Windows is 30 years of age today

Today Friday November 20 - 2015 it has been 30 years ever since Microsoft released the very first version of Windows. The follow-up to MS-DOS was a game-changer in the market, a development that Microsoft benefits from even today (despite being something completely different).

Back in 1983 Microsoft announced a user interface for MS-DOS under the development name "Interface Manager". It took Microsoft a good two years to get the software ready and at the time is was considered to be what we call vaporware these days. On November the 20th 1985 however the day was there, not under the name Interface Manager but Rather "Microsoft Windows" the MS-DOS GUI (which what it really was) got released and ever since has been called an operating system. Really it was just a 16-bit graphical extension to MS-DOS :)

The release of Windows was huge as people all of the sudden could control their PC (if it didn't crash) with this thingy you hold in your hand what was called a mouse. At the time Windows was even released with a game, called Reversi. Windows 1.0 also had several programs that are still available in Windows today, like Paint, Notepad, Calculator and a clock. Write was also available, which later on would evolve into Wordpad. 

The "PC" requirements

At the time of release Windows 1.0 was received with mixed feelings, though most media and reviewers considered the new OS to have potential, it was criticized for its heavy system requirements and incompatibility with most DOS programs. To be able to run Windows 1.0 you needed a beast of a computer, it required 256 kilobyte of RAM memory, two disk stations (double-sided floppy disks) and this thign called a "graphics adapter card". Recommended actually was 512 kilobyte of RAM and a HDD if memory serves me right. Windows 1.0 sold 500,000 copies until it was retired in April 1987 and replaced by version 2.0.

Looking back at logos, have a peek at the very first logo for Windows 1.0 and compare it to the Windows 10 logo. Full cycle ? In closing, back in the time it was Steve Ballmer who was leading the sales of the the OS, even back then his usual over-enthusiastic way of presenting things get in the way, check out the commercial and by all means grab popcorn and enjoy it - or just do like I did and nod no ....