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clean up
'''Windows''' is a series of [[operating system]]s produced and maintained by the [[Microsoft Corporation]]. It was estimated that as of December 2007<ref>[http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp OS Statistics]. Refsnes Data. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> Microsoft Windows accounted for nearly 90% of operating system usage, with 3 out of 4 being [[Windows XP]]. Windows is used for desktop, and [[server]] computers,<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx Windows Server 2003 R2 Home]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> and more recently also for [[cellular phone]]s and tablet computers. It is intended for use with the [[Intel]] x86-64 family of processors.
'''Windows''' is a series of [[operating system]]s produced and maintained by the [[Microsoft Corporation]]. It was estimated that as of December 2007<ref>[http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp OS Statistics]. Refsnes Data. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> Microsoft Windows accounted for nearly 90% of operating system usage, with 3 out of 4 being [[Windows XP]]. Windows is used for desktop, and [[server]] computers,<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx Windows Server 2003 R2 Home]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> and more recently also for [[cellular phone]]s and tablet computers. It is intended for use with the [[Intel]] x86-64 family of processors.
Early versions of Windows (98 and earlier) were notoriously unreliable, despite (or maybe because of?) Microsoft's near-monopoly share of the operating system market. They crashed so often that the term "blue screen of death" entered the vocabulary. ''See also this satire: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX8yrOAjfKM&feature=related Matrix Runs on Windows XP]''
Early versions of Windows (98 and earlier) were notoriously unreliable, despite (or maybe because of?) Microsoft's near-monopoly share of the operating system market. They crashed so often that the term "blue screen of death" entered the vocabulary. ''See also this satire: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX8yrOAjfKM&feature=related Matrix Runs on Windows XP]''
Initially Windows was a text-based system (MS-DOS). Then a [[Graphical User Interface]] extension was added onto this MS-DOS core<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryProGraphic.mspx Windows History: Windows Desktop Timeline]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> It became a full GUI operating system free of the MS-DOS core beginning with the release of Windows NT.
Initially Windows was a text-based system (MS-DOS). Then a [[Graphical User Interface]] extension was added onto this MS-DOS core<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryProGraphic.mspx Windows History: Windows Desktop Timeline]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> It became a full GUI operating system free of the MS-DOS core beginning with the release of Windows NT.
==Windows Major Release Versions==
==Windows Major Release Versions==
|-
|-
| '''Windows 2.0''' || 2.11 || March 13, 1989 ||
| '''Windows 2.0''' || 2.11 || March 13, 1989 ||
*Last Windows version to run a [[Graphic User Interface|GUI]] as a shell over a base of MS-DOS<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref><br>
*Last Windows version to run a [[Graphic User Interface|GUI]] as a shell over a base of MS-DOS<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>
*Sold 1 million copies<br>
*Sold 1 million copies
|| || ||
|| || ||
|-
|-
| '''Windows 3.0''' || NT 3.0 || May 22, 1990 ||
| '''Windows 3.0''' || NT 3.0 || May 22, 1990 ||
*First Windows version to run without an [[MS-DOS]] base<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>
*First Windows version to run without an [[MS-DOS]] base<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>
*Sold 4 million copies<br>
*Sold 4 million copies
|| || ||
|| || ||
|-
|-
|-
|-
| Windows NT 3.51 || 3.51.1057 || May 30, 1995 ||
| Windows NT 3.51 || 3.51.1057 || May 30, 1995 ||
*An operating system design that led to the elimination of [[Novell Networks]] leading market share. <br>
*An operating system design that led to the elimination of [[Novell Networks]] leading market share.
*This New Technologies (NT) kernel became the basis for all future Windows versions through Windows 10.<br>
*This New Technologies (NT) kernel became the basis for all future Windows versions through Windows 10.
||
||
* Workstation
* Workstation
|-
|-
| '''[[Windows 2000]]''' || NT 5.0.2195 || February 17, 2000 ||
| '''[[Windows 2000]]''' || NT 5.0.2195 || February 17, 2000 ||
*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and ME<br>
*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and ME
*Last dedicated operating system for business use
*Last dedicated operating system for business use
||
||
|-
|-
| '''Windows ME''' || NT 4.90.3000 || September 14, 2000 ||
| '''Windows ME''' || NT 4.90.3000 || September 14, 2000 ||
*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and 2000<br>
*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and 2000
*Last dedicated operating system for personal use
*Last dedicated operating system for personal use
|| || ||
|| || ||
|-
|-
| '''[[Windows XP]]''' || 5.1.2600 || October 25, 2001 ||
| '''[[Windows XP]]''' || 5.1.2600 || October 25, 2001 ||
*Last major version to use this layout, which was introduced with [[Windows 95]]<br>
*Last major version to use this layout, which was introduced with [[Windows 95]]
*XP was the beginning of one unified O/S for both personal and business use.<br>
*XP was the beginning of one unified O/S for both personal and business use.
*Only one version is still supported by Microsoft, XP Embedded until January 2019.
*Only one version is still supported by Microsoft, XP Embedded until January 2019.
*Sold 400 million copies
*Sold 400 million copies
|-
|-
| ''Windows Embedded Compact 7 || CE 6.0 R3 || 2011 ||
| ''Windows Embedded Compact 7 || CE 6.0 R3 || 2011 ||
*Windows Embedded Automotive 7<br>
*Windows Embedded Automotive 7
*Windows Phone 7<br>
*Windows Phone 7
|| || ||
|| || ||
|-
|-
|-
|-
| '''[[Windows 8]]''' || NT 6.2 || October 26, 2012 ||
| '''[[Windows 8]]''' || NT 6.2 || October 26, 2012 ||
*Designed to serve as an [[Operating system|OS]] for all kinds of devices, including [[smartphone|smartphones]]
*Designed to serve as an [[Operating system|OS]] for all kinds of devices, including [[smartphone]]s
*Also did away with the Start menu
*Also did away with the Start menu
*Sold surprisingly poorly
*Sold surprisingly poorly
|-
|-
| '''[[Windows 10]]''' || NT 6.4<ref>http://windowsitpro.com/windows-10/windows-10s-inventoried-version-number</ref> || July 29, 2015 ||
| '''[[Windows 10]]''' || NT 6.4<ref>http://windowsitpro.com/windows-10/windows-10s-inventoried-version-number</ref> || July 29, 2015 ||
*Designed to collect personal information and customize itself based on preferences<br>
*Designed to collect personal information and customize itself based on preferences
*270 million copies of version 10 are in use as of March 2016. <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-nadella-idUSKCN0WW21Q Microsoft's Windows 10 reaches 270 million users, no mobile numbers, Reuters, March 30, 2016</ref>
*270 million copies of version 10 are in use as of March 2016.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-nadella-idUSKCN0WW21Q Microsoft's Windows 10 reaches 270 million users, no mobile numbers, Reuters, March 30, 2016]</ref>
*Extended support ends October 14, 2025
*Extended support ends October 14, 2025
||
||
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}
==External Links==
==External links==
*[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Home Page]
*[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Home Page]
[[Category: Operating Systems]]
[[Category:Operating Systems]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]