Author: Drew Curry August 12, 2016 Prof. David Meyers Media History and Theory
WINDOWS It is hard for us today to remember a time when Bill Gates, Microsoft, and Windows weren’t household names and synonymous with modern computing. But just over 30 years ago that was the case. If you were in the computer industry in the early 1980s you may have heard of this company called Microsoft in Seattle that had been writing software, but outside of those in the industry and a few hobbyist you probably had no idea they existed. In this essay I will explore how Bill took Microsoft and made them known worldwide and how their point-and-click user interface called Windows changed the face of personal computing and how Microsoft continues to innovate and change how we view and use personal computers still today.
First lets take a look at a brief history of how Microsoft formed and what it was up to before they created Windows. Microsoft, a combination of the words microcomputer and software, got it start back in 1975 writing programming code for one of the first personal computers Altair. The founders of the company, Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen, continued to refine their language called BASIC until IBM came calling asking them to develop an operating system for their first personal computer the IBM PC. They developed the Microsoft Disk Operating System or MSDOS for short and the IBM PC was released in 1981 to great success. This operating system generated tons of revenue for the company and afforded them new opportunities.
WINDOWS
In fact, on the day that MS-DOS launched on the IBM PC, Bill Gates was visiting Steve Jobs at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, California. Gates had worked for Jobs before writing software for the Apple 2. At this meeting in August 1981 Steve approached Bill to write software for their secret development project known as Macintosh. The pitch to Gates was an inexpensive computer for the masses with a simple graphical user interface, which he thought sounded “super neat�. So Bill of course jumped at the idea to build this software and for what would turn out to be the last time, Microsoft and Apple were in business together.
Steve Jobs was so worried about Microsoft copying his idea for a graphical user interface that in their contract he put in a clause that prohibited Microsoft from releasing their own version until the end of 1983, effectively giving them two and a half years to get to market before Microsoft was contractually allowed to release their own version of the user interface. Things went fine until Jobs started to realize that the Macintosh’s release would have to be pushed back until at least late 1983, possibly early 1984. He became paranoid and even got inside information from one of his friends Andy Hertzfeld that Microsoft was planning to clone the Mac.
Steve Job’s worst nightmare came true in November 1983 when Bill Gates held a press conference to announce that Microsoft would be producing a a new operating system that featured a graphical user interface and it would be available for IBM PCs and their clones. You may be thinking, but wait didn’t he sign a contract with Steve? He did, but since the operating system wasn’t released until after the end of 1983, November 1985 to be exact, they were not in breach of their contract. Even though the Mac launched just two months following Microsoft announcement, in January 1984, their thunder had been stolen and this issue caused a schism between the two that never really healed. Even shortly before he died almost 30 years later Jobs was remarked as saying “They just ripped us off completely, because Gates has no shame.” Upon hearing this Gates responded in stride saying, “If he believes that, he really has entered into one of his own reality distortion fields.”
WINDOWS “Apple’s approach led to more beautiful products, a higher profit margin, and a more sublime user experience. Microsoft’s approach lead to a wider choice of hardware. It also turned out to be the better path for gaining market share.” A lawsuit was filed by Jobs and Apple against Microsoft but it was ultimately dismissed because the look and feel of an innovation is something that is almost impossible to patent. Despite the failure in court Apple launched Macintosh almost a full two years ahead of Microsoft launch of Windows. Even today if you look back at the original designs you can tell that Apple was more innovative, imaginative, and elegant in its execution and brilliant in its design, while Windows 1.0 was shoddy, with tiled windows that didn’t overlap and looked like it had just been thrown together. So why was it Windows and not Macintosh that was so commercially successful? The answer lies in Microsoft business model and not its design. Microsoft was eager to license its operating system to any hardware maker that wanted to use it. Where as Apple and Steve Jobs and still operate to this day under the assumption that the best way to get the best results is to produce integrated hardware and software. Walter Isaacson sums it up well in his book The Innovators when he says “Apple’s approach led to more beautiful products, a higher profit margin, and a more sublime user experience. Microsoft’s approach lead to a wider choice of hardware. It also turned out to be the better path for gaining market share.” (369)
By 1990 Microsoft Windows was being used as the operating system in 80 percent of personal computers and by the year 2000 that number had grown to 95 percent. In fact according to one report from 2012, they still maintain just over 88 percent market share. While much has been made that Microsoft Windows was put out to be everything for everybody and therefore not really being great at any one thing, each version over the years has introduced something new or innovative. Let’s take a look at several versions of Windows and what they brought to the table:
Windows 1.0 - Tiled windows that could be minimized or dragged and extended to cover the whole screen. Featured applications like calendar, paint, and write. Featured a graphical user interface that used the entire screen instead of line by line command prompts. Many of these seem trivial now but were pretty revolutionary at the time.
WINDOWS Windows 2.0 - Allowed the overlapping of windows.
Windows 3.0 - Considered the first iconic Windows release. This operating system added sound and different fonts. This was the first version to feature a drag and drop file management and program management system. This is also the version of windows that introduces us to solitaire and minesweeper.
Windows 95 - Considered Microsoft’s first mass market release it feature a redone graphical interface that featured the start button and task bar for the first time. Internet Explorer, the first integrated web browser, missed launch but was added soon after.
Windows 98 - Mainly a graphics and functionality improvement over Windows 95. Also provided improved USB support and newer versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.
WINDOWS Windows 2000 - Allowed for plug-andplay capabilities with devices.
Windows XP - First to ship with professional and a stripped down home versions. App called Media Center could be used to record television. Also featured a completely new screen and user interface.
Windows Vista - Featured a graphical overhaul and a sidebar for application widgets. Panned for not supporting many programs and devices that had previously worked on Windows XP.
Windows 7 - Continues to be a dominating force making up 47 percent of the market share today. This version includes and advanced snap feature, a redone toolbar, support for multiple graphics cards, and introduced Homegroup sharing which allowed easy sharing between computers and printers that were networked. Considered by most to be the best Windows OS ever and given the market share it still holds it is hard to argue.
WINDOWS Windows 8 - The start menu was replaced with a full screen menu they called the “Metro� interface. First OS to be used by Microsoft own tablet the Surface. While successful on the tablet, the user interface was widely disliked by professional and home users alike, prompting Microsoft to issue version 8.1 which returned many of the feature user were accustomed to.
Windows 10 - Just released last year this version featured many updated features such as a revamped start menu, better notifications, virtual desktops and Cortana a digital assistant. Microsoft also took a different strategy from the past in developing this OS, they invited people to beta test as they developed and offer feedback.
Windows continues to be the dominant force in the operating system market and while there weren’t always the first to do something they did it with more mass market appeal which has allowed them to become the most successful OS in the world. While other operating systems like Apple’s OS X and Linux continue to gain market share it is at a very slow pace and it will be a long time, if it ever happens, that Microsoft loses its hold on personal computing operating systems. Microsoft has had hits and misses with Windows over the years, but they continue to innovate and improve the overall user experience and I believe it is that fact mixed with their use on so many platforms that will continue to keep them on top of the market.
WINDOWS Resources:
Encyclopedia Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/topic/Microsoft-Corporation Webopedia - http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/history_of_ microsoft_windows_operating_system.html Quantum Books - http://www.quantumbooks.com/technology/windows-history-from-windows-1-to-windows-10/ PC World - http://www.pcworld.com/article/3103601/windows/the-16-most-pivotal-eventsin-windows-history.html#slide17 The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/02/from-windows-1-towindows-10-29-years-of-windows-evolution The Innovators - Walter Isaacson