The most widely used operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Developed by Microsoft, Windows primarily runs on x86-based CPUs, although some versions run on Intel's Itanium CPUs. Windows provides a graphical user interface and desktop environment in which applications are displayed in resizable, movable windows on screen.
Windows comes in both client and server versions, all of which support networking, the difference being that the server versions are designed to be dedicated servers. The client versions of Windows may also share data over the network and can be configured to grant access to all or specific files only. Windows PCs are used to access a variety of servers on the network, including Windows servers, Unix, Linux and NetWare servers, as well as mainframes. See operating system.
Windows How to's
All the Windows "how to's" in this encyclopedia have a "Win" prefix in front of their name in order to group them together in the index; for example, Win Change window appearance and Win Finding files. For fundamentals on how to work with Windows, see Win abc's.
Following is a summary of Windows versions.
Windows NT Lineage (32 & 64 bit)
Windows 7
The successor to Windows Vista, expected in 2009. See Windows 7.
Windows Vista (2006) - MS Version 6.0
The current client version of Windows, which comes in several flavors (see Windows Vista). Windows Server 2008 is the server version (code named Longhorn Server). See Windows Server 2008.
Windows XP (2001) - MS Version 5.1
Windows XP was the previous version of Windows, available in Home and Professional versions, the latter adding more security and administrative capabilities. There were also versions of XP that ran on AMD's 64-bit CPUs and Intel's 64-bit Itaniums. See Windows XP.
Windows 2000 (2000) - MS Version 5.0
Windows 2000 is an updated version of Windows NT 4 for client and server. It added numerous enhancements including Plug and Play and Active Directory. Windows 2000 comes in one workstation version and three server versions. There are server versions that support AMD's 64-bit CPUs and Intel's 64-bit Itaniums. See Windows 2000.
Windows NT (1993) - MS Versions 3.1, 3.5, 4.0
Windows NT 3.1 was a completely new 32-bit OS with separate client and server versions. Introduced during the reign of Windows 3.1 and two years before Windows 95, it used the same Program Manager user interface as Windows 3.1, but provided greater stability. In 1996, Windows NT 4.0 switched to the Windows 95 Start menu and Taskbar interface, but did not include Plug and Play. NT Server gained significant market share, while NT Workstation (client version) was used by the professional user and did not impact the Windows 95/98 market. See Windows NT.
Windows comes in both client and server versions, all of which support networking, the difference being that the server versions are designed to be dedicated servers. The client versions of Windows may also share data over the network and can be configured to grant access to all or specific files only. Windows PCs are used to access a variety of servers on the network, including Windows servers, Unix, Linux and NetWare servers, as well as mainframes. See operating system.
Windows How to's
All the Windows "how to's" in this encyclopedia have a "Win" prefix in front of their name in order to group them together in the index; for example, Win Change window appearance and Win Finding files. For fundamentals on how to work with Windows, see Win abc's.
Following is a summary of Windows versions.
Windows NT Lineage (32 & 64 bit)
Windows 7
The successor to Windows Vista, expected in 2009. See Windows 7.
Windows Vista (2006) - MS Version 6.0
The current client version of Windows, which comes in several flavors (see Windows Vista). Windows Server 2008 is the server version (code named Longhorn Server). See Windows Server 2008.
Windows XP (2001) - MS Version 5.1
Windows XP was the previous version of Windows, available in Home and Professional versions, the latter adding more security and administrative capabilities. There were also versions of XP that ran on AMD's 64-bit CPUs and Intel's 64-bit Itaniums. See Windows XP.
Windows 2000 (2000) - MS Version 5.0
Windows 2000 is an updated version of Windows NT 4 for client and server. It added numerous enhancements including Plug and Play and Active Directory. Windows 2000 comes in one workstation version and three server versions. There are server versions that support AMD's 64-bit CPUs and Intel's 64-bit Itaniums. See Windows 2000.
Windows NT (1993) - MS Versions 3.1, 3.5, 4.0
Windows NT 3.1 was a completely new 32-bit OS with separate client and server versions. Introduced during the reign of Windows 3.1 and two years before Windows 95, it used the same Program Manager user interface as Windows 3.1, but provided greater stability. In 1996, Windows NT 4.0 switched to the Windows 95 Start menu and Taskbar interface, but did not include Plug and Play. NT Server gained significant market share, while NT Workstation (client version) was used by the professional user and did not impact the Windows 95/98 market. See Windows NT.
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