Windows is a creation of Microsoft.
Windows is a word in the English language that means "window" . Its use in Spanish, on the other hand, is almost exclusively linked to a computer system developed by the company Microsoft and marketed since 1985 .
Microsoft Windows is an operating system ; That is, a set of programs that makes it possible to manage a computer 's resources. This type of system starts working when the computer is turned on to manage the hardware from the most basic levels.
It is important to note that operating systems run on both computers and other electronic devices that use microprocessors (mobile phones, DVD players, etc.). In the case of Windows , its standard version works with computers, although there is also a version for phones ( Windows Mobile ) now discontinued.
Windows history
This software was introduced by Bill Gates on November 10, 1983 . However, it would not be until two years later when the product began to be marketed throughout the world.
At that time it came to the market presenting itself as an extension of the well-known MS-DOS system and with a series of characteristics, among which it stood out that the user was benefited by the utilities at his disposal as well as their ease of use.
From then until today, Microsoft Windows has presented various versions with the clear objective of adapting to the times and, above all, to the needs that the user had at all times. Thus, among those we would have to highlight Windows NT , Windows 95 , Windows 98 , Windows 2000 , Windows XP , Windows Vista , Windows 7 , Windows 8 , Windows 10 and Windows 11 , which is the latest so far.
Windows Task Manager provides information about running applications and processes.
version 11
The official release of Windows 11 took place on October 5, 2021 as a free update to Windows 10 via Windows Update .
In addition to greater ease of use and optimized performance, this version features a new Start menu and widget panel.
The inclusion of the Microsoft Edge browser, the integration of Microsoft Teams in the taskbar and more security measures were other new features of this operating system.
As has happened with other versions, Microsoft was again accused of monopolistic practices with Windows 11 . In this framework, the European Union ( EU ) forced the American company to enable the removal of Microsoft Edge , for example.
Windows makes it easy to install the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and other peripherals.
Advantages of Windows
Microsoft comfortably dominates the operating system market, as Windows is installed on more than 90% of Internet -enabled computers worldwide. This is due to the advantages it offers compared to other operating systems (such as Linux or macOS ), although the privileged position of its manufacturer also has an impact.
Among its main applications (which can be uninstalled by users or replaced by similar ones without the operating system stopping working), are the Windows Media multimedia player and the Paint image editor. Other tools that were very popular were losing preponderance until they disappeared from the most recent versions, such as the aforementioned Internet Explorer browser and the WordPad word processor.
It cannot fail to be mentioned that the great novelty that Windows brought from its origins was its visual appeal and ease of use. In fact, its name ( " windows " ) comes from the way in which the system presents the user with the resources of his personal computer, making everyday tasks easier thanks to the file explorer, the control panel and other instruments. Windows , however, usually receives numerous criticisms for its security problems and other flaws.
The importance of Windows is also associated with the importance of other company products. A good example is Office (Microsoft Office) , the office suite that includes Word (a word processor), Excel (spreadsheets), Outlook (email and calendar), PowerPoint (visual presentations) and Access (for managing a database), for example.
It should be noted that Microsoft tries to sustain the enormous popularity of Windows with innovations and updates, although sometimes the contributions are not successful. The virtual assistant Cortana , for example, was soon replaced by Copilot and Bing Chat . To take advantage of the rise of cloud computing, meanwhile, the company favors the integration of the operating system with the Microsoft Azure platform.
The criticisms
As we said above, criticism of Windows continues to be frequent regardless of the success of the operating system. One of the most common is associated with its security, since it is a common target of attacks (although it includes Windows Defender antivirus and a firewall to protect against malware and phishing).
Their updates, on the other hand, usually cause compatibility problems with other software. This is especially problematic for large companies.
Proper Windows performance also requires advanced hardware. It is a system with high demands on RAM, HDD (hard drive) and graphics card.