MICROSOFT Windows is one of the most widely used pieces of software in the world – but how did it get its name?
It dates back nearly four decades, but its origins remain a mystery to many.
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First, it’s important to remember that early computers were very different to today’s machines.
In those early days, you would only see very basic readouts on screens.
Most used command interfaces where you would simply enter and receive lines of text.
But as computers became more powerful, it became clear that the world needed graphics.
That’s why graphical-user interfaces began to appear – with Xerox being one early pioneer – that more closely resemble modern computers.
This led to the creation of the WIMP system: Windows, Icons, Menu and Pointer.
Using a graphical WIMP system, you could much more easily navigate the computer’s virtual innards.
And that’s where Microsoft took its Windows name from.
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Those pop-up windows on computers that we now take for granted weren’t always there.
And because the Windows operating system relied so heavily on windows, it seemed like the perfect fit.
But when Microsoft first began developed the Windows program in 1981, it had a very different name.
It was actually first known as Interface Manager.
However Microsoft ultimately opted to announce it under the name Windows in November 1983, before formally releasing Windows 1.0 in 1985.
It didn’t achieve mass popularity initially, facing stiff competition from Apple and others.
But now Windows is now a global brand.
More than 1.4billion monthly active devices are running on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
And that’s not counting all of the devices using older versions too.
Would it have had the same success if it had launched under the name Interface Manager? Bill Gates is probably very happy with his choice.
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