 Windows logo introduced in 2012 | |
 Windows 8, showing the start screen | |
| Company / developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Programmed in | C, C++ and Assembly language |
| OS family | Windows 9x, Windows CE and Windows NT |
| Working state | Publicly released |
| Source model | Closed source / Shared source |
| Initial release | November 20, 1985(as Windows 1.0) |
| Latest stable release |
Windows 8
Windows Server 2012NT 6.2 (Build 9200) (October 26, 2012) NT 6.2 (Build 9200) (September 4, 2012) |
| Marketing target | Personal computing |
| Available language(s) | 137 languages (listing of available Windows 7 language packs) |
| Update method | Windows Update, Windows Anytime Upgrade |
| Supported platforms | ARM, IA-32, x86-64 and Itanium |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (Windows NT family), DOS(16-bit Windows and Windows 9x/ME series) |
| Default user interface | Graphical (Windows Shell) |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Official website | windows.microsoft.com |
Version history
The term Windows collectively describes any or all of several generations of Microsoft operating system products. These products are generally categorized as follows:
Early versions
Main articles: Windows 1.0, Windows 2.0, and Windows 2.1x
The history of Windows dates back to September 1981, when Chase Bishop, a computer scientist, designed the first model of an electronic device and project "Interface Manager" was started. It was announced in November 1983 (after the Apple Lisa, but before the Macintosh) under the name "Windows", but Windows 1.0 was not released until November 1985.Windows 1.0 lacked a degree of functionality, achieved little popularity and was to compete with Apple's own operating system. Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends MS-DOS. The shell of Windows 1.0 was a program known as the MS-DOS Executive. Other supplied programs were Calculator, Calendar, Cardfile, Clipboard viewer, Clock,Control Panel, Notepad, Paint, Reversi, Terminal, and Write. Windows 1.0 did not allow overlapping windows. Instead all windows were tiled. Only dialog boxes could appear over other windows.
Microsoft Windows version 2.0 was released in December 1987, featured several improvements to the user interface and memory management. and was slightly more popular than its predecessor. Windows 2.03 changed the OS from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Computer filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple's copyrights. Windows 2.0 also introduced more sophisticated keyboard shortcuts and could make use of expanded memory.
Windows 2.1 was released in two different versions: Windows/386 employed the 386 virtual 8086 mode to multitask several DOS programs, and the paged memory model to emulate expanded memory using available extended memory. Windows/286 (which, despite its name, would run on the 8086) still ran in real mode, but could make use of the high memory area.
In addition to full Windows-packages, there were runtime only versions that shipped with early Windows software from third parties and made it possible to run their Windows software under MS-DOS and without the full Windows feature set.
The early versions of Windows were often thought of as simply graphical user interfaces, mostly because they ran on top of MS-DOS and used it for file system services.However, even the earliest 16-bit Windows versions already assumed many typical operating system functions; notably, having their own executable file format and providing their own device drivers (timer, graphics, printer, mouse, keyboard and sound) for applications. Unlike MS-DOS, Windows allowed users to execute multiple graphical applications at the same time, through cooperative multitasking. Windows implemented an elaborate, segment-based, software virtual memory scheme, which allowed it to run applications larger than available memory: code segments and resourceswere swapped in and thrown away when memory became scarce, and data segments moved in memory when a given application had relinquished processor control.
Windows 3.0 and 3.1
Main articles: Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1x
Windows 3.0, released in 1990, improved the design, mostly because of virtual memory and loadable virtual device drivers (VxDs) that allowed them to share arbitrary devices between multitasked DOS windows.[citation needed] Also, Windows applications could now run in protected mode (when Windows was running in Standard or 386 Enhanced Mode), which gave them access to several megabytes of memory and removed the obligation to participate in the software virtual memory scheme. They still ran inside the same address space, where the segmented memory provided a degree of protection, and multi-tasked cooperatively. Windows 3.0 also featured improvements to the user interface. Microsoft also rewrote critical operations from C into assembly. Windows 3.0 was the first Microsoft Windows version to achieve broad commercial success, selling 2 million copies in the first six months.
Windows received a facelift in Windows 3.1, made generally available on March 1, 1992. In August 1993, a special version with integrated peer-to-peer networking was released with version number 3.11. It was sold in parallel with the basic version as Windows for Workgroups. Windows 3.1 support ended on December 31, 2001.
Windows 9x
Main articles: Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME
Windows 95 was released on August 24, 1995, featuring a new object oriented user interface, support for long file names of up to 255 characters, the ability to automatically detect and configure installed hardware (plug and play) and preemptive multitasking. Windows 95 was designed to replace not only Windows 3.1, but also Windows for Workgroups, and MS-DOS. It could natively run 32-bit applications, and featured several technological improvements that increased its stability over Windows 3.1. The changes Windows 95 brought to the desktop were revolutionary, as opposed to evolutionary, such as those in Windows 98 and Windows ME.
There were several OEM Service Releases (OSR) of Windows 95, each of which was roughly equivalent to a service pack. Mainstream support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2000 and extended support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2001.
Next in the consumer line was Microsoft Windows 98 released on June 25, 1998. It was followed with the release of Windows 98 Second Edition (often shortened to Windows 98 SE) in May 1999. Mainstream support for Windows 98 ended on June 30, 2002 and extended support for Windows 98 ended on July 11, 2006.
In February 2000, Windows 2000 (in the NT family) was released, followed by Windows ME in September 2000 (Me standing for Millennium Edition).
The consumer version following Windows 98 was Windows ME (Windows Millennium Edition). Released in September 2000, Windows ME updated the core from Windows 98, but adopted some aspects of Windows 2000 and removed the "boot in DOS mode" option. Windows ME implemented a number of new technologies for Microsoft: most notably publicized was "Universal Plug and Play". It also added a new feature called System Restore, allowing the user to set the computer's settings back to an earlier date.
Windows ME is often confused with Windows 2000 (because of its name.) Windows ME was heavily criticized due to slowness, freezes and hardware problems and has been said to be one of the worst operating systems Microsoft ever released.
Windows NT family
Main article: Windows NT
In July 1993, Microsoft released Windows NT based on a new kernel. The NT family of Windows systems was fashioned and marketed for higher reliability business use, considered to be the professional OS. The first release was Windows NT 3.1 (1993), numbered "3.1" to match the consumer Windows version, which was followed by Windows NT 3.5 (1994), Windows NT 3.51 (1995), Windows NT 4.0 (1996) and Windows 2000 (2000). Windows NT was the first Windows version to utilize preemptive multitasking. Windows NT 4.0 was the first in this line to implement the "Windows 95" user interface (and the first to include Windows 95's built-in 32-bit runtimes).
Microsoft released Windows 2000 as part of the NT line in February 2000. During 2004 part of the source code for Windows 2000 was leaked onto the Internet. Windows 2000 is the last NT-based Windows release that does not include Microsoft Product Activation. After Windows 2000, the Windows NT family was split into two lines: A client line, including Windows XP and its successors, consists of operating systems produced for installation on client computers, such as workstations, home computers, laptops, tablet computers and media centers. A Windows Server line, including Windows Server 2003 and it successors, consists of operating systems produced for server computers. Later, a third line for embedded systems was added with the introduction of Windows Embedded.
Windows XP, Vista and 7
Microsoft moved to combine their consumer and business operating systems with Windows XP that was released on October 25, 2001. Windows XP is built on the Windows NT kernel, retooled to also function as a home operating system. This new version was widely praised in computer magazines.
XP shipped in two distinct editions, "Home" and "Professional", the former lacking many of the superior security and networking features of the Professional edition. Additionally, the first "Media Center" edition was released in 2002, with an emphasis on support for DVD and TV functionality including program recording and a remote control. A niche market versions for tablet PCs was also released. Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14, 2009. Extended support will continue until April 8, 2014.
After Windows 2000, they diverged release schedules for server operating systems. In April 2003, Windows Server 2003 was introduced, replacing the Windows 2000 line of server products with a number of new features and a strong focus on security; this was followed in December 2005 by Windows Server 2003 R2.
After a lengthy development process, Windows Vista was released on November 30, 2006 for volume licensing and January 30, 2007 for consumers. It contains a number of new features, from a redesigned shell and user interface to significant technical changes, with a particular focus on security features. It is available in a number of different editions, and has been subject to some criticism. Vista's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 was released in early 2008.
On July 22, 2009, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 were released as RTM (release to manufacturing) while the former was released to the public 3 months later on October 22, 2009. Unlike its predecessor, Windows Vista, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista was already compatible.Windows 7 has multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements.
Input method editors and language interface packs
Microsoft offers language interface packs (LIP) for users of Windows XP and later; these packages change the user interface of Windows (e.g. menus and dialog boxes) to another language. Each LIP has its own requirements, in terms the edition and the base language of Windows on which it works. For instance Arabic LIP of Windows 7 only works on Enterprise or Ultimate editions of Windows 7, while Catalan LIP, which has no edition restriction, only works on a copy of Windows 7 with French or Spanish base language.
Until Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, every release of Microsoft Office came with an input method editor (IME) for Windows that assisted Chinese, Japanese and Korean users to write in their own language. Each IME package facilitates entering text in the corresponding language, and necessary fonts are bundled with it. Windows Server 2012 (and later, Windows 8) broke this tradition and came with built-in IMEs. As result, Microsoft Office 2013 was released without an IME. To assist the users who installed Microsoft Office 2013 on Windows 7 or earlier, Microsoft released IME 2010 as a separate download. Although everyone can download this package, its license agreement only allows those own a copy of Microsoft Office to use it.
Windows 8
Windows 8, the successor to Windows 7, was released to the market on 26 October 2012. Windows 8 has been designed to be used on both tablets and the conventional PC. The Microsoft Surface tablet was released alongside Windows 8, as a competitor to the Apple iPad and Android tablets. Microsoft Surface is available in two editions, Surface with Windows RT and Surface with Windows 8 Pro, aimed at designers and other work-based users. The Surface RT will run a limited version of Windows 8, and will not run many classic Windows desktop applications, as users can download new applications from the Windows App Store. However, the Surface Pro, to be released on February 9, 2013, will have a full desktop operating system capable of running all classic desktop applications. See Microsoft Surface for more information. Windows 8 was released to manufacturing on 1 August 2012, with a build of 6.2.9200. It is available for purchase in two versions, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.
For the first time since Windows 95, the Start button is no longer available on the taskbar. It has been replaced with the Start screen and can be triggered by clicking the bottom-left corner of the screen and by clicking Start in the Charms or by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard. However, there are many third-party solutions such as Stardock Start8 and Classic Shell, that do bring back the Windows 7 style start menu. See List of Start Menu replacements for Windows 8 for more information.
In Feburary 2013, is was reported an update to Windows 8, codenamed Windows Blue, had completed the first milestone, indicating development is approximately halfway complete.
Platform support
Windows NT included support for several different platforms before the x86-based personal computer became dominant in the professional world. Versions of NT from 3.1 to 4.0 variously supported PowerPC, DEC Alpha and MIPS R4000, some of which were 64-bit processors, although the operating system treated them as 32-bit processors. However, Microsoft dropped support from the aforementioned in Windows 2000, which only supported the third generation x86 (known as IA-32) or newer in 32-bit mode. IA-32 is still supported in the client line of Window NT family, although the Windows Server line has ceased IA-32 support with the release of Windows Server 2008 R2.
With the introduction of the Intel Itanium architecture (IA-64), Microsoft released new versions of Windows to support it. Itanium versions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 were released at the same time as their mainstream x86 counterparts. Microsoft dropped support for the Itanium version of Windows XP in 2005 and ceased to support it in all subsequent client operating system but continued to support it in Windows Server line until Windows Server 2012. Windows Server 2008 R2 was the last Windows operating system to support Itanium architecture.
On April 25, 2005, Microsoft released Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions to support the x86-64 (or simply x64), the eighth generation of x86 architecture. Windows Vista was the first client version of Windows NT to be released simultaneously in IA-32 and x64 editions. x64 is still supported.
After twelve years, Microsoft once again added support for non-x86 CPU architecture to Windows NT family: An edition of Windows 8 known as Windows RT is specifically created for computers with ARM architecture.
Windows CE
Main articles: Windows CE and Windows Phone
Windows CE (officially known as Windows Embedded Compact), is an edition of Windows that runs on minimalistic computers, like satellite navigation systems and some mobile phones. Windows Embedded Compact is based on its own dedicated kernel, dubbed Windows CE kernel. Microsoft licenses Windows CE to OEMs and device makers. The OEMs and device makers can modify and create their own user interfaces and experiences, while Windows CE provides the technical foundation to do so.
Windows CE was used in the Dreamcast along with Sega's own proprietary OS for the console. Windows CE was the core from which Windows Mobile was derived. Its successor,Windows Phone 7, was based on components from both Windows CE 6.0 R3 and Windows CE 7.0. Windows Phone 8 however, is based on the same NT-kernel as Windows 8.
Windows Embedded Compact is not to be confused with Windows XP Embedded or Windows NT 4.0 Embedded, modular editions of Windows based on Windows NT kernel.
No comments:
Post a Comment