What Is Windows?

Windows is an operating system developed and marketed by Microsoft Corporation. It consists of several families of proprietary graphical operating systems, with each family catering to a specific sector of the computing industry. Microsoft’s most recent versions of Windows are Windows 11 for consumer PCs and tablets, Windows Server 2022 for corporate servers, and Windows IoT for Internet of Things devices. Other operating systems produced by Microsoft include Windows NT, Windows Vista, and Windows 8.

The first version of Windows was released in 1985. The system offered a GUI (graphical user interface) that allowed users to visually navigate computer software, electronic folders, and files, rather than typing commands and directory paths at a text prompt. The underlying MS-DOS was still used to manage the disk drives and other hardware components of the computer.

By the time Microsoft released Windows 2.0 in 1990, personal computers had become much more user-friendly and affordable, contributing to their growing popularity. In addition to its GUI, Windows 2.0 added a number of features that made it more functional for home and business use. The system streamlined file management, improved graphics performance, and supported Intel’s 80386 processor.

Microsoft continued to improve the user experience with each subsequent release of Windows. In 2012, the company introduced Windows 8, which offered a tile-based start screen that displayed applications on a grid and provided ways to synchronize settings across multiple machines. It also included Cortana, a digital assistant similar to Apple’s Siri.

Cortana is able to accept voice commands that perform a variety of tasks, including answering questions, searching data on the computer, and setting reminders and appointments. It is also able to access personal information such as names, addresses and calendar entries. In addition, Windows 8 includes the Edge Web browser, which replaced Internet Explorer.

Another key feature of Windows is its multilingual support. Users can change the language for the keyboard and interface through the Region and Language Control Panel, and they can install additional input languages (including third-party IMEs) by downloading them from Microsoft’s Download Center.

Windows has always been an operating system of choice for gamers, with the ability to run the latest games and a wide selection of apps and tools for gameplay. However, with Windows 11, Microsoft has taken gaming to a new level by adding Direct Storage and Auto HDR for higher graphics quality. It has also enhanced performance by optimizing system apps in the background to ensure a fast, smooth, and reliable experience.

One of the more interesting new features is Windows Ink, which allows Surface device and other stylus-based tablets to write directly into search boxes or other text edit fields. It’s currently available as a preview in the KB5031455 non-security update for Windows, and will be rolled out as a full feature in coming weeks.

source https://glassrepairlogan.wordpress.com/2024/01/02/what-is-windows-2/