BrandWikiReturn

List of Microsoft Windows versions

Windows is a computer operating system developed by Microsoft. It was first launched in 1985 as a graphical operating system built on MS-DOS. The initial version was followed by several subsequent releases, and by the early 1990s, the Windows line had split into two separate lines of releases: Windows 9x for consumers and Windows NT for businesses and enterprises. In the following years, several further variants of Windows would be released: Windows CE in 1996 for embedded systems; Pocket PC in 2000 (renamed to Windows Mobile in 2003 and Windows Phone in 2010) for personal digital assistants and, later, smartphones; Windows Holographic in 2016 for AR/VR headsets; and several other editions.

Personal computer versions

A "personal computer" version of Windows is considered to be a version that end-users or OEMs can install on personal computers, including desktop computers, laptops, and workstations.

The first five versions of Windows–Windows 1.0, Windows 2.0, Windows 2.1, Windows 3.0, and Windows 3.1–were all based on MS-DOS, and were aimed at both consumers and businesses. However, Windows 3.1 had two separate successors, splitting the Windows line in two: the consumer-focused "Windows 9x" line, consisting of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me; and the professional Windows NT line, comprising Windows NT 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. These two lines were reunited into a single line with the NT-based Windows XP; this Windows release succeeded both Windows Me and Windows 2000 and had separate editions for consumer and professional use. Since Windows XP, multiple further versions of Windows have been released, the most recent of which is Windows 11. Since Windows 10, Microsoft has effectively turned to the "Windows as a service" servicing model, most likely to ensure it competes with mobile operating systems.

Mobile versions

Mobile versions refer to versions of Windows that can run on smartphones or personal digital assistants.

Server versions

High-performance computing (HPC) servers

Windows Essential Business Server

Windows Home Server

Windows MultiPoint Server

Windows MultiPoint Server was an operating system based on Windows Server. It was succeeded by the MultiPoint Services role in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. It was no longer being developed in Windows Server version 1803 and later versions.

Windows Small Business Server

Device versions

ARM-based tablets

In 2012 and 2013, Microsoft released versions of Windows specially designed to run on ARM-based tablets; these versions of Windows, named "Windows RT" and "Windows RT 8.1," were based on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, respectively. Upon the release of Windows 10 in 2015, the ARM-specific version for large tablets was discontinued; large tablets (such as the Surface Pro 4) were only released with x86 processors and could run the full version of Windows 10. Windows 10 Mobile had the ability to be installed on smaller tablets (up to nine inches);[16] however, very few such tablets were released, and Windows 10 Mobile primarily ended up only running on smartphones until its discontinuation. In 2017, the full version of Windows 10 gained the ability to run on ARM, thus rendering a specific version of Windows for ARM-based tablets unnecessary.

Mixed reality and virtual reality headsets

Surface Hub

Microsoft originally announced the Surface Hub, an interactive whiteboard, in January 2015. The Surface Hub family of devices runs a custom variant of Windows 10 known as Windows 10 Team.

Windows XP-based tablets

Two versions of Windows XP were released that were optimized for tablets. Beginning with Windows Vista, all tablet-specific components were included in the main version of the operating system.

Embedded versions

Windows Embedded Compact

Windows Embedded Standard

Other embedded versions

  • Windows Embedded Industry
  • Windows Embedded Automotive

Cancelled versions

Cancelled personal computer versions

Cancelled mobile versions

Cancelled server versions

See also

References

  1. Random internal Windows terminology:IDW, Razzle, and their forgotten partners IDS and Dazzle The Old New Thing, 2018-12-24, retrieved 2020-04-09^
  2. Systems Release Strategy - Draft:10/10/93 Slated Antitrust, November 10, 1993, retrieved July 19, 2021^
  3. China Martens. Update:Microsoft's Longhorn becomes Windows Vista IDG Communications, Inc., July 22, 2005, retrieved 13 June 2021^
  4. What was the code name for Windows 7? The Old New Thing, 2019-07-22, retrieved 2021-05-09^
  5. Terrence O'Brien. Microsoft drops the Blue codename, confirms Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade available later this year Engadget, 19 July 2019, retrieved 30 April 2023^
  6. Mary Jo Foley. Microsoft to share Windows Threshold plans at Build 2014 show: Report ZDNet, retrieved 7 April 2022^
  7. Mayank Parmar. Windows 11 Build 22449 is now available with new loading animation Windows Latest, 3 September 2021, retrieved 4 September 2021^
  8. Mary Jo Foley. Microsoft starts rolling out IE 6 for Windows Mobile ZDNET, retrieved 23 September 2022^
  9. Rich Woods. It's finally dead: Windows 10 Mobile is no longer supported after today Neowin, Neowin LLC, retrieved 23 December 2021^
  10. What's New in Windows Server version 1709 Microsoft Docs, Microsoft, retrieved 2 January 2022^
  11. Windows Server, version 1803 end of servicing on November 12, 2019 Microsoft Docs, Microsoft, retrieved 2 January 2022^
  12. Rich Woods. Microsoft re-releases Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809 Neowin, Neowin LLC, retrieved 2 January 2022^
  13. Jason Gerend. Windows Server release information docs.microsoft.com, retrieved 2020-09-09^
  14. Jason Gerend. Windows Server servicing channels docs.microsoft.com, retrieved 2020-09-09^
  15. Mayank Sharma. Microsoft has snuck out its Windows Server 2022 release TechRadar, Future US, Inc., 20 August 2021, retrieved 3 January 2022^
  16. Mary Jo Foley. Microsoft ups allowable Windows 10 Mobile screen size to nearly nine inches ZDNET, retrieved 11 September 2022^
  17. HoloLens 1st (gen) release notes retrieved 18 July 2021^
  18. HoloLens 2 release notes retrieved 18 July 2021^
  19. Surface Hub update history retrieved 18 July 2021^
  20. Bill Gates. Information At Your Fingertips, 1994 Comdex Keynote 1994-11-14, retrieved 2008-01-02^
  21. Microsoft combines Neptune, Odyssey into Whistler CNN, January 27, 2000, retrieved January 6, 2010^
  22. Zachary Christian. Windows guides retrieved 25 September 2023^
  23. Windows Odyssey retrieved 16 July 2021^
  24. Zac Bowden. Windows Core OS:The complete guide Windows Central, Future US, Inc., October 30, 2019, retrieved 14 June 2021^
  25. Tom Warren. Microsoft confirms Windows 10X is dead The Verge, Vox Media, LLC, May 18, 2021, retrieved 14 June 2021^
  26. Brad Sams. What is Windows Lite? It's Microsoft's Chrome OS Killer Petri, BWW Media Group, December 3, 2018, retrieved 16 July 2021^
  27. Zac Bowden. Windows 10X will now launch first on single-screen PCs Windows Central, Future US, Inc., May 4, 2020, retrieved 16 July 2021^
  28. Yuri Litvinenko. Microsoft's Project Photon:A Stunted Effort to Rebuild Windows Mobile 21 May 2019, retrieved 16 July 2021^
  29. Windows Mobile 7 vs Windows Phone 7 Popular Pages at brighthub.com, May 20, 2011, retrieved December 15, 2016^
  30. Revealed:Original Windows Mobile 7 UI neowin.net, February 20, 2010, retrieved December 15, 2016^
  31. Zac Bowden. Project Andromeda:The secret history of Windows on Surface Duo Windows Central, Future US, Inc., September 18, 2020, retrieved 16 July 2021^
  32. Zac Bowden. Project Andromeda:The secret history of Windows on Surface Duo Windows Central, Future US, Inc., September 18, 2020, retrieved 16 July 2021^