Microsoft Windows

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Microsoft Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families, all of which are developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. Active Microsoft Windows families include Windows NT and Windows IoT; these may encompass subfamilies, e.g. Windows Server or Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE). Defunct Microsoft Windows families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile and Windows Phone.

History

Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985, as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer (PC) market with over 90% market share, overtaking Mac OS, which had been introduced in 1984.

Versions

Windows 1.0 to 3.11

The first version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 1.0, was released on November 20, 1985. It was notable for its graphical user interface and multitasking capabilities. Subsequent versions, such as Windows 2.0 and Windows 3.0, introduced improvements in performance and usability.

Windows 95 to Windows ME

Windows 95, released in 1995, introduced the Start menu, taskbar, and Windows Explorer file manager. It was followed by Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows ME.

Windows NT family

The Windows NT family started with Windows NT 3.1, released in 1993. It was designed for business environments and included advanced features such as support for multiple processor architectures. The family includes Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

Windows 10 and Windows 11

Windows 10 was released on July 29, 2015, and introduced the concept of "Windows as a service," with regular updates and new features. Windows 11, announced on June 24, 2021, and released on October 5, 2021, brought a refreshed user interface and new productivity features.

Features

Microsoft Windows includes a wide range of features, such as:

• Graphical user interface
• Multitasking
• Virtual memory
• Networking
• Security features

Editions

Microsoft Windows is available in several editions, each tailored to different user needs. These include:

• Windows Home
• Windows Pro
• Windows Enterprise
• Windows Education

Market Share

Microsoft Windows has maintained a dominant position in the personal computer market, with a significant share of the desktop and laptop markets. It is also used in various other sectors, including business, education, and government.

See also

• List of Microsoft Windows versions
• Comparison of Microsoft Windows versions
• Microsoft software