Windows operating system made the world of personal computing accessible and easy for the everyday Joe. Now, even students in the schools were able to use personal computers for their school work and in class. No one knew just how far this new OS would take the world of computing technology.
Just like with any computer technology, changes are constantly being made to improve on the product. After the initial launch of Windows, several other versions evolved each one offering new options and new features and each with their own bugs and problems.
Some people weren’t big fans of Windows because at times it seemed as if Microsoft would release the product prior to fully testing
it. It became famed for crashes and bugs that would cause the system to behave erratically, but Microsoft addressed each problem promptly and Windows continued to be THE operating system on the market.
The release of Windows 3.1 operating system was revolutionary in that it offered users more options that couldn’t be found with its predecessor MS-DOS. One of the most helpful innovations was adding the use of a mouse to navigate and manipulate data with one hand simply and easily. 3.1 also gave users the convenience of not having to memorize MS-DOS commands.
Windows 3.1 was the first product to fully utilize graphical user interface for ease of controlling what the computer would do. Windows also now allowed the user to multitask, meaning the user could now run multiple applications at once without having to close out of each program before running another.
The next major Windows product to hit the market was Windows
95 released in 1995 hence the name! New features included the following:
Plug and Play - Allows hardware devices to be automatically installed into the computer with the proper software. Does not require jumpers to be played with.
32 Bit - 32-Bit operating system allowing the computer to run faster and more efficiently
Registry - Combines the power of multiple configuration files into two files, allowing the system configurations to be located easier
Memory - Windows 95 had an improved memory handling processes compared to Windows 3.11
Right mouse click - Allows you new access and text manipulation by utilizing both buttons instead of one
CD-Player - Enhanced CD-Player with improved usability and AutoPlay feature.
Windows 95 also had some extra software included Windows Explorer, Paint, Scan Disk, and Sound Recorder. Games were added as were system tools that would de-fragment the hard drive and allow you to back up files for use later.
Windows 95 was succeeded by Windows 98 released in – you guessed it – 1998! While the release of this OS wasn’t as big as 95, the 98 version still contained some significant updates, fixes, and support for new peripherals.
Protection - Windows 98 included additional protection for important files on your computer such as backing up your registry automatically.
Improved support - Improved support for new devices such as
AGP, DirectX, DVD, USB, MMX, etc.
FAT32 - Windows 98 had the capability of converting your drive to FAT32 without losing any information.
Interface - Users of Windows 95 and NT would enjoy the same easy interface.
PnP - Improved PnP support, to detect devices even better than Windows 95.
Internet Explorer 4.0 - Included Internet Explorer 4.0
Customizable Taskbar - Windows added many nice new features to the taskbar which 95 and NT did not have.
Plus! - Included features only found in Microsoft Plus! free.
Active Desktop - Included Active Desktop which allowed for users to customize their desktop with the look of the Internet.
Just like with any computer technology, changes are constantly being made to improve on the product. After the initial launch of Windows, several other versions evolved each one offering new options and new features and each with their own bugs and problems.
Some people weren’t big fans of Windows because at times it seemed as if Microsoft would release the product prior to fully testing
it. It became famed for crashes and bugs that would cause the system to behave erratically, but Microsoft addressed each problem promptly and Windows continued to be THE operating system on the market.
The release of Windows 3.1 operating system was revolutionary in that it offered users more options that couldn’t be found with its predecessor MS-DOS. One of the most helpful innovations was adding the use of a mouse to navigate and manipulate data with one hand simply and easily. 3.1 also gave users the convenience of not having to memorize MS-DOS commands.
Windows 3.1 was the first product to fully utilize graphical user interface for ease of controlling what the computer would do. Windows also now allowed the user to multitask, meaning the user could now run multiple applications at once without having to close out of each program before running another.
The next major Windows product to hit the market was Windows
95 released in 1995 hence the name! New features included the following:
Plug and Play - Allows hardware devices to be automatically installed into the computer with the proper software. Does not require jumpers to be played with.
32 Bit - 32-Bit operating system allowing the computer to run faster and more efficiently
Registry - Combines the power of multiple configuration files into two files, allowing the system configurations to be located easier
Memory - Windows 95 had an improved memory handling processes compared to Windows 3.11
Right mouse click - Allows you new access and text manipulation by utilizing both buttons instead of one
CD-Player - Enhanced CD-Player with improved usability and AutoPlay feature.
Windows 95 also had some extra software included Windows Explorer, Paint, Scan Disk, and Sound Recorder. Games were added as were system tools that would de-fragment the hard drive and allow you to back up files for use later.
Windows 95 was succeeded by Windows 98 released in – you guessed it – 1998! While the release of this OS wasn’t as big as 95, the 98 version still contained some significant updates, fixes, and support for new peripherals.
Protection - Windows 98 included additional protection for important files on your computer such as backing up your registry automatically.
Improved support - Improved support for new devices such as
AGP, DirectX, DVD, USB, MMX, etc.
FAT32 - Windows 98 had the capability of converting your drive to FAT32 without losing any information.
Interface - Users of Windows 95 and NT would enjoy the same easy interface.
PnP - Improved PnP support, to detect devices even better than Windows 95.
Internet Explorer 4.0 - Included Internet Explorer 4.0
Customizable Taskbar - Windows added many nice new features to the taskbar which 95 and NT did not have.
Plus! - Included features only found in Microsoft Plus! free.
Active Desktop - Included Active Desktop which allowed for users to customize their desktop with the look of the Internet.
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