Histroy of Windows

8/6/2019 Histroy of Windows

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It All Begins with Windows 1.0

Circa 1985

Image Credit: emsps.com

What would eventually become the most dominant OS on the planet was born out of a project started in

1981 called "Interface Manager." This would later be renamed to Windows and Microsoft would introduce

Windows 1.01 to the public in November 1985.

Essentially a shell designed to run on top of MS-DOS 5.0, the Windows GUI traded in a command prompt

for point-and-click computing via the now ubiquitous computer mouse. The 16-bit OS retailed for $99, which

at the time was enough to buy nearly 91 gallons of unleaded gas or watch Back to the Future in the movie

theater 36 times. It was only available on floppy disks and took up about 1MB of hard drive space, but would

later consume around 2.2MB in version 1.03 (released in 1986).

Because Apple owned the right to have overlapping windows in the GUI, Windows 1.0 was limited to using

tiled windows, though an exception was made for dialog boxes only.

Fun Fact: Steve Ballmer appeared in a short ad energetically promoting the OS well before Billy

Mays became a household name. You can view the grainy YouTube video (and have a good laugh)

here.

Windows 2.0

Circa 1987

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Image Credit: computerhovel.com

Two years after the release of Windows 1.01, Microsoft would follow suit with version 2.0. Unlike the original

release, this new version supported overlapping windows. It also greatly enhanced the UI with the addition

of icons, better graphics, a control screen layout, and keyboard shortcuts. On the performance side,

Windows 2.0 supported expanded memory. Later on, version 2.03 would take advantage of the protected

mode and extended memory capabilities of Intel's 386 architecture.

Whereas Windows 1.0 never saw any significant sales numbers, version 2.x would be a much bigger hit. It

also more closely resembled the Apple's Macintosh platform, so much so that Apple in 1988 would file a suit

against Microsoft for allegedly infringing 189 of Apple's copyrights on "visual displays."

Late 1980s Tech Boom: Several tech companies were founded in the late 1980s, including VIA,

Apogee, and ECS in 1987, Promise, Trend Micro, and Xircom in 1988, and EPoX, Abit, Asus, the

PCMCIA trade association, Citrix, and S3 in 1989.

Microsoft Announces its First Ever WindowsApplication (Excel)

Circa 1987

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Image Credit: willyhoops.com

In 1985, Microsoft released it's first version of Excel for the Macintosh platform. Two years later, Microsoft

would port the spreadsheet software over to its own operating system, making it the first app for Windows

ever developed by Microsoft. It was labeled version 2.05 to coincide with its Mac counterpart.

Meanwhile, Lotus Software (now owned by IBM) was busy marketing Lotus 1-2-3, a popular spreadsheet

program that helped drive PC sales in the business sector. Lotus Software may have underestimated the

Windows platform, and because it was late in bringing a version of Lotus 1-2-3 over to Windows in 1987,

Excel was able to capitalize on its advantage and had leapfrogged Lotus in sales by 1988.

Now a part of Microsoft Office, Excel is the most used spreadsheet program on the planet.

Microsoft Surpasses Lotus as No. 1 SoftwareVendor

Circa 1988

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The rapid success of Excel, as noted above, combined with the growing audience of Windows users

propelled Microsoft past Lotus Software as the No. 1 software vendor in the world. By the end of the year,

Microsoft's revenue had reached $590.8 million, up from $345.9 million a year prior, and its worker-base

2,793 employees strong, up from 1,815 employees in 1987..

Windows 3.0

Circa 1990

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Image Credit: toastytech.com

The third major release of Windows represented a major overhaul of the base OS and a recognition by

Microsoft that the whole GUI thing had a major future. Not that this was ever in doubt, considering Microsoft

managed to sell around 10 million copies before the release of 3.1. Microsoft attributes part of the success

to a "new wave of 386 PCs," and it certainly didn't hurt that some PC manufacturers for the first time had

begun pre-installing Windows on PCs rather than including the disks with a computer purchase.

Other keys to version 3.0's success were the ability to address memory beyond 640K and the release of a

new Windows software development kit (SDK). For the most part, the widespread hardware and developer

support enjoyed on the Windows platform can be traced back to this release.

In October 1991, Microsoft would release Windows 3.0a with Multimedia Extensions designed to support

CD- ROM drives and soundcards.

Did You Know?: Windows 3.0 would be the last version of Windows to advertise 100 percent

compatibility with previous versions.

Microsoft Shifts from OS/2 to Windows NT

Circa 1991

Image Credit: compuvision.info

Following the success of Windows 3.0, Microsoft saw the writing on the wall and knew it had a future in

designing and selling its own OS. in 1991, Microsoft severed its collaborative relationship with IBM and

announced it had decided to discontinue development of the OS/2 operating system.

While IBM went on to release OS/2 Version 2, Microsoft took some of the code base and used it to develop

Windows NT. Some saw the moveas Microsoft's way of "exerting its muscle as the dominant player in

deciding the future of the microcomputer market," the first time Microsoft had been in such a position. The

move also drew the attention of investors. Following Microsoft's announcement, shares of the company

soared $5 to close at $71 for the day.

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The divorce was a bitter one for both sides. IBM, perhaps scorned over Microsoft's departure, would tell

anyone that would listen that OS/2 was more stable than Windows. In response, Steve Ballmer showed

several ways of how it was possible to crash a PC running OS/2.

Windows 3.1

Image Credit: businessweek.com

Circa 1992

Continuing the success of version 3.0, Windows 3.1 sold over 3 million copies during its first two months on

the market, which includes upgrades from 3.0. Some key features include True Type font support, built-in

audio device drivers, and color screen savers.

By most accounts, Windows 3.1 is when the OS really began to spread its wings over the marketplace. With

thousands of applications being written for it, this marked the first time that there were more Windows apps

being developed than there were for DOS.

Fun Fact: The time waster known as Minesweeper replaced Reversi in Windows 3.1 and has been

bundled with just about every Windows OS ever since.

First TV Ads for Windows AppearCirca 1992

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In recent times, we've seen Microsoft fire back at Apple with its Laptop Hunter ads, Jerry Seinfeld as an OS

pitchman, and more recently, pink unicorns and happy words. All of these are the result of a 17- year

evolution that began in 1992 when Microsoft first tapped into televisions to promote Windows. The ads,

which were developed by the Oglivy & Mather Agency in Los Angeles, ran on network and cable programs

and sought to show how easy computing could be on the Windows platform.

Judge Dismisses Apple v Microsoft Lawsuit

Circa 1993

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Apple thought its suit against Microsoft for infringing upon the look and feel of the Mac OS was a slam dunk

case, but Apple was wrong. First filed in 1988, the suit dragged on for five years until a U.S. court finally

dismissed the lawsuit in August 1993.

In a nutshell, Apple accused both Microsoft and Hewlett- Packard of copying the look and feel of Apple's

Lisa and Macintosh operating systems. The suit was largely in response to Microsoft adding overlapping

windows in Windows 2.0. The trial never made it to jury, and though Apple would appeal the case to theSupreme Court, Apple's appeal would be denied.

Windows Becomes Most Popular GUI OS with 25Million Licensed Users

Circa 1993

In April of 1993, Microsoft announced that there were over 25 million licensed Windows users, more than

other operating system with a graphical interface.

Windows NT 3.1

Circa 1993

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Image Credit: emsps.com

Despite the same number scheme, same release year, and a similar interface to Windows 3.1, the NT

version was based on an entirely new operating system kernel. Or as Bill Gates put it: "Windows NT

represents nothing less than a fundamental change in the way that companies can address business

computing requirements."

The NT (New Technology) version was aimed at enterprise users and was the first Windows OS to combine

support for high-end client and server business applications with popular productivity apps. Available in both

desktop and server form, power users and developers alike enjoyed greater stability and security with the32-bit OS.

Fortune Magazine Names Microsoft "MostInnovative Company Operating the U.S."

Circa 1993

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Microsoft could do no wrong in 1993. The company was cleared of any wrongdoing against Apple, more

people were using Windows than any other graphical operating system in the world, and Windows NT 3.1was finally released. The company's success didn't go unnoticed, nor was the perception of Microsoft as

divided as it is today. As a result, Fortune Magazine voted Microsoft "1993 Most Innovative Company

Operating in the U.S."

Public Perception: Microsoft would continue to win favor from the public, and in a 1997 poll carried

out by Hart and Teeter, Microsoft was voted as the "most admired" company in one of the "most

admired" industries.

Windows 95

Circa 1995

Image Credit: betanews.com

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An evolutionary leap over previous versions, Windows 95 (or 4.0 as it was referred to during development)

featured a completely revamped GUI with a focus on ease-of-use to attract home users. Windows 95 was

also a complete OS rather than a shell for MS-DOS, though some take exception to this 'fact' since DOS

could still be loaded

If you ask Microsoft, they'll tell you that Win95 was the successor to the company's three existing general-

purpose desktop OSes: Windows 3.1, Windows Workgroups, and MS-DOS. And that's true, as Win95brought together the best of all worlds while adding several new bullet points. A handful of key features

include an integrated 32-bit TCP/IP stack for built-in Internet support, new Plug and Play capabilities, a right-

button context menu, support for 32-bit apps, preemptive multitasking, and much more.

For many, this would be the first viable version of Windows to fully replace MS- DOS.

Internet Explorer

Circa: 1995

You know Microsofts browser as Internet Explorer, or IE for short, but the full name is actually Windows

Internet Explorer. IE first made it into the publics hands in 1995, but not as a standalone download. Instead,

Microsoft included it as part of the Plus! for Windows 95 add-on package.

Development had begun a year prior, which doesnt seem like a long time for a new piece of software, but

Microsoft had a substantial head start since it was basically just re-tweaking the source code for the Mosaic

browser. In fact, the projects team was less than 10 people strong at the time.

IE would be embroiled in controversy right from the get-go. By offering the browser for free to Windows,

Microsoft did not have to pay royalties to Spyglass, makers of the Mosaic browser. This set in motion a

lawsuit and eventually an out-of-court settlement for millions of dollars.

Later that same year, Internet Explorer 2.0 would become the first cross-platform browser, but it wasnt until

IE 4, released in 1997, that things really got interesting. Microsoft had entrenched the browser into Windows

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more than it had ever done before, and by installing IE4 and choosing Windows Desktop Update, Windows

Explorer would be replaced by a version that more closely resembled the browsers interface. This tight

integration led to a series of civil lawsuits, which would be consolidated into a single case: United States v

Microsoft.

Also tying into the lawsuit was Microsofts ability to catch up with the competing Netscape Navigator browser

with the release of IE 3.0, and surpass it with version 4.0. Netscape would remain a competitor until its lastrelease in 1998, but it simply could not compete with Microsofts ability to reach a wider audience by

bundling IE with Windows.

By version 5.0, there were over 1,000 people churning out code for the browser, and with the release of IE

6, the browsers market share exploded to just under 83 percent, thanks in large part to the demise of

Netscape. With a stranglehold on the market, Microsoft may have grown content, as IE 7 wouldnt make it to

market for another 5 years, the longest gap between releases in the browsers history.

In the meantime, alternative browsers had started to gain momentum, especially Mozillas Firefox. It, and

others, had come out with features that IE 6 lacked, most notably tabbed browsing. Microsoft would addressthis with the release of IE 7 in 2006, and it would also completely revamp the interface. For the better or for

worse depends on who you talk to, but IE 7 marked a clear departure in terms of the UI, and an awakening

of a giant.

No longer content to rest on IEs monumental market share success, Microsoft would once again become an

active participant in the browser wars like it had been when Netscape was around. IE 8, released earlier this

year, upped the ante with several new modern features, including a private browser mode, improved

JavaScript performance, add-on support, and even much improved web standards compliance, albeit it still

lacks the competition.

DirectX

Circa 1995

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One of the best decisions Microsoft ever made with the Windows platform was to focus on gaming. This was

a strong point of DOS, and if Windows was to succeed, it also needed a strong gaming foundation.

Towards that end, Microsoft would release its DirectX API in September 1995 as the Windows Games SDK.

Developed mainly for Windows 95, it wasnt originally part of the new (at the time) OS, but could be installed

by games that used the bundled technologies.

Starting with DirectX 2.0, the API was, however, included with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, as well

as subsequent versions of Windows. To push DirectX and game development for the Windows platform,

Microsoft would aggressively promote the API to developers, and eventually win them over.

In 1997, Microsoft would release DirectX 5.0, which was actually the fourth version (DirectX 4.0 was never

released). This would propel the API forward by laying the foundation for extending DirectX multimedia,

Internet, and other performance applications. 3D audio was added, as was a simplified setup for end-users.

DirectX 6 would again kick things up a notch in a number of ways, including the addition of multiple

texturing, which gave compatible videocards the ability to render multiple textures simultaneously onto a

polygon in a single pass. And by now, Microsoft had an install base of 3D hardware accelerators exceeding

50 million PCs, making Windows a dominant gaming platform.

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Many would consider DirectX 9 the last major, must-have release. The updated API emerged in 2002 and

supported much longer shader programs than previous versions had, and this would continue through

DirectX 9.0c with shader model 3.0 support. Then came a bit of a controversy.

From a technical standpoint, Microsoft probably could have released DirectX 10 for Windows XP, but

instead the Redmond company decided to leverage the new API as a way to push Vista sales, and so DX

10 to this day requires Vista. This might have been okay, had Vista not been met with several early

performance woes, and if DirectX 10 brought more to the table than a handful of games sporting slightly

improved graphics. But even today, XP users have been content to miss out on the added visuals DX 10

brings to the table.

Microsoft Bob Fails to Make Windows More User-Friendly

Circa 1995

Dont worry if youve never heard of Microsoft Bob, you wont lose any geek cred points with us. Thats

because the project was short lived and unceremoniously scrapped before it ever really took off.

So what was Microsoft Bob? Well, in 1995, Microsoft had the idea of replacing the desktop of Windows 3.1

and 95 with a noob-friendly interface that grandma would be more comfortable using. That may have

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sounded like a good idea on paper enough for Microsoft to kick off a pretty ambitious advertising campaign

but the project ultimately fell flat on its face, much to the surprise of Microsoft.

Part of the problem can be traced to the steep system requirements. A 486 processor with 8MB of RAM,

30MB of disk space, and a 256-color VGA display sounds laughable today, but at the time, this was some

pretty serious hardware out of reach by most of Microsoft Bobs target audience.

Then there was the cost. At $100, it wasnt cheap, and users with the compatible hardware had to ask

themselves if they werent better off just investing in Windows 95 instead. Or a Mac.

In the end, Microsoft Bob was just too hokey, too demanding, and too expensive. Put it all together and you

have the recipe for one of Microsofts bigger failures.

Microsoft Halts Sales of Chinese LanguageWindows 95 Because of Anti-CommunistSlogans

Circa 1996

We're not entirely sure as to the validity of this one, but according to The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft

came under fire in China when it wasdiscovered that a Chinese language version of Windows 95 contained

a pair of anti-Communist slogans. One of the phrases called out China's leaders as "Communists bandits,"while another supposedly urged Taiwan's government to "take back the mainland."

As the report goes, Microsoft said the Windows 95 kits were written by contractors and not by Microsoft's

own software writers.

MS Flight Simulator Makes Its Debut on theWindows Platform

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Circa 1996

Image Credit: photobucket morris91_2007

The very first version ofMicrosoft Flight Simulatorwas released in 1982 in all of its monochrome glory.

Fourteen years later, Microsoft wouldrelease its Flight Simulator for Windows 95, the version ever designed

to run on Windows. This was also the first time the simulation deviated from using the version number in the

title (it would have been version 6.0).

Earlier in the year, Microsoft made it known that it was committed to pushing Windows-based PCs as a

gaming platform,saying "Make no mistake, Microsoft isn't playing around when it comes to games." At the

time, Microsoft was the sixth largest PC game publisher.

Several State Attorney Generals Try to BlockSales of Upcoming Windows 98

Circa 1998

Image Credit: bbc.co.uk

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The imminent release of Windows 98 wasn't without considerable controversy. Several Attorney Generals

argued that Microsoft engaged in anti-competitive practices in order to maintain its alleged Windows

operating system monopoly, and as such, the group urged the Department of Justice to take action, or else

they would proceed on their own.

The threat of a lawsuit wasn't well received by the public, who by a 5-to-1 margin, opposed the idea,

according to a poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research and Robert Teeter Research. The timing alsocame under suspicion, considering that at least two of the Attorney Generals were running for governor, and

several others were up for reelection.

Nevertheless, the DoJ and 20 Attorney Generals filed an antitrust suit against Microsoft in a trial that began

in October 1998. A year later, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson issued his initial findings that Microsoft did

hold a monopoly and used it to harm consumers, rivals, and other companies.

Windows 98/98SE

Circa 1998

Image Credit: dhooper.geekstogo.com

Not quite the evolutionary leap that Windows 95 was to previous versions, Windows 98 was more of an

update to 95, albeit a fairly significant one in many ways. Microsoft says Win 98 was the first version of

Windows designed specifically for consumers, and towards that end, it brought with it more hardware

support, a more attractive GUI, improved support for the still popular FAT32 file system, and much improvedUSB support over its predecessor.

Windows 98 would also begin to signal the death knell for Netscape. Internet Explorer came integrated with

Windows 98, paving the way for a major market share advantage in the browser market, and we all know

how that ended. Even today, Internet Explorer enjoys the lion's share of the browser market, although

alternative browser are beginning to gain ground.

In 1999, Microsoft would release Windows 98 Second Edition, an incremental update to 98.

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Windows Update Launches

Circa 1998

Image Credit: hku.hk

Tied in with the release of Windows 98, Windows Update was launched with a link to the service included in

the OS's Start Menu. Windows Update was primarily used to push additional content, such as desktop

themes, driver updates, and optional software, although it would also be used to serve up several security

updates.

Microsoft Decides to Drop NT Nomenclature

Circa 1998

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After months of rumors, Microsoft confirmed the speculation that it had decided to drop the "NT" initials from

future versions of Windows. This was purely a marketing move, and the software giant would continue to

use the NT name scheme internally.

Some believed the real motivation for dropping NT was to divert attention away from missed release dates.

There had been some hope that Windows 2000, which would have been NT 5.0, would ship in 1999.

"They're trying to cushion the blow a little bit in case the dates slip. But I think it would be better to wait till

2000 anyway because will be too busy with year 2000 issues to go crazy making the switch," said James

Graham, a network architect at Atlanta-based BellSouth Business Systems.

Windows 2000

Circa 2000

Released in early 2000, Microsoft intended for Windows 2000 to replace Windows 95, 98, and NT

Workstation 4.0 on all business desktops and laptops.

Windows 2000 would ship in four different versions, including Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and

Datacenter Server. Later on, Microsoft would release two more 'Limited Edition' versions (Advanced Server

and Datacenter Server) intended to run on 64-bit Intel Itanium processors.

While targeting different markets, each version shared several core attributes, including better networking

and wireless products support, an improved Start menu, Internet Explorer 5.0 integration, and better security

and hardware support.

Microsoft Criticizes Judge During Appeal

Circa 2000

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Not at all happy with U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's order that Microsoft be split into two

companies, the legal beagles from Redmond accused the judge of harboring a bias, saying: "By repeatedly

commenting on the merits of the case in the press, the district judge has cast himself in the public's eye as a

participant in the controversy, thereby compromising the appearance of impartiality." Oh snap!

The Cour of Appeal in Washington would agree in a unanimous decision and rule in Microsoft's favor, while

adding some harsh criticisms of their own towards Judge Jackson, saying he engaged in "serious judicial

misconduct."

Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Circa 2000

Image Credit: guidebookgallery.org

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As the last OS to be built around the Windows 95 code base, Windows ME was targeted at home users,

much to the chagrin of the very users it was intended for. Or not, depending on who you talk to. In reality,

the truth lies somewhere in between - Windows ME wasn't the abomination many have made it out to be,

though there's no denying the various problems and instability several users were reporting.

While most power users opted to skip WinME, the OS did introduce a few useful features, including System

Restore, Windows Movie Maker, Universal Plug and Play, Image previews, and more.

End of an Era: Following Windows ME, Microsoft announced that all future versions of Windows

would be based on the Windows NT and 2000 kernel.

Increased System Requirements for XP BetaSparks Backlash

Circa 2001

Image Credit: photobucket.com enviro-pc

When the second beta version of Windows XP emerged, it was met with contempt from some users and

analysts. The reason? Comparatively 'steep' system requirements calling for an Intel Pentium 300MHz

processor and a whopping 128MB of RAM (oh, to be young again!).

By comparison, Windows Professional only required a 133MHz Pentium processor and half the amount of

RAM. The higher hardware requirements were seen as a way to spur demand for new component

purchases, which wasn't well received by those who didn't see a need for more powerful PCs at the time.

Windows XP

Circa 2001

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For eight years, most would consider XP the greatest OS Microsoft ever made, and possibly the best OS

ever (Linux and Mac OS X buffs undoubtedly have other favorites in mind). And it's still the only operating

system to ever receive a perfect 10/Kick Ass verdict in Maximum PC (November 2001 issue, page 41).

Built around Windows 2000's stable code base, XP also introduced a much more visually appealing GUI

than any previous version of Windows. Improved game support, NTFS file system, a huge install base

prompting widespread developer support, and light enough on resources to run on today's netbooks, it's

easy to see why XP remains a fan favorite.

XP also shipped with a critical flaw that wouldn't be addressed until it's second Service Pack. Prior to SP2,

XP's firewall came disabled by default, leaving new installations vulnerable to Internet-bound attackers

always on the lookout for new victims.

Microsoft Ships First 64-Bit Windows Server forItanium

Circa 2001

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Image Credit: Intel

At about the same Windows XP made it to RTM (Release to Manufacturing), Microsoft launched its first ever

64-bit version of Windows for Intel's IA-64 platform. It shipped in Advanced Server Limited Edition form.

Perhaps slightly ahead of its time, many felt it was wiser to wait for Intel to release its McKinley platform

before jumping on the 64-bit bandwagon. A lack of 64-bit applications also stunted initial adoption.

XP Media Center EditionCirca 2002

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First released in October 2002, the initial release could only be obtained by purchasing a PC with media

center capabilities - the OS wasn't available as standalone software.

As Paul Thurott described it, XP MCE was essentially "Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 with an

additional application, Media Center, and related supporting services." It also required a powerful PC (for the

time), most of which would retail for anywhere between $1,400 to $2,000.

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Circa 2002

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Microsoft had been flirting with pen-based computing since 1992, starting with its prototype WinPaddevices

intended to run a special Windows 3.x version called Windows for Pen Computing. While that never took off,

Microsoft hoped its Windows XP Tablet PC Edition would be met with considerable more fanfare.

Like XP Media Center Edition, the Tablet variety was based on Windows XP Professional with SP1, but with

added features. This included support for the active digitizer adn stylus, instant display switching between

normal and portrait modes, and a handful of Tablet PC-enabled apps.

AMD Founder Defends Microsoft in Court,Opposed Gimped Version of Windows

Circa 2002

Image Credit: watch.impess.co.jp

Still under fire for allegations of anti-competitive business practices, one proposed settlement suggested

Microsoft should sell a stripped down version of Windows. AMD CEO Jerry Sanders appeared as Microsoft's

first defense witness and testified that such harsh sanctions could end up setting the computer industry back

by one or two years.

However, Sanders' testimony wasn't without controversy. During cross- examination, Sandersadmitted that

he hadn't studied the proposal, and an attorney for the stateargued that Sanders was only testifying

because Microsoft promised to support AMD's upcoming Hammer chip.

Microsoft Imposes DRM Scheme into WMPSecurity Update

Circa 2002

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Image Credit: talk.bmc.com

What does a Windows Media Player security update and DRM have in common? They shouldn't have

anything to do with each other, but in 2002, Microsoft riled its customers when the company decided to

make the automatic installation of undisclosed future anti-piracy measures a prerequisite in order to receive

a security update for WMP.

Users were understandably miffed, particularly since they had no idea exactly what they were agreeing to.

And as Sony would later find out with the whole rootkit fiasco, that's a no-no.

European Union Slaps Microsoft with 497 MillionFine

Circa 2003

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Image Credit: unrepentantoldhippie.files.wordpress.com

In what ranked as the largest fine ever handed out by the European Union at the time, Microsoft in 2003 was

ordered to pay 497 million Euros (roughly $794 million) for anti-competitive practices. Furthermore, Microsoft

was ordered to sell a version of Windows with Window Media Player stripped out, as well as hand over the

source code that would allow competing networking software to be fully compatible with Windows servers.

The issue began when, 10 years prior, Novell accused Microsoft of making server protocol information

unavailable. Sun would later add to the controversy when it complained that its rival would not disclose

technical interfaces to Windows NT. The EU eventually widened its investigation to also look at how

Microsoft integrated streaming media technology into Windows, hence the ruling to strip out WMP.

Microsoft did all it could to get out of paying a record fine handed out by the European Union in 2004 as part

of antitrust ruling, including appeal the decision. But in 2007, a European court rejected Microsoft's appeal.

It wasn't a total loss, however, as the court did reject the EU's decision to appoint a third party to monitor

Microsoft's compliance, which was also to be paid by Microsoft.

Blaster Worms Continues to Chew ThroughWindows Machines

Circa 2003

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Forgot about lions and tigers and bears, it's the Blaster worm that caused all kinds of havoc on Windows XP

and 2000 machines, oh my! Of course, it didn't help that businesses and other customers didn't heed

Microsoft's warning to patch up a known security hole in its Windows software by July 16th. This negligence

-- by both experienced and inexperienced users -- made it that much easier for Blaster to, er, worm its way

through computer systems, which spread using Remote Administration.

Ironically, the worm wasn't difficult to eradicate, but you first had to be aware it was even there. Symptoms

weren't always the same, which gave Blaster time to do some damage before users even realized they were

infected.

Go Directly to Jail: Jeffrey Lee Parson, an 18-year-old from Hopkins, Minnesota, found himself on

the losing side of the law and sentenced to 18 months in prison for creating the B variant of theBlaster worm.

Microsoft Settles Antitrust Lawsuit over NetscapeDispute

Circa 2003

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Image Credit: cbsnews.com

We all know what would eventually become of Netscape, but before the browser would be buried six feet

under, it looked as though it might thrive thanks a settlement between Microsoft and AOL Time Warner,

which owned Netscape.

It all started when AOL Time Warner sued Microsoft in 2002, claiming the Redmond company had competed

unfairly to paralyze the Netscape browser, which was once the most dominant browser in the world. Seeking

to avoid litigation, Microsoft in 2003 agreed to pay $750 million to AOL Time Warner to settle the suit. In

addition, the two sides said they would work together to make AOL and MSN instant messaging services

work in tandem.

Patch Tuesday

Circa 2003

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Image Credit: images.chron.com

Before there was Patch Tuesday, there was Patch Whenever. Then in 2003, Microsoft introduced Patch

Tuesday as a way to cut back costs associated with patch deployment. Why Tuesday? Microsoft felt that

Monday, being the first day of the week, typically has enough issues for business to deal with, so Redmond

chose Tuesday since it was still early in the week.. And according to Microsoft, this would also give the IT

department plenty of time to deal with any ensuing problems before the weekend rolled around.

Early Security Alerts to Bigger Clients Pisses Offthe Little Guys

Circa 2004

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Microsoft may have been well intentioned when it began giving its larger clients advance warning of securityproblems with its products, but that didn't come as any consolation to smaller businesses, who felt that they

were being put at a disadvantage.

"This is safety-related defect information, and for it to be selectively given to some and not to others is a bad

thing," complained John Pescatore, VP for Internet security at research firm Gartner.

Under the free program, Microsoft would give some customers three days' notice of how many security fixes

it planned to release on Patch Tuesday, as well as alerting customers to which products were affected.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Makes Security a

PriorityCirca 2004

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Image Credit: freshwap.net

In the summer of '04, Microsoft issued its second Service Pack for Windows XP, and in doing so, the

company addressed a potentially major security threat. Prior to SP2, new installs of XP would leave the

built-in firewall disabled by default. This created a security risk for anyone connected to the Internet and not

behind a router with a built-in firewall, and such systems could possibly be inundated with Internet borne

security threats within a matter of minutes.

SP2 changed this by enabling the integrated firewall by default. It also added WPA encryption, improved

WiFi support, a pop-up blocker for IE6, and Bluetooth support. Out of the three Service Packs for XP, this

one was undeniably the most critical.

Microsoft Distributes WGA as a "Critical Update"

Circa 2006

Image Credit: photobucket.com yuh4n

In 2006, the free ride was over for those who pirated XP. Or at least those who wanted to keep their copy

updated with the latest security patches. Starting in April 2006, Microsoft labeled its Windows Genuine

Advantage scheme as a critical update, sparking an arms race between Microsoft's anti-piracy team and

hackers looking to circumvent the DRM measure.

Systems that failed to pass WGA were greeted with an alert at startup and an all black background. in

addition to prompting some users to go legit, this also made it possible for Microsoft to identify and file suit

against several companies caught selling pirated copies of Windows, thanks to reports by users who thoughtthey had purchased a legitimate copy.

Microsoft Gives Away Laptops Loaded with Vistato Bloggers

Circa 2007

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Image Credit: istartededsomething.com

Who wouldn't want to wake up on Christmas to find out they've been given a Ferrari? Most people would be

thrilled, but the problem occurs when it's an Acer Ferrari laptop loaded with Vista, the gift giver is Microsoft,and the lucky recipients are bloggers. Can we say conflict of interest?

The $2,300 laptops were sent out 30 days prior to Vista's release and the recipients were under no

obligation to return the review units. Slashdot called the promotion a "bribe," and while not everyone agreed,

at the very least the whole situation was suspect.

Windows Vista

Circa 2007

By the time Vista came out, it had been more than five years since Microsoft last released an OS. Was it

worth the wait? Legions of XP fans would say 'no,' though Vista's sales numbers would suggest otherwise,

even if Microsoft didartificially inflates the actual figures by counting Vista sales even when the end-user'downgraded' to XP.

Like ME, part of Vista's problem really does come down to perception, a point Microsoft tried to punch into

the public through its Mojave ad campaign. Early problems plagued the release -- not all of which were

Microsoft's fault -- and following SP1, much of the performance bugs had been stomped out.

Capitalizing on Vista's poor perception, Apple would relentlessly attack the Windows platform with a series

of ads starring Justin Long as the hip Mac guy and John Hodgman as the stereotypical geeky PC user.

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Microsoft would eventually attempt several advertising rebuttals, one of which included a short-lived Jerry

Seinfeld ad campaign, but none could atone for Vista.

Microsoft Denies Vista Loads Slower than XP,Blames Users

Circa 2007

Vista's performance woes have been well documented, and it's one reason why so many XP users have

been loathe to upgrade. But when reports began to surface that the much hyped OS took longer than its

predecessor to boot, shutdown, and load application, Microsoft quickly went into denial.

Not only did Microsoft refute the reports based on its own internal testing, but it claimed users should be

taking advantage of sleep mode so that "they can achieve two-to-three second resume times."

Vista Capable Lawsuit

Circa 2007

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You've probably heard of the Vista Capable Lawsuit, which started with two angry consumers filing suit

against Microsoft for its alleged false advertising. The problem began when some PCs labeled as "Windows

Vista Capable" lacked the necessary hardware to run even a bare-bones version of the OS.

In 2008, the suit would be granted class-action status, but it wouldn't last long. In February 2009, Judge

Marsha Pechman said the case no longer warranted class-action status, citing "absent evidence of class-

wide price inflation."

Microsoft Claims Open-Source Violates 235 of ItsPatents

Circa 2007

Image Credit: ibinary.com

There's no love lost between the open-source community and Microsoft, whose closed-source software is

the best selling software in the world. Fueling the competitive fire, a Microsoft lawyer revealed in an

interview with Fortune that Microsoft believed free and open-source software violated 235 of its patents.

More specifically, Microsoft alleged that the Linux kernel was responsible for violating 42 of Microsoft's

patents, while its user interface and other design elements violated another 65. The Redmond company

accused OpenOffice.org of infringing on 45 patents, in addition to 83 more in other free and open-source

programs.

Vista SP1 Fixes Crappy Performance

Circa 2008

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Image Credit: gizmodo.com

Surely Vista, in its current form at the time, wasn't the OS we had been waiting all this time for, right? It was

and it wasn't. While early problems plagued the OS, Microsoft managed to fix most of them with the release

of its first Service Pack for the OS, just not right away.

Following the release of SP1, complaints began to surface that the Service Pack was throwing PCs into an

endless reboot cycle and causing all kinds of quirks. Microsoft quickly pulled the software update to iron out

the bugs, then re-released it into the wild.

This time, all was well with the Service Pack, and even better with the OS. Suddenly the poor file transfer

performance had disappeared, as did several niggling bugs. True to Microsoft's promise, SP1 improved

performance, stability, and reliability, finally turning Vista into a serviceable OS.

Olympic Fail: Billions Catch BSOD Cameo inBeijing Olympics

Circa 2008

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Image Credit: gizmodo.com

No Windows write-up would be complete without a mention of the dreaded blue screen of death, and when

we look back at the history of Windows through the ages, none were bigger (literally, that is) than the one

that appeared during the Beijing Olympics.

As Li Ning, one of China's sporting greats, swung over the crowd inside the Bird's Nest, onlookers had their

attention diverted to the ceiling where a giant BSOD appeared - d'oh! The familiar sight was ultimately

traced back to the specialized theatrical computer controlled lightening equipment.

Windows Sales Drop 24% as Competition CatchesUp

Circa 2008

Image Credit: telecomtv.com

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You can blame it on poor public perception or any number of other factors, but in the third quarter of 2008,

Microsoft reported that sales of Vista has plummeted 24 percent. The software giant downplayed the

numbers, insisting that third quarter sales a year prior were inflated because they included revenue not just

from Windows licenses sold during the period, but also $1.2 billion in revenue from Vista presales.

Microsoft could explain the poor sales performance until it was blue in the face, but there's more to the story

than the company would like to admit. During the same period, Apple noted that Mac shipments had surged51 percent, which would explain, at least partially, why Vista was doing so poorly. In addition, Linux had

finally matured to the point where mainstream users weren't as hesitant about rolling open-source as they

had been in years past, particularly with the strides being made by Canonical and its Ubuntu distro.

Bill Gates Enters Semi-Retirement

Circa 2008

On July 27, 2000, Bill Gates, at age 52, traded in his full-time digs for a part time role with the multi-billion

dollar corporation he helped create. The Harvard dropout kept his position as chairman and vowed to still

spend one day a week at the company, but he passed the leadership torch to Steve Ballmer.

Retirement Video: During the CES 2008 keynote by Bill Gates, a spoof video was shown depicting

what Gate's last day on the job was really like. You can watch the 7 minute clip here.

Microsoft Strikes Back with Seinfeld, Mojave, andLaptop Hunters Ads

Circa 2008-2009

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Like guacamole, you either loved the new Seinfeld adverts for Windows, or you hated them. Seinfeld's spot

as new OS pitchman kicked off with the comedian starring alongside Bill Gates in a commercial that

appeared to focus more on shoes than it did on Windows. The intent was for Microsoft to bond with its

consumers, and in a sense, it did show that it understood this whole geek culture thing.

On the other hand, the commercials made little sense, at least in terms of promoting a product. Even worse,

they didn't fire back at Apple, who had been roasting the Windows platform with their humorous (yet

misleading) Apple vs PC ads. Apple continued to have the upper hand when it came to advertising, but the

worst part is we're still waiting on that chewy computer to materialize.

Battling the poor public perception of Vista, Microsoft set out to once and for all prove that the OS wasn't as

bad as everyone made it out to be, and daggonit, it's actually a decent operating system. To prove its point,

the company took users who had no experience with Vista, plopped them in front of a PC, and told them

they were using an upcoming OS called Mojave.

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The reactions -- at least the ones Microsoft showed -- were overwhelmingly positive and filled with praise for

what Microsoft was supposedly working on. But Mojave wasn't a new OS, it was actually Vista!

While the ads may have seemed like a good idea, it was probably too little too late. By now, everyone who

had skipped Vista had pretty much decided to wait for Windows 7, and outside of those who had actually

been duped with 'Mojave,' there was never a subsequent rush to run out and buy Vista.

It took a lot of tries, but Microsoft finally had an answer to all those tired Mac vs PC ads. Turning the tables

on the competition, Microsoft fired off a series of ads, each one giving a consumer the task of finding a PC

that fits their needs within a certain budget, and if successful, Microsoft would foot the bill.

Not surprisingly, every candidate settled on a PC instead of a Mac, claiming that the latter was just too

expensive. Just like in real life, the Laptop Hunter ads showed that Windows-based PCs are less expensive

yet every bit as capable (can't wait to get the hate mail on this one).

Microsoft Admits Linux OS is Competition, HellFreezes Over

Circa 2009

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Image Credit: mattwardman.com

Suggesting that Linux presents competition to Windows isn't exactly a new revelation, but when the

acknowledgment comes from Microsoft, well, that's news.

In its annual filing with the SEC, Microsoft earlier this year listed Canonical (maker of Ubuntu) as competition

to the its OS business. That's something Microsoft had never done before, and given the media attention, itmight never do again.

"Competing commercial software products, including variants of Unix, are supplied by competitors such as

Apple, Canonical, and Red Hat," Microsoft wrote. "Apple takes an integrated approach to the PC experience

and has made inroads in share, particularly in the U.S. and in the consumer segment. The Linux operating

system, which is also derived from Unix and is available without payment under a General Public License,

has gained some acceptance."

in related news, the weather channel reported a chilly outlook in hell.

Microsoft Sued Over WGA

Circa 2009

Image Credit: insidesocal.com

Windows Genuine Advantage has always come under fire, but it wasn't until last month that a class action

suit was filed against Microsoft over the use of WGA in Windows XP. According to the suit, WGA changed

dramatically in April 2006 and the way it was delivered ran afoul of the law.

The issue at hand is Microsoft's decision to label the DRM scheme as a high priority update without clearly

explaining exactly what it does.

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"Microsoft hid, misrepresented, and/or failed to disclose the true nature, features, and functionality of the

WGA software to consumers," the suit alleges. "Contrary to the express written statements Microsoft made

in the inadequate disclosures that were provided, the software collected and communicated private

identifying information from consumer's computers and sent that information back to Microsoft on a daily

basis."

The suit seeks $5 million in damages, which would make the prosecuting lawyers awfully happy, butprobably won't amount to much for anyone else.

Microsoft Agrees to Ship Windows 7 with BrowserBallot

Circa 2009

Image Credit: kaspersorensen.com

Sometimes it's just easier to concede defeat, count your lumps, and move on. And that's certainly the

position Microsoft recently took with the European Commission when it bowed to pressure to offer a version

of Windows in Europe without Internet Explorer. Microsoft has agreed to do just that in order to avoid even

more fines for alleged anti-competitive business practices, and it will soon be up to OEMs (in Europe) to

decide what browsers to include, or not include, with Windows.

Windows 7

Circa 2009

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Every bit the OS that Vista should have been, Windows 7 takes the performance of XP and meshes it with

the security, features, and GUI of Vista.

Equally important, Windows 7 appears on track to repair the PR beating Vista has taken since its launch.

Reviews of the OS feature far more praise than criticism, and Microsoft has been quick to capitalize this inyet another ad campaign. And to better compete with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, promotional and discounted

pricing as been a stable of Windows 7 so far, including the introduction of a 3-license Family Pack.

The successful launch of Windows 7 can't be underscored enough. With Linux gaining ground, both in terms

of usability and consumer adoption, Microsoft could ill-afford another bumbled OS launch.

Documents

Histroy of Windows