The definition or literal meaning of “windows”, in Spanish, is windows. But surely not many have a window come to mind when we pronounce this English word.
The first thing that comes to mind when we pronounce “windows” is the operating system present in most of the computers in our homes or work.
The full name of the program is “Microsoft Windows” and it is in charge of managing and administering the resources present on a computer or other electronic device.
Brief history
- The first version of this operating system (Windows 1.0) was released in 1985, as a competition to the Apple operating system and to replace the MS-DOS operating system.
- Although it was born at the end of the 80s, it was not until 1990 that this operating system became popular with its version 3.0, collecting two million copies in its first six months of life.
- Those in charge of launching Windows on the market were Bill Gates and Paul Allen, founders of the Microsoft company. But he was the first to become famous as he is one of the richest men in the world. His fortune is estimated at approximately 110,000 million dollars in 2019.
- But it would not be until the arrival of the Windows 95 version that this operating system entered the majority of homes in the world. In this edition, very significant improvements were introduced concerning its predecessors and it is the basis of the following updates in terms of interface.
- In this version, the taskbar and the famous “Start” button that will accompany later versions appear for the first time.
- From then until today, Microsoft Windows has presented different versions to adapt to the times and, above all, meet the needs of users. Thus, after Windows 95 came Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and the Windows 11 version is scheduled for 2020.
Name’s origin
- The Windows operating system was born to be visually appealing and offer user ease of operation. Windows was born under the mantra: “A personal computer on every desk in every home” (A computer on every desk in every home). In other words, they are in charge of making the personal computer or any other technological device an essential appliance in any home today.
- For this reason, its interface should be affordable and easy to handle for users, because the goal of its creators was to democratize computing and make it reach the whole world. In fact “windows” comes from how the system presents the user with the different resources of his PC (Personal Computer-Personal Computer), which facilitates daily tasks.
Applications
- Over the years, and after numerous improvements, applications for Windows are practically endless and endless, ranging from video games (Xbox) to video calls (Skype). But certain applications are like the “ABC” of the operating system:
- Microsoft Office: the Microsoft Office package offers us different programs that help us develop our work and that, today, are requirements to access any job. Within the “Office” package we have the word processor tool
- Word, which made typewriters disappear.
- Excel, a spreadsheet tool that did away with traditional bookkeeping, among other things.
- PowerPoint, through which we can create presentations with multimedia elements such as animations, images, videos, and music…
- Internet Explorer: Internet browser that, until the appearance of its competitors, was the only one that opened the window to the “network of networks”. Over time it was losing popularity to the detriment of other browsers that offered better features to users.
- Windows Media: This gives us the possibility of listening to music and watching movies. An application that users were left in front of others that offer music online.
- Other historical applications: those who are nostalgic will remember applications such as «Paint», which made us feel like real graphic designers with a single «click» of the mouse; or famous games like Minesweeper or Solitaire. In addition to the traditional Windows Movie Maker, which helped edit home videos without having to be an audiovisual professional.
But what truly marked a before and after was “Messenger”, an application that allowed us to chat with our email contacts.
Security issues
- even though Windows is an operating system used by the majority of users, one of the main criticisms that the operating system receives is how weak its security is in terms of external virus attacks.
- These criticisms are focused, above all, on the slow response to a security problem that can last months or even years, from when the attack is reported until it is solved.
- In this sense, the Company’s lack of response has caused other companies to develop security patches against said vulnerability.
- Windows security has as its main philosophy “security by stealth” which seems to be one of the main culprits for the weakness of this operating system.