Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows

Screenshot of Microsoft Windows Vista

Website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/

Developer: Microsoft Corporation

OS family: MS-DOS-based

Source model: Closed source

Latest stable release: Windows Vista / November 8, 2006

Supported platforms: x86, x86-64

Kernel type: Hybrid kernel

Default user interface: Graphical user interface (Aero)

License: MS-EULA

Working state: Current

Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of proprietary software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUI). Microsoft Windows eventually came to dominate the world's personal computer market, overtaking OS/2 and Mac OS which had been introduced earlier. At the 2004 IDC Directions conference, IDC Vice President Avneesh Saxena stated that Windows had approximately 90% of the client operating system market.