However, the product remains stable for several months, and Windows 1.0 starts spreading only at the end of 1985. The choice of applications is low and therefore has little success. Version 2.0, launched in the autumn of 1987, provides significant improvements as the addition of icons and overlapping windows. Becomes the 'environment for the development of major applications (such as Excel, Word, Corel Draw, Ami, PageMaker and Micrografx Designer).
The power of the new third-party applications over the same applications of Microsoft favors the sale of more than 10 million copies, making Windows a sample of sales. Version 3.1, produced in April 1992, brings significant improvements so that, in its first two months on the market, it sold over 3 million copies.
Windows 3.11, does not add new features, but adds support to the network by downloading free updates from Microsoft official ftp site. Windows for Workgroups 3.1, produced in October 1992 is the first integrated with the windows on the network offered by Microsoft. The simple use and installation allows the user to specify which files can be accessed by other computers. In November 1993, Microsoft launches Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
Windows NT 3.1, released on 1 March 1994, is a platform of choice for high quality systems, at least in. E 'is used for network servers, work stations and computers with sophisticated software. While the NT interface is similar in 3.1, is based on a completely new operating system.
Windows 95 is a turning point, is distributed by 'in August 1995 and consists of an operating system bridge, in part to 32-bit and some 16-bit. The system provides' run multiple programs simultaneously, an improved file systems, networking and many other improvements. Includes MS-DOS 7.0, although now it disappears shortly after the start.
Windows CE has the appearance of 95 and NT. CE 1.0 will appear in November 1996. In the following year were about 500,000 handhelds sold worldwide. CE 2.0 was available in early 1998 and adds to the operating system configurations that make it functional for business use. CE 3.0, available June 15 in 2000, develops software that combines the flexibility and reliability of a platform with the power of Windows and Internet. Following will be adopted on behalf of Windows Mobile.
Windows 98, built in June of 1998, integrates the 'Active Desktop which allows you to trim the screen with a custom page, with links and any web content. NT 5.0 will include a set of new configurations. As 98, will integrate Internet Explorer 4.0 operating system.
In November, Windows NT 5.0 sees the light with the more commercial name of Windows 2000.
On 17 February 2000, Windows 2000 provides an impressive platform for working with Internet, intranet, extranet and management applications that integrate tightly with Active Directory. E 'possible to encrypt data over the network or on disc and give users constant access to files from any networked PC.
On 14 September 2000 Microsoft Windows Me also achieves, which is targeted for the 'home user, and knows so much of commercial operation with low technological content. Me operating system has some multimedia enhancements.
Microsoft officially launches Windows XP on 25 October 2001. XP is a totally new type of operating system for the consumer even if the structure is derived directly from Windows 2000. It is fully 32-bit and the drivers are from NT 5.0. Course has new features that did not have the previous version. XP comes in 2 versions: Home and Professional. The first is intended to replace Windows 98 and the second successor to Windows 2000.
Today we arrivât Windows Vista (known at first with the name Longhorn), which, with its 37,800 files, reaches a total size of over 10 GB. The expectations for Microsoft are very high, so that it describes as the biggest revolution since the time of Windows 95. For now the revolution has not been, and indeed Windows Vista (pun unintentional) is very heavy and expensive in terms of hardware required at the point of encouraging the return of nearly extinct competitors like Apple with Mac OS X and new like the GNU Linux distro in various sauces and condiments.