Windows 3.x

1.1 history > top of page

After Apple had introduced its MacOS with the powerful and easy-to-use GUI, the future of desktop computing was this way. Microsoft began to develop an own "operating system" Windows. Until Windows 3.11 including, Windows was not a real operation system but only some kind of a large application for DOS providing an own generic GUI and a general driver model.

2.1 general > top of page

The driver model and the GUI allowed programmers to develop high-resolution software without dealing with the wide spectre of hardware. This was the main key for the success of Windows.

Since Windows 3.11, the Windows family is optimized for network use. In 1993, hard drive access was enlarged to virtual 32bit that speeded up read / write operations. Also, a patch called Win32s enabled many 32bit software to work under 16bit Kernel.

2.2 high resolution grafx > top of page

• resolutions up to 1280x968 pixels and more allowed extended capabilities such as DTP

2.3 generic GUI > top of page

• rapid application development using common and reusable controls
• user is familiar with the interface

2.4 generic driver model > top of page

• developers can easily create graphical and multimedial applications without creating custom drivers

2.5 16bit API > top of page

• the WinAPI offers a generic interface to Window's system tasks, resources, hardware etc.