Microsoft Windows is currently the most popular desktop / laptop operating system, which has more than 80% market share of the global desktop operating system market. It was developed by Microsoft, and the first public version was released in 1985. Windows is usually used on personal computers because it is easy to use, and has many great features that meet all the personal computing requirements. Windows is not a freeware software like Linux, it is a commercial and closed source software that requires consumers and business users to purchase a genuine license of it to use on a computer, although millions of personal computer users do not buy Windows licenses; Instead they use piracy techniques to activate the software. Microsoft did not take any major action against its software theft, because they want to use the Windows market more widely.

The operating system's user interface is known as 'Windows Shell', which includes a variety of graphical elements such as desktop, taskbar, start menu, task view etc., all these elements making it easy to navigate and use the computer. Since the original release so far, the Windows OS supports many different CPU platforms, such as IA-32, x86-64, ARM, and PowerPC, the most recent version called Windows 10 requires at least 1 GB of RAM and 32-bit processor in the system.

Software applications included in the Windows installation are usually developed by Microsoft, you do not need to install more software in Windows for general computing, it includes a web browser, anti-malware program, archive file extractor, PDF reader, web server software , Media player, photo manager, virtual assistant, email client, cloud storage sync, and more.

Windows 10 is currently the latest version of Microsoft Windows, it is called the last version of Windows, the company defines Windows 10 as a service that receives updates without releasing a whole new version of the Windows operating system.

Windows Version history (PC)

() contain year of release.

• Windows 10 (2015)
• Windows 8.1 (2013)
• Windows 8 (2012)
• Windows 7 (2009)
• Windows Vista (2007)
• Windows XP (2001, 2005)
• Windows ME (2000)
• Windows 2000 (2000)
• Windows 98 (1998)
• Windows NT 4.0 (1996)
• Windows 95 (1995)
• Windows NT 3.51 (1995)
• Windows NT 3.5 (1994)
• Windows 3.2 (1993)
• Windows 3.1x (1993)
• Windows 3.0 (1990)
• Windows 2.1x (1988)
• Windows 2.0 (1987)
• Windows 1.0 (1985)

Features of Windows (PC)

Some of the remarkable features of the Windows operating system are:

• Windows Security.
• File Explorer.
• Start Menu
• Desktop Search.
• Taskbar.
• Cortana Virtual Assitant.
• Remote Desktop.
• Multitasking.
• Multiple language support.
• Themes.

Windows Facts

• More than 50% of Windows installations are pirated in the world.
• Windows comes with a pre-installed anti-malware software application called Windows Defender.
• Windows 10 is called the last version of Microsoft Windows.
• The first version of Windows is said to be called 'Interface Manager' by Bill Gates.