WINDOWS VISUAL HISTORY

Microsoft will be releasing Windows 10 by the end of july.But do you remember previous versions? Lets see this memory lane how Windows looked in the past.

MS DOS

As PC Magazine described it in its February-March 1982 issue, “MS-DOS is a single-task microcomputer disk operating system for the Intel 8086 and 8008 microprocessors.”With MS DOS 2.0, Microsoft replaced “the traditional command-line-oriented shell with a visual shell that shows the user a menu of the most commonly executed applications and utilities,” PCMag said at the time.

Windows 1.0

The first version of Windows, 1.01, arrived in late 1985, but it was not the only OS in town. “Window War!” screamed PC Magazine’s February 1986 cover. We compared Redmond’s OS to GEM Desktop, TopView, and DESQview … and admitted that the Mac made “the PC’s display looked like a relic from the past.”

Windows 1.0

Windows “puts a new face on DOS and uses DOS to do some work,” PC Magazine said. Rather than using only a single line on a computer, Windows “puts the entire screen to work passing information between you and the computer.” Applications included Paint, Calculator, Cardfile, Notepad, Terminal, and Write. One complaint about Windows 1.0? The mouse (or an “all-purpose pointing device,” PC Magazine said in 1986), which was not yet a common and indispensable PC tool.

Windows 3.0

Windows hit its stride with Windows 3.0 in 1990. “The most noticeable improvements to Windows 3.0 are its interface, sculpted buttons, and an iconic layout that makes it easier to execute commands and manage files,” PC Magazine said in June 1990. “Using a file folder visual motif, icons and applications are set up as members of common-sense categories.”

Windows 95

Windows 95 made the cover of PC Magazine in September 1995. Seventeen PC Labs analysts and technicians tested the OS for 10 weeks to see if it would be your next OS. “The Windows 95 interface offers a true desktop with icons for programs, documents, directories, and system components. Context menus accessed by right-clicking, give you the relevant actions and properties for any object.” But don’t take our word for it; check out Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry’s slick instructional video.

Windows 98

Windows 98 arrived in 1998, and included a number of Web-related features to take advantage of the Internet explosion. It didn’t look a whole lot different from Windows 95, but it did include this sweet, zen-like startup sound.

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 added support for layered windows and translucence. “Television does a great job of using fades and slides to give a context of where the new information is going to appear. Computers haven’t yet been able to incorporate these effects into the UI very effectively,” Microsoft said at the time. “Just think what a difference there is between the existing UI and the cool UI you constantly see in the movies. Layered windows give the product designers a lot of power to bring ‘cool’ UI closer to reality.”

WINDOWS ME

Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows ME (marketed with the pronunciation of the pronoun “me”,^[5] but commonly pronounced as an initialism, “M-E”), is a graphical operating system from Microsoft released to manufacturing in June 2000, and launched in September 2000. It was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series.

Windows XP

“Windows XP is Microsoft’s latest—and dare we say greatest—operating system to date,” PCMag said in 2001.

Windows XP

“The most startling change” with XP, PCMag said, “is the revamped user interface. Windows XP drastically reduces clutter on the desktop, Start menu, and taskbar. The new design is Microsoft’s effort to make Windows less confusing to beginners.”

Windows XP

“The new two-column Start menu reduces the clutter that plagued earlier versions and highlights Microsoft’s software,” PCMag said.

Windows Vista

“Vista offers a lot of improvements over Windows XP, but most of them are conveniences rather than essentials,” PCMag concluded in 2007.

Vista Flip 3D

Vista’s “Flip 3D” view allowed for easy application switching. Pressing Windows-Tab or clicking the “switch between windows” Quick Start icon, and open windows morphed into this perspective view. Rotating the mouse wheel spun the stack of windows, Rolodex-style (look it up, kids).

Vista Live Icons

Vista’s live icons provided a preview of what was inside folders.

Vista Welcome Center

The Welcome Center appeared when you first booted; here’s what it looked like on top of Vista’s “aurora” wallpaper.

Windows 7

“Microsoft’s new OS is a big improvement over Windows Vista, and because it’s based on the same underlying kernel code there should be fewer compatibility headaches for those who make the switch,” PCMag said in 2009. “Add to that a retooled taskbar, simpler home networking, faster start-up, and more, and Windows 7 may succeed where Vista failed.”

Windows 7 Taskbar

Windows 7 included a big taskbar update, and was now for managing active apps and launching those that you use frequently. Vista had a thumbnail preview system, but Windows 7 added the full-screen transparency “Aero Peek” feature that put little close buttons for easier app shutdowns.

Windows 8

Microsoft is the first to admit that it missed the boat when it comes to mobile, and it tried to make up for lost time with the touch-centric Windows 8. The OS included a dual interface, one with mobile-like apps and another that was more like the traditional Windows desktop.

Windows 8

Much to the chagrin of Windows traditionalists, the Start menu was nowhere to be found in Windows 8, instead replaced by Charms that slid out from the side.

WIN 8 METRO

The transition from Windows 7 to Windows 8 introduced a number of new features across various aspects of the operating system. Among these included a greater focus on optimizing the operating system for touchscreen-based devices (such as tablets)

WIN 8.1

Actually this is Windows 9.Previous installment was not welcomed by the customers so in 2014 Redmond was eager to produce as soon as possible new version.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is Microsoft’s “most comprehensive platform ever”; so much so that Redmond skipped 9 and went straight for 10. The Start menu is back (see the video above), but check out a few other reasons why you’ll want to upgrade.Windows 10 will be available on july 29th.