When did windows xp debut

A desktop was still included, which resembled Windows 7. Windows 8 was faster than previous versions of Windows and included support for the new, much faster USB 3.

The Windows Store, which offers universal Windows apps that run in a full-screen mode only, was introduced. Programs could still be installed from third-parties like other iterations of Windows, but they could only access the traditional desktop interface of Windows. The radical overhaul was not welcomed by many. Microsoft attempted to tread a fine line between touchscreen support and desktop users, but ultimately desktop users wanting to control Windows with a traditional mouse and keyboard and not a touchscreen felt Windows 8 was a step back.

There were also too few touchscreens in use, or on offer, to make its touch-oriented interface useful or even necessary - despite the parallel rise of tablets such as the iPad, and smartphones, which had begun outselling PCs by the end of It looked and felt like Windows 8, but could not run traditional Windows applications, instead solely relying on the Windows Store for third-party apps.

A free point release to Windows 8 introduced in October , Windows 8. Windows 8. Users could also choose to boot directly into the desktop of Windows 8. Announced on 30 September , Windows 10 has only been released as a test version for keen users to try. Some interesting features include the ability to switch between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, for those computers like the Surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard.

Windows 10 — despite being the ninth version of Windows — is designed to unify all Windows platforms across multiple devices, including Windows Phone and tablets, with universal apps that can be downloaded from the Windows Store and run on all Windows devices.

Microsoft unveils Windows ten things to know. This article is more than 7 years old. Windows has changed drastically over the years, but somethings stay the same, through the rough and the smooth. Microsoft Windows was released on February 17, Microsoft Windows XP was released on October 25, Microsoft Windows XP bit edition version for Itanium 2 systems was released on March 28, Microsoft announced its next operating system, code-named "Longhorn," would be named Windows Vista on July 23, Microsoft released Microsoft Windows Vista to corporations on November 30, Microsoft released Microsoft Windows Vista and Office to the general public on January 30, Microsoft released Microsoft Windows Server to the public on February 27, Microsoft released Windows 7 on October 22, Microsoft released Windows 8 on October 26, Other important features in this operating system were the ability to automatically detect and configure installed hardware Plug-and-Play.

A version of the Windows operating system. Windows NT New Technology was a bit operating system that supported preemptive multitasking.

Its most visible feature, though, was the Active Desktop, which integrated the Web browser Internet Explorer with the operating system. Microsoft released four versions of Windows Professional for business desktop and laptop systems ; Server both a Web server and an office server ; Advanced Server for line-of-business applications ; and Datacenter Server for high-traffic computer networks. Windows XP was released in Along with a redesigned look and feel to the user interface, the new operating system was built on the Windows kernel, giving the user a more stable and reliable environment than previous versions of Windows.

Windows XP came in two versions, Home and Professional. Microsoft focused on mobility for both editions and including plug-and-play features for connecting to wireless networks. The operating system also utilized the Windows Vista offered an advancement in reliability, security, ease of deployment, performance and manageability over Windows XP.

New in this version were capabilities to detect hardware problems before they occurred, security features to protect against the latest generation of threats, a faster start-up time, and low power consumption when placed in the new sleep state.

Windows Vista simplified and centralized desktop configuration management, which reduced the cost of keeping systems updated. Windows 7 was released by Microsoft on October 22, as the latest in the year-old line of Windows operating systems and as the successor to Windows Vista. Enhancements and new features in Windows 7 included multi-touch support, Internet Explorer 8, improved performance, faster start-up time, Aero Snap, Aero Shake, support for virtual hard disks, a new and improved Windows Media Center, and improved security.

Windows 8 was released on August 1, Windows 10 was the successor to Windows 8. Windows 10 featured fast start-up and resume, built-in security, and the return of the Start Menu in an expanded form.

Any qualified device such as tablets, PCs, smartphones and Xbox consoles was able to upgrade to Windows 10, including those with pirated copies of Windows. As of Sept. Aside from operating systems designed for use on personal computers PCs and laptops, Microsoft has also developed operating systems for servers, handheld devices, and mobile phones.

Windows Server is a series of Microsoft server operating systems. The Windows Server name made its debut with the release of Windows Server and continues with the current release, Windows Server Home Server allowed users to share files such as digital photos and media files, and also automatically backed up home networked computers. A version of the Windows operating system was designed for small devices such as personal digital assistants PDAs or Handheld PCs in the Microsoft vernacular. The mobile operating system for smartphones and mobile devices from Microsoft was based on the Windows CE kernel and designed to look and operate similar to desktop versions of Microsoft Windows.

Unlike Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7 was targeted more to the consumer market than the enterprise market.