98, Windows 2000 & Windows Me

Win 98 was launched on June 25, 1998

It is described as the OS that “Works Better, Plays Better”

Quick launch bar was launched in this edition.

Win 98 is the last version based on MS-DOS.

Windows Me was the last based on Win 95 code base.

Windows XP

Released on Oct 25, 2001

It is compiled from 45 million lines of code.

Windows Vista

Relkeased in 2006 with the stongest ever security system.

More than 1.5 million devices are compatible with Vista at launch.

Windows 7

Released on Oct 2009.

Still waiting for more and more from MICROSOFT…….