We explain what Windows is and what this operating system is for. In addition, the list of its versions and what Linux consists of.
What is Windows?
It is known as Windows, MS Windows or Microsoft Windows to a family of operating systems for personal computers, smartphones and other computer systems, created and marketed by the North American company Microsoft for various systems architecture supports (such as x86 and ARM).
Strictly speaking, Windows is, more than an operating system itself, a series of distributions of MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) or Windows NT, old company operating systems, framed in a visual operating environment, which works based on the virtual reproduction of a desktop and other office supplies, like folders, files, and even a recycle bin.
The first appearance of Windows occurred in 1985, as a step forward in the modernization of MS-DOS towards graphical user environments (GUI), and since then has become the most widely used operating system in the world, taking up practically the entire available market share (90%) for years.
Windows offered its users a growing variety of available and updated versions of the program, with notable differences in terms of appearance, stability, and strengths. The incorporation of the Internet also allowed the automatic update of the software anywhere in the world.
What is Windows for?
The basic function of Windows is provide the kernel of the operating system with an attractive, entertaining and intuitive visual environment, in which the basic operations of using the computer are graphically represented through icons. Using the mouse and keyboard, the user can thus access all the functions of the computer, together with those of the applications incorporated into the system or installed by himself.
This could be understood as that Windows is a mediator between the user and the Operating System, which makes your life easier and offers you various protection mechanisms, games, Web browsing, etc.
List of Windows versions
The history of Windows versions can be told by a list of its main versions:
- Windows 1.0. The initial version was released in November 1985, it had three updates: 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03.
- Windows 2.0. It appeared in 1987, with a significant improvement in the visual aspect, and had two updates: 2.10 and 2.11.
- Windows NT. Baptized Windows New Technology (“New technology”), emerged in 1993 as a renewal of the environment for servers and workstations. It had versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0.
- Windows 95. Hybrid between 16 and 32 bits, it emerged in August 1995 and was a notable bestseller. It renewed its graphical environment and had several reissues: 95 SP, 95 OSR1, 95 OSR2, and later it gave way to Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows ME (Millennium).
- Windows 2000. In its sister versions of Professionl, Server, Advanced and Datacenter Server, this edition that appeared in the year 2000 bet on greater compatibility and the incorporation of a new train of applications.
- Windows Xp. Appeared in 2001, this new Windows took its name from ANDxperience (experience) and it was surely the most popular version in the history of this software, reaching 95% of the world’s computers.
- Windows Server 2003. Based on NT technology and inherited from XP, it is a more compact version to be used on web servers.
- Windows Vista. It appeared in July 2008 and was controversial among many other things due to its content management favorable to entertainment companies rather than users of the system. It had several distributions such as Starter, Home Basic, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate, none very successful.
- Windows Server 2008. Updated from the 2003 version, but using Vista technology.
- Windows 7. With various versions such as Starter, Home Basic, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate and others, it is considered an update of Vista taking advantage of XP technology, but targeting the multimedia and diverse format needs of 2009.
- Windows 8. Appeared in 2013, it contemplated in its many versions (8 Pro, 8 Media Center, 8 Enterprise and 8.1) a radical change in style and aesthetics, already betting on Smartphones, Tablets and other touch screen devices.
- Windows 10. The current version appeared in 2015, aspiring to unify all Windows users in the world under a single version, heir to 8. It has the 10 Home, 10 Pro, 10 Enterprise and 10 Education variants.
Windows desktop
This is perhaps the most distinctive feature of Windows: its initial screen, which represents a work desk and from where all operations are controlled. Its graphical interface is friendly and allows you to visually have the files in use, as well as the ordering of its representative icons, through the “click and drag” with the mouse. This environment was so successful that it redefined the way we engage with computers today.
Windows and Linux
Although both are operating systems, they are noticeably different. Not only because the latter is open source and the former is purely commercial, but also because Linux is highly stable, alternative use, and multi-version, while Windows privileges its visual aspect: less stable but much more enjoyable and intuitive.