Microsoft Windows history

                Highlights from the first 25 years

                                Getting started: Microsoft co-founders Paul Allen (left) and Bill Gates

1983	Bill Gates announces Microsoft Windows November 10, 1983.
1985	Microsoft Windows 1.0 is introduced in November 20, 1985 and is initially sold for $100.00.
1987	Microsoft Windows 2.0 was released December 9, 1987 and is initially sold for $100.00.
1987	Microsoft Windows/386 or Windows 386 is introduced December 9, 1987 and is initially sold for $100.00.
1988	Microsoft Windows/286 or Windows 286 is introduced June, 1988 and is initially sold for $100.00.
1990	Microsoft Windows 3.0 was released May, 22 1990. Microsoft Windows 3.0 full version was priced at $149.95 and the upgrade version was priced at $79.95.
1991	Following its decision not to develop operating systems cooperatively with IBM, Microsoft changes the name of OS/2 to Windows NT.
1991	Microsoft Windows 3.0 or Windows 3.0a with multimedia was released October, 1991.
1992	Microsoft Windows 3.1 was released April, 1992 and sells more than 1 Million copies within the first two months of its release.
1992	Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1 was released October, 1992.
1993	Microsoft Windows NT 3.1 was released July 27, 1993.
1993	Microsoft Windows 3.11, an update to Windows 3.1 is released December 31, 1993.
1993	The number of licensed users of Microsoft Windows now totals more than 25 Million.
1994	Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was released February, 1994.
1994	Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 was released September 21, 1994.
1995	Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 was released May 30, 1995.
1995	Microsoft Windows 95 was released August 24, 1995 and sells more than 1 Million copies within 4 days.
1995	Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1 (4.00.950A) is released February 14, 1996.
1996	Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 was released July 29, 1996.
1996	Microsoft Windows 95 (4.00.950B) aka OSR2 with FAT32 and MMX support is released August 24, 1996.
1996	Microsoft Windows CE 1.0 was released November, 1996.
1997	Microsoft Windows CE 2.0 was released November, 1997.
1997	Microsoft Windows 95 (4.00.950C) aka OSR2.5 is released November 26, 1997.
1998	Microsoft Windows 98 was released June, 1998.
1998	Microsoft Windows CE 2.1 was released July, 1998.
1998	In October of 1998 Microsoft announced that future releases of Windows NT would no longer have the initials of NT and that the next edition would be Windows 2000.
1999	Microsoft Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) was released May 5, 1999.
1999	Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 was released 1999.
2000	On January 4th at CES Bill Gates announces the new version of Windows CE will be called Pocket PC.
2000	Microsoft Windows 2000 was released February 17, 2000.
2000	Microsoft Windows ME (Millennium) released June 19, 2000.
2001	Microsoft Windows XP is released October 25, 2001.
2001	Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition (Version 2002) for Itanium systems is released March 28, 2003.
2003	Microsoft Windows Server 2003 is released March 28, 2003.
2003	Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition (Version 2003) for Itanium 2 systems is released on March 28, 2003.
2003	Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003 is released on December 18, 2003.
2004	Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is released on October 12, 2004.
2005	Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is released on April 24, 2005.
2005	Microsoft announces it's next operating system, codenamed "Longhorn" will be named Windows Vista on July 23, 2005.
2006	Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows Vista to corporations on November 30, 2006.
2007	Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 to the general public January 30, 2007.
2009	Microsoft releases Windows 7 October 22, 2009.
2012	Microsoft releases Windows 8 October 26, 2012.