windows

The two most common types of windows are the clear panes of glass you can look through in a building or vehicle, or the series of popular operating systems published by Microsoft.

Expanding on the latter, Windows was developed as a graphical user interface for Microsoft's previously popular MS-DOS operating system. DOS required users to have a good deal of technical savvy and memorization of text-based commands, whose parameters could become very complicated to do relatively simple things, like moving files or sorting them by different criteria.

The Windows solution for that was to simply give the user menus they could easily navigate and basic commands to click on that generated the same complicated input in the background, but with an interface easy enough that anyone could work with it.

Windows 3.1 was the first notable step in the series, and Windows 95 expanded significantly on that formula, opening the doors to faster 32-bit computing that would be developed further in later iterations of the OS, including Windows 98, ME, XP, Mobile, Vista, and network-focused versions like Windows Server and Windows NT.

Windows' main competition comes from Apple's Mac OS and the various open-source Linux operating systems. Despite user complaints about bugs and shoddy performance in virtually every version of Windows, it remains the most popular OS in the world.

by Mark Buckingham Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Original Technorati articles tagged “windows”

• in Videos
  MIX10 Sessions Ready App Developers for Windows Phone 7
  Microsoft hopes to make it easier for developers to get noticed in the crowded mobile application marketplace
  by gearheadgal / on Mar 18, 2010
• in IT
  Top 10 Windows Help Articles in UK
  A focus on customization among non-power users.
  by boneinthefan / on Mar 17, 2010
• in IT
  Apple Releases Safari 4.0.5, Patches Security Issues
  Vulnerabilities exist in both Mac and Windows versions of the browser.
  by boneinthefan / on Mar 12, 2010

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “windows”

 

• Word, Excel and OneNote for Windows Phone 7 Series revealed

  
  Engadget — Authority: 873
  We actually havent seen any official shots of the Office apps for Windows Phone 7 Series , but now that Microsofts emulator has been hacked and unlocked , weve got a glimpse of what creating a Word doc in OneNote looks like -- and while theres a high probability that this a super-early version of the app, its still ...
  1 hour ago

• Google Chrome Adds Support for Multi-Tab Aero Peek [Chrome]

  
  Lifehacker — Authority: 816
  Chrome: If youre in love with the Aero peek feature in Windows 7 and wish it could show you all your Chrome tabs at once, youre in luck. The feature is now active in the Chrome development channel. More »
  1 hour ago

• The Windows Web Browser Choice Screen Works [Web]

  
  Gizmodo — Authority: 882
  According to the latest data from Opera, the Windows Web Browser Choice Screen —a browser download and activation pop-up mandated by the European Union in all versions of Microsofts operating system—is working. They say its "dramatic uptake on downloads." More »
  2 hours ago

• How do I Keep Windows From Hibernating While Im Downloading? [Ask Lifehacker]

  
  Lifehacker — Authority: 816
  Dear Lifehacker I frequently download big files to my computer and walk away. How do I stop my computer from going into standby while downloading something from the internet? Im using Firefox on Windows 7. More »
  2 hours ago

• 5 ways to speed up your PC

  
  Senthil Technology Updates : Computer, Software, Internet , Gadgets, Electronics, Photography, Technology: Reviews, Updates, News — Authority: 113
  Microsoft updated an article to speed up your computer in 5 easy steps, using tools available in Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems. These ways may be already known [...]
  2 hours ago

• Muvee Reveal v7.0.43.11323.2185 Multilanguage with Addons & Templates (2009)

  
  Virtual Download — Authority: 173
  Muvee Reveal v7.0.43.11323.2185 Multilanguage with Addons & Templates (2009) | 406MB Muvee Reveal - the first full automatic machine creation of films in house conditions from photos and video. Intended to serve those who are not accustomed to “zamorachivatsya” knowledge of the editing. Click on Link Below ...
  2 hours ago

• Windows 7 Seven Ultimate Fully Activated For Ever (Reupload 03-19-2010)

  
  Virtual Download — Authority: 173
  Windows 7 Seven Ultimate Fully Activated For Ever (Reupload 03-19-2010) Windows 7 Seven Ultimate Fully Activated For Ever Size: 3.47 GB No serial and no activation needed 32/64-bit | Multi Languages | DVD ISO | Bootable | Activated Click on Link Below To Start Download Windows 7 Seven Ultimate Fully Activated ...
  2 hours ago

• Microsoft Office 2010 Blue Edition (Reupload 03-19-2010)

  
  Virtual Download — Authority: 173
  Microsoft Office 2010 Blue Edition (Reupload 03-19-2010) Microsoft Office 2010 offers powerful new ways to deliver the best work - whether you’re at work, at home or in school - the computer’s web browser, or smartphone. Engage your audience’s attention and provide them with their ideas with enhanced tools. ...
  2 hours ago

• TreePad Lite – Free Personal Database Software

  
  I Love Free Software — Authority: 440
  TreePad Lite is a free personal database software . It utilizes the familiar looks of the Windows Explorer interface in order to make it the most user friendly free personal database software on the market. TreePad Lite is small enough to be run from a USB drive and so is the perfect tool for managing all of the data ...
  3 hours ago

• Windows Phone 7 Series emulator unlocked, shows a few surprises

  
  Topblank — Authority: 168
  Windows Phone 7 Series emulator unlocked, shows a few surprises
  3 hours ago

• A Few Tips On How Sash Windows Work

  
  Real Estate Profit Calculator — Authority: 155
  Many look at the old double-hung windows of ‘period’ houses as intrinsic to their looks and value. They should be saved, if possible, in every circumstance and not replaced except as a last resort. It makes sense. These windows have been around for a long time doing their job and they’re probably getting tired! ...
  3 hours ago

• HP TouchSmart 600t series – 2.13 GHz; 320GB HD; 6GB Memory

  
  Kill Deal — Authority: 169
  Product Description HP TouchSmart 600t series with Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor P7450 [2.13GHz, 3MB L2, 1066 FSB]; 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive; 6GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [2 DIMMs]; Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. From an elegant design to advanced features to a suite of built-for-touch applications, ...
  3 hours ago

• HP Slate Priced At $540 With June Launch Date According To Leaks [Hp Slate]

  
  Gizmodo — Authority: 882
  Well, theyve succeeded in coming in at under $630, but even so the €400 ($542) price rumored for the Slate is still too much when its coming up against the $499 iPad. More »
  3 hours ago

• Max Sense UI – New Video Preview

  
  TechHackz — Authority: 121
  
  3 hours ago

• DFS Hotfixes for Windows Server 2003, 2003 R2, 2008 and 2008 R2.

  
  MarkParris — Authority: 123
  If you are implementing DFS (Namespaces or Replication) then you should baseline your DFS environment to the levels detailed in these articles.  KB 968429 List of currently available hotfixes for Distributed File System (DFS) technologies in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Server 2008 R2   KB 958802   ...
  3 hours ago

• Server 2008 - VPN - DNS - IP

  
  Windows Vista Tips — Authority: 172
  When a VPN connection occurs domain server gets an extra IP and local PCs resolve server-dc as VPN IP then problems appear. server-dc has 3 IPs now: VPN host: 192.168.35.90 LAN: 192.168.35.210 WAN: 88.255.136.46 We have configured many programs to use server-dc as remote end, ie. to make sql connection. SQL ...
  3 hours ago

• Windows Phone 7 Series emulator unlocked, shows a few surprises

  
  Engadget Mobile — Authority: 147
  Microsoft was kind enough to release the software development kit for Windows Phone 7 Series on Monday, and although there was some fun to be had by scrolling around and exploring, much of the cool stuff the company showed off at MIX last week is not included -- or is it? As it turns out its in there; only a ...
  3 hours ago

• HP Slate priced at €400 for June launch, Atom CPU confirmed?

  
  Engadget — Authority: 873
  Reputable Spanish publication Clipset has the first concrete report on pricing and internal specs for HPs Slate . Seemingly obtained from HP itself, the €400 ($546) price tag positions the Slate a notch above netbooks and bodes well for the expectation that itll undercut the iPads entry level pricing . ...
  3 hours ago

• VirnetX files new patent-infringement suit against Microsoft (Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2)

  
  D' Technology Weblog — Authority: 525
  Just a day after winning its patent -infringement case against Microsoft, VirnetX has filed another patent-infringement case against Microsoft, taking aim at Windows 7 – filed on March 17, 2010. Here’s VirnetX’s official statment: ‘VirnetX “filed a complaint in the Tyler Division of the Eastern District of ...
  3 hours ago

• acpi.sys blue screen of death

  
  Windows Vista Tips — Authority: 172
  I was upgrading xp pro to vista ultimate. After the first reboot th screen turned blue and gave this message:acpi.sys address 8B2FD36E BAS AT 8B2AE06 -- jun Posted via http://www.vistaheads.co
  3 hours ago

Comments about windows