Windows 1.0

Windows 1.0 is a graphical personal computer operating environment developed by Microsoft. Released on November 20, 1985 as the first version of Microsoft Windows, it runs as a graphical 16-bit multi-tasking shell on top of an existing MS-DOS installation. It provides an environment which can run graphical programs designed for Windows, as well as existing MS-DOS software

Despite positive responses to its early presentations and support from a number of hardware and software makers, Windows 1.0 was received poorly by critics, who felt that it did not meet their expectations. Among their concerns were performance issues on lower computer hardware specifications; not providing enough resources for new users and putting too much emphasis on mouse input at a time when mouse use was not widespread yet. Nevertheless, Windows 1.0 was an important milestone for Microsoft, as it introduced the Microsoft Windows line. It was discontinued on December 31, 2001.

History
Microsoft began developing a graphical user interface (GUI) in 1981 after founder Bill Gates saw a demonstration at COMDEX 1982 of VisiCorp's Visi On, a GUI software suite for IBM PC compatible computers. In 1983 Microsoft learned that Apple's own GUI software&mdash;based in part on Xerox PARC technology&mdash;was much more sophisticated and decided that its own product would be different.

Windows 1.0 was first presented by Microsoft to the public on November 10, 1983, and the software required two floppy disk drives and 192 KB of RAM. It was described as a device driver for MS-DOS 2.0. Windows 1.0 differed from both Visi On and Apple's Lisa in that it immediately offered many applications. It didn't need to use Unix to develop IBM PC applications; Microsoft planned to encourage other companies, including competitors, to develop programs for Windows by not requiring a Microsoft user interface in their applications.