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 ofoperating systems for computers personal, smart phones and other computer systems, created and marketed by the North American company Microsoft for various system 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 DiskOperating System) or Windows NT, old operating systems of the business, framed in a visual-type operating environment, which works based on the virtual reproduction of a desktop and other office implements, such as folders, files, and even a recycle bin.
The first appearance of Windows occurred in 1985, as a step forward in the modernization of the MS-DOS towards graphical user environments (GUI), and since then it has become the most widely used operating system in the world, taking 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 Internet It also allowed the automatic update of the software anywhere in the world.
What is Windows for?
The basic function of Windows is to 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 Username In this way, he can 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 life easier and offers various protection mechanisms, games, Web browsing, etc.
List of Windows versions
The history of the versions of Windows 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. BaptizedWindows NewTechnology (“New technology”), emerged in 1993 as a renovation of the environment to servers and workstations. It had versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0.
- Windows 95. Hybrid between 16 and 32 bits, emerged in August 1995 and was a notable best-seller. 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 2000 opted for greater compatibility and the incorporation of a new train of applications.
- Windows Xp. Appeared in 2001, this new Windows took its name fromANDxperience (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 the technology of Vista.
- 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 the files in use to be visually arranged, as well as the ordering of their 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 they are both 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 extremely stable, alternative use and multiple versions, while Windows privileges its visual aspect: less stable but much more enjoyable and intuitive.