From its initial release in 1985 through its continued active development in 2021 and beyond, Windows has been a key player in both the consumer and business PC ecosystems. Here’s a quick look at every version of Windows.
The Microsoft Story – How a Computer Club Took Over the World
Released: November 20, 1985
Replaced: MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), although Windows until Windows 95 actually ran on top of MS-DOS rather than replacing it entirely.
Innovative/Notable: Windows. This was the first version of a Microsoft OS that didn't require you to type in commands. Instead, you could point and click in a box (a window) with a mouse. Bill Gates, a young CEO at the time, said of Windows, "It's unique software designed for the serious PC user." It took two years from its announcement before it finally shipped.
