AUGUST 1981MS-DOS

Microsoft releases a new operating system for IBM called “MS-DOS,” which stands for “Microsoft Disk Operating System.”

1981

NOVEMBER 1985WINDOWS 1.0-2.0

Features introduced: Mouse point-and-click interface, Microsoft Paint, Windows Writer, Notepad, Calculator, Calendar, Clock, and Games (only one game: Reversi).

1985

DECEMBER 1987WINDOWS 2.0

Features introduced: Desktop icons, overlapping windows, customizable screen layout, keyboard shortcuts, and the Control Panel.

1987

1988

1989

MAY 1988WINDOWS 2.10

MAY 1990WINDOWS 3.0

Features introduced: Program Manager, File Manager, Print Manager, better performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and improved icons.

1990

SEPTEMBER 1986The Oprah Winfrey Show first airs.

APRIL 1987The Simpsons first airs as a part of The Tracey Ullman Show.

MARCH 1989WINDOWS 2.11

NOVEMBER1989The Berlin Wall falls as the Cold War begins to thaw.

FEBRUARY 1990Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years.

1991The number of computers on the Internet reaches 1M as the net is made available to unrestricted commercial use.

DECEMBER 1990Mikhail Gorbachev receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his e�orts to lessen Cold War tensions and national reform.

JULY 1985Back to the Future comes out and Marty McFly is sent back to 1955—which happens to be when Bill Gates was born!

Windows A LOOK BACK THROUGH

1980

1992APRIL 1992WINDOWS 3.1

JULY 1993WINDOWS NT 3.1

1993

NOVEMBER 1993WINDOWS FOR WORKGROUPS 3.11

1993

1993NOVEMBER 1993WINDOWS 3.2

SEPTEMBER 1994WINDOWS NT 3.5

1994

AUGUST 1995WINDOWS 95

Windows 95 is the most publicized launch of Microsoft yet, with a commercial that features the Rolling Stones singing “Start Me Up” to highlight the new Start Button.

Features introduced: Start button, built-in Internet support, dial-upnetworking, plug-and-play capabilities for software installation, 32-bit operating system, integrated networking, taskbar, minimize/maximize/close buttons on each window, first version of Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available for Windows.

1995

JUNE 1998WINDOWS 98

Features introduced: Support for reading DVDs and USB devices, Quick Launch bar, and a faster ability to open and close windows.

1998

FEBRUARY 2000WINDOWS 2000

Originally marketed as “the most secure Windows version ever,” it is the target of several high-profile virus attacks including Code Red and Nimda.

2000

SEPTEMBER 2000WINDOWS ME

Originally intended to work with the Windows NT kernel, it is instead rushed to market—and often was criticized for being buggy, slow, and unstable. It is shortly replaced by Windows XP the next year.

2000

OCTOBER 2001WINDOWS XP HOME

Features introduced: Network Setup Wizard, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker, and enhanced digital photo capabilities.

2001

APRIL 2005WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL X64

Windows XP Professional focused on enhanced reliability, security, and performance.

Features introduced: Remote desktop support, encrypting file system, system restore, advanced networking features, wireless 802.1x networking support for mobile, Windows Messenger, and Remote Assistance.

2005

JANUARY 2007WINDOWS VISTA

Security features are greatly enhanced, and design is one of Microsoft’s priorities as well, featuring a new look for the taskbar, borders around windows, and a redesigned Start button.

Features introduced: User Account Control, BitLocker Drive Encryption, enhancements for Windows Media Player to integrate television viewing, photo sharing, and video editing.

2007

OCTOBER 2009WINDOWS 7

Features introduced: Windows Touch (allows touchscreen users to browse the web, open files and folders, and casually flip through folders), multitouch support, and HomeGroup file sharing.

2009

OCTOBER 2012WINDOWS 8

Designed to work with both touchscreens and mouse/keyboard, Windows 8 is completely reimagined, from the chipset to the UX.

Features introduced: Completely reimagined operating system with a new interface, Start screen with tiles, and Windows Store for app purchases.

2012

JULY 2015WINDOWS 10

Windows 10 releases with new features & improvements.

2015

OCTOBER 2013WINDOWS 8.1

2013

1994Netscape Navigator is the leading web browser.

1993Intel introduces the Pentium microprocessor, which will power Windows computers for the next 20 years.

SEPTEMBER 1994The first episode ofFriends airs.

SEPTEMBER 1995eBay is founded.

NOVEMBER 1995Lynda.com is founded.

DECEMBER 1999The impending Y2K bug creates concerns that computer systems throughout the world will fail. Very few problems actually occur when the clock strikes midnight on 12/31/1999.

JANUARY 2001Wikipedia launches.

SEPTEMBER 1998Google is founded, later becoming one of the biggest tech companies in the world.

g

SEPTEMBER 2001Terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

JULY 2006Twitter launches.

NOVEMBER 2008Barack Obama becomes the first African American to be elected President of the United States.

JUNE 2007First iPhone releases.

MAY 2010The US stock market experiences a trillion-dollar crash over the course of approximately 36 minutes.

DECEMBER 2012Expected “End of the World” according to the Mayan Calendar

MARCH 2014Ellen DeGeneres' "Oscar selfie" becomes the most retweeted photo of all time, at 2.5 million shares.

SOURCE: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/history

SEE HOW FAR WINDOWS 10 HAS COME SINCE 1981.www.lynda.com/windows10

2000Thousands of dotcoms go bust as the dotcom bubble bursts.

WWW.