FREE ESSAY ON WINDOWS EVOLUTION

WINDOWS EVOLUTION

Microsoft: The Company
It wouldn't be fair to talk about the Windows Operating System without first looking at
the origins of the company that developed it. William H. Gates III and Paul Allen founded
Microsoft in 1975. They were both only 19 years old. In 1980 International Business
Machines Corporation (IBM) chose Microsoft to write the operating system for the IBM PC
personal computer, to be introduced the following year. As part of its contract with IBM,
Microsoft was permitted to license the operating system to other companies. By 1984
Microsoft had licensed MS-DOS to 200 personal computer manufacturers, making MS-DOS the
standard operating system for personal computers.
In 1985 Microsoft released Windows, an operating system that extended the features of
MS-DOS and employed a graphical user interface. In 1990 Microsoft became the first
personal-computer software company to record $1 billion in annual sales. As Microsoft's
dominance grew in the market for personal-computer operating systems, the company was
accused of monopolistic business practices. 
Windows
Windows is a personal computer operating system sold by Microsoft Corporation that allows
users to enter commands with a point-and-click device, such as a mouse, instead of a
keyboard. Windows provides users with a graphical user interface (GUI), which allows them
to manipulate small pictures, called icons, on the computer screen to issue commands.
Windows is the most widely used operating system in the world. 
Windows 1.0 was released on November 20, 1985. Version 1.0 enabled users to work with
several programs at the same time, switching easily between them without having to quit
and restart individual applications. But windows on Windows 1.0 were tiled, or presented
next to each other rather than overlapping, crippling usability. Not enough software was
written for Windows 1.0, and it failed to take hold in the marketplace.
Windows version 2.0, introduced in 1987, was designed to resemble IBM's OS/2 Presentation
Manager, another GUI operating system. Windows version 2.0 used a system of overlapping
windows rather than the tiled windows scheme of the previous version. 2.0 could also
utilize protected mode on 80286 systems or better, allowing programs to break out of the
DOS 640K program size barrier. In June 1988, when Version 2.1 was released, it was
renamed windows 286.
Windows version 3.0 was released on May 22, 1990, and had significant usability
improvements. The Program Manager and the icon setup worked much better than the old
Windows versions. Developer enhancements on this version kick-started the Windows
software boom. Stability was less than ideal, but version 3.0 and subsequent versions 3.1
and 3.11 rapidly made Windows the market leader in operating systems for personal
computers. Part of the reason for this was because it came prepackaged on new personal
computers. It also became the favored platform for software development.
On May 24, 1993, Microsoft introduced Windows NT, which stands for New Technology. Though
it is more commonly referred to as Not Today, No Thanks, and Nice Try. The Windows NT
operating system offers 32-bit multitasking, which gives a computer the ability to run
several programs simultaneously, or in parallel, at high speed. This operating system
competes with IBM's OS/2 as a platform for the intensive, high-end, networked computing
environments found in many businesses. NT was geared toward the power user and the server
market from the start. The first version, 3.1, required a high-end PC to run and was a
bit rough around the edges. But Windows NT was well received by developers because of its
security, stability, and richer Win32 API, which made it easier to write powerful
programs. 
After numerous delays and unprecedented prelaunch hype for a software product, on August
24, 1995, Windows 95 was released. In the frenzy some people lined up to buy it, even
though they didn't own a computer. The first Windows version that didn't require the user
to install DOS first, Win 95 was the user-friendliest Windows yet and helped start the
mainstreaming of PCs. Windows 95 had a sleeker and simpler GUI than previous versions. It
also offered 32-bit processing, efficient multitasking, and Internet access. Windows 95
also added an integrated TCP/IP stack, Dial-Up Networking, and long filename support.
In 1996 Microsoft debuted Windows CE, a scaled-down version of the Microsoft Windows
platform designed for use with handheld personal computers.
June 25, 1998, Microsoft launched Windows 98, the last major version of Windows based on
the old kernel running on top of DOS. Windows 98 integrated Internet Explorer 4 and
supported numerous new device types, from USB to ACPI power management. Windows 98
improved greatly upon Windows 95.
Windows 2000 was released at the end of 1999; it combined Windows NT technology with the
Windows 98 graphical user interface.
The Antitrust Case
In 1990 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began investigating Microsoft for alleged
anticompetitive practices, but was unable to reach a decision and dropped the case. The
United States Department of Justice continued to probe. In 1994 Microsoft and the Justice
Department reached an agreement that called for Microsoft to change the way its operating
system software was sold and licensed to computer manufacturers. In late 1997 the Justice
Department accused Microsoft of violating its 1994 agreement by requiring computer
manufacturers that installed Windows 95 to also include Internet Explorer, Microsoft's
software for browsing the Internet. The government claimed that Microsoft was illegally
taking advantage of its power in the market for computer operating systems to gain
control of the market for Internet browsers. In response, Microsoft argued that it should
have the right to enhance the functionality of Windows by integrating Internet-related
features into the operating system. 
Microsoft temporarily settled with the Justice Department in its antitrust case in early
1998 by agreeing to allow personal computer manufacturers to offer a version of Windows
95 that did not include access to Internet Explorer. However, in May 1998 the Justice
Department and 20 states filed broad antitrust suits charging Microsoft with engaging in
anticompetitive conduct. The suits sought to force Microsoft to offer Windows without
Internet Explorer, or to include Netscape Navigator, a competing browser made by Netscape
Communications Corporation. The suits also challenged some of the company's contracts and
pricing strategies. The federal antitrust trial against Microsoft began in October 1998.
Executives from Netscape, Sun, and several other computer software and hardware companies
testified regarding their business deals with Microsoft. In November 1999, the federal
district court judge hearing the case issued his findings of fact, in which he declared
that Microsoft had a monopoly in the operating system market. In April 2000 the judge
ruled that the company had violated antitrust laws by engaging in tactics that
discouraged competition. Microsoft announced it would appeal the judge's decision.
On January 29, 2001 Microsoft asked the appeals court to send the case back to the
district court and replace U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. The arguments are
scheduled to be heard before the Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. on February 26 and
27. Microsoft has cited many instances of Judge Jackson belittling the company. He has
made it all to clear how he feels about the company and its employees. Microsoft believes
that the judges' decision to force the split up of the company was biased on his
animosity toward them.
Kristi's Theory
In my opinion I think the Justice Department is wrong in their attacks on Microsoft.
There are other companies out there who make operating systems; their systems just aren't
as good. It is certainly no fault of Microsoft's that Windows happens to be a better
product. As far as packaging Internet Explorer with Windows, I think the company has a
right to try to market their product as much as possible. Anyone who buys Windows
certainly also has a right to buy Netscape Navigator. They can always delete Explorer off
their computer, it's not that difficult. 
I like to look at it like buying lunch. I think Burger King has the best burgers,
McDonalds has the best fries, and Taco Bell has the best soda. That doesn't stop those
companies from packaging their products together. If I so chose to I could go to all
three places to buy everything I needed to eat individually. It is much more convenient
for me to just buy my whole meal at one place, but that is my choice. 
Bibliography
Gates, Bill, The Road Ahead, Viking Penguin, New York, NY, 1995
"Gates, Bill," www.infoplease.com 
James V. Grimaldi, "Microsoft Asks for New Judge," Washington Post, January 30, 
2001, www.washingtonpost.com
"History Series (2) History of Microsoft Windows," The Provider, August 27, 1999, 
www.provider.gol.com
"Microsoft Conclusions of Law and Final Order," Civil Action No. 98-1232 (TPJ), 
www.usdoj.gov
"Microsoft Corporation," Encarta Encyclopedia, www.encarta.msn.com
"Microsoft filing attacks judge," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 30,2001, 
www.seattlep-i.com
"Windows," Encarta Encyclopedia, www.encarta.msn.com