Who created the Windows program. Bill Gates is the creator of Windows. – MS-DOS operating system
Turning on the computer, many people load an operating system called Microsoft Windows. It doesn't matter if it's Windows 2000, XP, Vista. Or maybe it's - Windows Server 2003, but it's still a Windows NT clone system. I will ask a seemingly trivial question: “Who is its chief architect?” I am sure that most of you will not give a completely accurate answer. You will name the person who acted as the chief administrative architect. And I would like to get an answer, who was its chief technical architect.
Interest in this issue is fueled by frequently encountered arguments about the OS, when they are limited only to arguments about the advantages and disadvantages of the external interface. As if the question of its choice is determined solely by what shape of the button we get on the screen. The user interface is undeniably important, but it is believed that the basis of the OS is primarily its internal mechanisms.
So, who was the main architect of modern versions of Windows?
This man's name is Dave Cutler. He was born March 13, 1943 in Michigan. Today he is 66 years old. His position at Microsoft is referred to as Senior Technical fellow. He continues to work there to this day. Today, his main responsibilities are core development for Windows Azure.
The story of this man once again confirms that nothing appears from scratch, nothing is created "from scratch". Unfortunately, the opposite is often heard lately. Like, students gathered, without previous experience, and not only invented, but created a system that no one could have guessed before! So, "from scratch" they came and created! Just like at the "Star Factory" or in numerous "Ice Shows". A couple of months have passed, and you are already a world star. Personally, I do not believe in such fairy tales about "Cinderella". Moreover, I consider them absolutely harmful, because people who believe them will be greatly disappointed in the future, at least when they try to rise above their current position.
However, similar reasoning is often heard about Windows. Like, they came up with GUI and... Windows appeared. Not certainly in that way! First, Windows 1.0 - 3.1, a pseudo-novice, grew out of DOS, and the graphical shell became its main "trump card". Then it gradually acquired more powerful internal mechanisms. But all these were more “crutches”, where new lotions were hung to the old relics. Microsoft has been fooling everyone for a long time, adding external and internal tricks. And so it continued until Windows 98 SE / ME.
The story is real new system Windows, despite having a similar name to its parallel predecessor, takes from the creation Windows architectures NT. This is exactly what Dave Cutler was doing. But let's go in order.
Dave Cutler's career in systems programming began at DIGITAL, where in 1975 he was part of a development team on a project codenamed Starlet. Their goal was to develop a fundamentally new operating system to run on systems based on Star processors. The advantage of their development in comparison with their predecessors was the creation of new technologies for memory management and the implementation of the tasks of planning and executing computational processes. As a result of the work carried out, the DEC VAX 11/780 computer and the VAX/VMS operating system were created. (By the way, these names, I think, say something to those who are familiar with what systems were used in those days in the Soviet Union, which then did not have an official opportunity to access Western IT technologies).
It was at the turn of 1979-80. It was then that the release of the IBM-PC was announced. And the company DEC at that time was engaged in the release of desktop (Desktop) systems under the RSTS project. It was a multi-user, multi-tasking OS that was considered by many to be highly reliable and robust. Moreover, already in those days it provided for a special, virtual mode operational work, on the basis of which it was possible to emulate the launch of other operating systems. They were RSX-11M and RT11. (So the current development of virtualization systems is not a recent invention, its roots are laid down a very long time ago).
"But how did Dave end up at Microsoft?" you ask.
Very simple! Remember the catchphrase of Bill Gates: "My dream is to have a computer on everyone's desk!" It seems to be nothing, but from the developer's point of view, we are talking about a qualitatively new approach to the development architecture, to the principles of launching and using programs, and working with memory. Stationary minicomputer systems are built according to other canons, and desktop PCs use a much different paradigm.
Cutler left Digital and joined Microsoft in 1988, where he led the development of a new operating system. Windows systems NT. He is often referred to as "the father of the Windows NT kernel".
Next was the creation of Windows NT support tools for 64-bit Digital Alpha architecture, work on Windows 2000, Windows support tools for running on 64-bit AMD AMD64 architecture, development of 64-bit versions of Windows XP Pro and Windows Server 2003 SP1, work on Windows Vista, above the Microsoft Live Platform. Now it is work on Windows Azure.
I hope that now I have dispelled the prejudices, if you had any until now, that "Microsoft wanted and from scratch made Windows NT/XP/Vista". As you can see, the roots of this system lie, among other things, in Dec, VAX/VMS. If it were not for people, if not for their previous experience, then it is unlikely, I think, that the current Windows would have appeared. Nothing is born in a vacuum!
To sum up, when we start talking about creating new systems, let's first assess the baggage of those who will become their main architects. I do not argue, there are outstanding personalities with a gift from God. But even Pushkin could hardly have written poems of the level that they are known all over the world if he had been born in a different family, if he had not studied at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum ... No, he probably would have written something, of course. But it would be completely different verses.
Alexey Komolov (St. Petersburg)
Many computer users are sitting in Windows, but not everyone knows its history - for many it is something new, from our time. Therefore, below I will describe a brief history Windows OS.
1982 Then the unknown Bill Gates set about creating the first Windows versions.
1885 The world saw the first Microsoft Windows 1.0. The release of Windows has become a real revolution in the world of computers: the long-awaited multitasking has appeared (the ability to simultaneously work with several programs at once).
By today's standards, the graphical design of Windows was, to put it mildly, miserable. But it was the mid-80s in the yard, the computers themselves were large and inefficient - so the graphical interface was chic by the standards of that time.
1987 Release of Microsoft Windows 2.0. Now you can use hot keys to switch between application windows and to perform some simple tasks.
Later, this version was divided into 2 lines: for x286 processors and for more powerful x386 ones (this version could use a larger resource of new processors of that time).
1990 Microsoft Windows 3.0 is out. This version of Windows was a great success thanks to VGA support, plus the interface was improved.
1992-1993 years. Microsoft Windows 3.1 and 3.11 are coming out. These versions of Windows were, in fact, an updated version of Windows 3.0: then support for multimedia data appeared, a CD-ROM and a sound card appeared, and the first normally readable vector fonts appeared.
1993 Microsoft Windows NT 3.1 is released It was the first 32-bit system to have built-in support for local network. Accordingly, the requirements for the hardware by that time also increased.
1995 Microsoft Windows 95 (Chicago) is out. It was a complete operating system, unlike previous versions, which were essentially “shells” for MS-DOS. Windows 95 first introduced the taskbar and the Start button menu.
1998 Microsoft Windows 98 is coming out. This OS has received many significant updates, mostly aimed at improving work and access to the Internet, drivers have been improved, a full-fledged browser has been built into the system distribution kit, and there was support for USB ports.
year 2000. Microsoft Windows 2000 was released, which was an attempt to combine home Windows 95 with professional Windows NT. This version finally fixed most of the problems with the drivers, also appeared Active Directory is a very important network technology.
The same year 2000. Microsoft Windows ME was released in parallel. This OS was supposed to replace Windows 98 with more weak computers, which did not pull the more resource-hungry Windows 2000. It became the last in the line that began with the 95th version and was not very successful due to its instability and buggy.
year 2001. Microsoft Windows XP comes out (in my opinion - the most successful solution in the Windows family line today).
Until now, it is used on many millions of users' computers around the world - due to its stability, greater ease of use, less buggy and rather wide possibilities in the settings of the OS itself.
2003 Microsoft Windows Server-2003 is released - the successor to Windows 2000.
A little later, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn) came out, which became the successor to Windows ME - just as failed and buggy, although it brought several useful updates: an improved security system, an improved search system, hibernation mode, an updated interface and other little things.
Microsoft Windows 7 was received by most users with a bang after the disastrous Vista.
Here we were able to fix the problem with “overestimated” system requirements, speed up its loading, enable multi-touch support, improve application compatibility, redesign the taskbar, and add many small utilities.
True, there were a lot of glitches left, which is why many did not want to switch to Windows 7: some controls were removed, a lot was renamed (what's the point?), Something was swapped. Some settings items from one window have been transferred to several different windows, which makes the work less convenient. Some settings have been disabled, and some changes in the system are spontaneously reset to “default” after a while. There is no way to place files in folders in random order, which is inconvenient.
year 2012. Microsoft Windows 8 is coming out. The release of this version of Windows created a lot of hype - this version was visually sought to be adapted to all devices (computers, laptops, tablets, etc.). It is still too early to judge its popularity, but we can say for sure: this is one of the riskiest versions of Windows. Here, the interface was completely redesigned and the beloved by everyone and very convenient Start button was removed.
True, the execution of large shortcuts is convenient when working on tablets, but extremely inconvenient on other computers.
By the way, pay attention to two screenshots. This is what AOL looks like, released in 1996:
And this is how Windows 8, released in 2012, looks like:
Many users have the impression that with the departure of Gates from the presidency, Microsoft began to “evolve” into reverse side(Vista. 7 and 8 were no longer produced under his direction).
Near future. The first rumors about the release of Windows 9 (Blue) have already begun to appear. By mid-2013, the situation should clear up.
Operating system Microsoft's Windows, without a doubt, has become a milestone in the development of not only information industry but of all mankind. Largely thanks to Windows, personal computers and laptops are installed on the tables of hundreds of millions of people around the world. In parallel with the operating system for home computers, Microsoft was developing a server version of Windows designed for companies and corporations. This version was called Windows NT and later Windows Server. This family of operating systems has gained considerable popularity and has seriously supplanted the former king of servers - the UNIX operating system.
The history of Windows is reminiscent of the victorious procession that began back in 1985, when the first Windows 1.01 was released. However, Microsoft's history begins even earlier, as far back as 1975, when a young student Bill Gates created a version of the BASIC programming language for one of the first personal computers, the Altair 8800 model.
Contrary to popular belief, the first version of Windows was not a standalone operating system at all. In fact, Windows was a graphical “add-on” to the DOS operating system and was designed to make it easier to work with a dark and gloomy command line. Many DOS users did not understand this innovation.
The history of Windows begins in November 1985, when the first version of Windows 1.0 appeared. It was a set of programs that extended the capabilities of existing operating systems for greater ease of use. A few years later, the second version (Windows 2.0) was released, but did not gain much popularity.
Time passed, and in 1990 another version was released - Windows 3.0, which began to be used on many personal computers.
The popularity of the new version of Windows was due to several reasons. The graphical interface made it possible to work with data not using commands entered in command line, and with the help of visual and understandable actions on graphic objects representing this data. Also, the ability to work with several programs at the same time has significantly increased the convenience and efficiency of work. In 1995, the famous Windows 95 appeared, which became a new stage in windows history and personal computers in general. Compared to Windows 3.1, the interface has changed significantly, and the speed of programs has increased. The new operating system made it possible to automatically configure additional computer devices to eliminate conflicts when interacting between them. In addition, Windows 95 took the first steps to implement support for the then nascent Internet.
The interface of Windows 95 became the main one for the entire Windows family, and in 1996 a revised version of the Windows NT 4.0 server operating system appeared, which has the same interface as Windows 95.
In 1998, Windows 98 appeared with a significantly redesigned structure compared to Windows 95. In the new version, a lot of attention was paid to working with the Internet and modern protocols.
The next step in the development of Windows was the advent of Windows 2000 and Windows Me (Millennium Edition). Windows 2000 was designed with Windows based NT and inherited from it the high reliability and security of information from outside interference. Two versions were released: Windows 2000 Server for Servers and Windows 2000 Professional for Workstations, which many have installed on home computers.
The Windows Me operating system has become, in fact, an enhanced version of Windows 98 with improved multimedia support. It is believed that Windows Me has become one of the most unsuccessful versions of Windows, it was characterized by unstable operation, often “hangs” and crashes.
As a result, just a year after its release, a new operating system, Windows XP, appeared. It happened in 2001.
The Windows XP operating system was based on the Windows NT kernel and was therefore highly stable and efficient compared to previous versions Windows. It also has been seriously redesigned graphical interface, introduced support for new functions and programs.
In 2003, a new version of Windows Server 2003 was released, which replaced Windows 2000. After a while, an update was released, called Windows Server 2003 R2. Windows Server 2003 operating system installed new standard in terms of reliability and performance, becoming one of the most successful Microsoft server systems.
Even before the release of Windows XP, Microsoft was actively developing new version operating system codenamed Windows Longhorn. Then the name was changed to Windows Vista.
The new Windows Vista operating system was introduced in 2007. It was based on the Windows Server 2003 kernel.
In 2009, another version was released - the remarkable Windows 7. How did it differ? Let's start with the fact that this operating system has been fixed key windows errors Vista. As a result, the “seven” turned out to be very fast, reliable and productive. In fact, she became what was expected from Vista from the very beginning.
With the release of the first service package, its position in the market has only increased. And after a while, the seven pressed the lingering on Windows computers xp. Seven has become in fact a substitute for XP, the system that supports everything and works relatively quickly.
But, Microsoft was not enough. Losing the race in the tablet and smartphone markets, the company desperately needed a new product that would unite all devices at once within a single Metro interface - smartphones, laptops, desktop computers and tablets. It was required to create a hybrid operating system.
And the result is the Windows 8 operating system, which was released in October 2012. For the first time, Microsoft decided on a radical interface change that was far more shocking than the changes in Vista. Instead of the usual desktop, the user was greeted with strange tiles, and the “Start” button was completely absent. The interface of some intrigued, others scared away.
Technical Windows features 8 is an optimized version of Windows 7. The new system is much faster to boot, however, again there are some problems with drivers and running games - but this is clearly a temporary situation.
In 2013, the process of market acceptance of the new system is in full swing. It is still too early to say how successful it has become - time will tell. We can only say unequivocally that the fate of Windows 8 will not be easy. Some experts predict the fate of Windows Vista for it - a system that never recovered from its negative image.
For the "eight" came version 8.1, and not the expected "nine". At the same time, 8.1 did not bring any cardinal changes with it, Microsoft simply tried to make adjustments to Windows 8, as multiple negative reviews and bugs required immediate solutions. The developers took into account the shortcomings and wishes of the user audience, but the innovations of 8.1 turned out to be a weak argument for purchasing a license for an updated product.
Meanwhile, in the fall of 2014, a beta version of Windows 9 is released. As Microsoft promises, this version will be available for download to all users, but the official release of the new operating system is scheduled for the spring of 2015, which the developers consider sufficient to complete work on the release.
We are like ordinary users, it remains to follow the innovations from the giant of the software industry Microsoft, and look forward to next version, a favorite product in the face of Windows.
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Windows is one of the most popular operating systems today. Now it is a familiar and comfortable working environment for many people. But how it all began and how the world's most famous operating room was improved Microsoft system Windows? We invite you on a journey into the past!
Windows 1.0
November 1985
At the time of the first release, Windows was far from the full-fledged operating system that we are familiar with today. It used to be just an "operating environment" for MS-DOS. And it was almost called Interface Manager.
Despite its simplicity, the first version Windows already contained many innovative tools: graphics editor Windows Paint, the Windows Write word processor, and, of course, the legendary board game Reversi.
Windows 2.X
December 1987
The next major release of Windows introduced the famous Excel and Word, two more cornerstones in software history. But equally important to the success of Windows was the Aldus PageMaker application, which was previously available only to Macintosh users. It was this application that brought Windows great popularity in 1987.
Note. transl. It should be noted that the Aldus PageMaker application was released back in version 1.0, but it was in version 2.0 that it gained its fame on the Microsoft Windows platform.
However, Windows was now being overshadowed by growing tensions: Apple, which had patented many user interface elements and ideas, felt that Microsoft was using too much of its original Windows design work.
Windows 3.X
May 1990
Improvements in multitasking, the introduction of virtual memory, and design updates have finally allowed user Windows interface compete with the Macintosh interface.
Along with Windows 3.1, the concept of "Multimedia PC" also appeared: CD-ROM drive and sound cards became all the rage in the 1990s.
Reaching 10,000,000 copies sold, version 3.0 became not only a major source of income for Microsoft, but also a huge success in the IT world.
Windows NT
July 1992
Microsoft joined forces with IBM to develop a successor to DOS. However, the cooperation did not last long, and what was called OS / 2 became new Windows NT. Windows 3.11 and NT were developed in parallel (together) until they were merged into Windows XP.
Thanks to improved network support with Windows NT and the new NTFS file system, Microsoft caught up with Novell and became a major player in the server market.
Windows 95
August 1995
Microsoft has taken the ideas that have emerged since the release of the NT version, codenamed Chicago, into action by bringing them to the consumer (for example, a 32-bit system and improved memory management).
However, the need for backwards compatibility and the fact that not all code was changed to 32-bit eventually led to failures: Windows 95 ran into big performance and stability problems.
Later versions of Windows 95 introduced the famous browser Internet Explorer and USB support, which is familiar to us today.
Windows 98
June 1998
With Windows 98, code-named Memphis, Microsoft has greatly improved USB support. After all, Windows 95 did not provide a stable implementation of it.
Although FAT32 was first introduced in an update for Windows 95, it remained young file system and became even more popular than before. Thanks to this, disk partitions larger than two gigabytes have become more common.
1998 was also the year of the "United States v. Microsoft" legal showdown: the issue concerned the legitimacy of the supply of pre-installed Internet browser Explorer in every copy of Windows.
Windows 2000
February 2000
The next version of Windows NT introduced a new service, Active Directory.
Although this version was aimed at the business market, Windows 2000 also came with an improved DirectX API. This marked the first time that many modern games ran on NT machines.
In one respect, however, Windows 2000 was the last of its kind: its successor versions introduced a new (and controversial) product activation mechanism.
Windows ME
September 2000
In the ME version, attention was focused on multimedia: in it, Microsoft introduced Windows movie maker and updated the platform's standard multimedia application, Windows Media Player, to version 7.
In addition, the System Restore utility has appeared - a simple system recovery tool. time machine from Apple, of course, does not compare with new utility Microsoft, but still, she didn't show up for a few more years.
Windows XP
August 2001
Windows XP marked a special reunion: it finally combined Windows 95/98/ME and NT/2000.
At first, the new XP had several painful flaws that were primarily related to security. It was they who forced Microsoft to publish as many as three service packs during the XP support period.
However, this did not stop Windows XP from becoming the flagship among operating systems and remaining so for another 6 years - longer than any other. Microsoft version Windows.
Windows Vista
January 2007
Microsoft introduced Windows Vista in a completely new design thanks to Windows Aero - a complex technical solutions graphical user interface. She had many small changes: For example, replacing the familiar Start button with an icon with the Windows logo.
In addition, Vista featured a redesigned and (compared to Windows XP) stricter permissions system called "User Account Control".
In terms of new applications, Vista debuted Windows Calendar, Windows DVD Maker, and several new games.
Note. transl. It should be noted that Windows Vista was presented back in November 2006, but in the form of a corporate version.
Windows 7
October 2009
Windows 7 is an improved platform in many areas: it loaded faster, supported multi-touch, improved window management, and more.
In other areas, the system has backtracked: Vista's new UAC has become less intrusive, and the newly introduced sidebar (along with several apps) has been completely removed.
Windows 8
October 2012
Windows 8 is the biggest visual update ever latest versions. Windows 8 brings not only a new look at the OS in general, but also a completely new UI and UX. She took the popular Flat style and brought it into trend full screen mode window.
In addition, Windows 8 brought support for USB 3.0 and launched the Windows Store.
Windows 10
July 2015
Microsoft decided to name its Last update"Windows 10" by skipping version 9. One reason could be the scale and importance of the project: Windows 10 provides a common platform for many devices, from smartphones to personal computers.
In 1975, Gates and Allen form a company called Microsoft. Like most start-up businesses, Microsoft starts small but has a big goal of putting a PC in every desktop and every home. Over the next years, Microsoft begins to change the way society works.
In June 1980, Gates and Allen hire Steve Ballmer ( Steve Ballmer), with whom Gates studied at Harvard University, to help run the company. AT next month IBM is approaching Microsoft about a project codenamed Chess. As a result, Microsoft is concentrating its efforts on a new operating system - software, which controls the operation of computer hardware and acts as a link between hardware and programs, such as a word processor. It is a platform on which programs can run. The company named its new operating system MS‑DOS.
When it came out in 1981 Personal Computer IBM PC running MS‑DOS, an entirely new language was introduced to the public. Entering various intricate commands after the “C:” combination is gradually becoming part of everyday work. Users discover the backslash (\) key.
Operating system MS‑DOS proved to be effective, but difficult to understand for many people. Therefore, a better way to create an operating system is required.
Windows was probably the first operating system that no one ordered Gates, and he undertook to develop it at his own peril and risk. What is so special about her? First, the graphical interface. At that time, only the notorious macOS. Second, multitasking. Of course, some operating systems allowed running an additional task in the background, but they worked painfully. In general, in November 1985 came out Windows 1.0.
The windows in it did not overlap, on 8086 processors the kernel was terribly buggy due to the obvious lack of optimization for this pebble. The main platform was the 286th machine. Exactly two years later, in November 1987, Windows 2.0, a year and a half later came out 2.10. There was nothing special about them, except that the windows had learned to overlap.
May 1990, the time of great achievements and overthrows. In short, out Windows 3.0. What was not there: and DOS applications were running in a separate window on full screen, and Copy-Paste worked to exchange data with DOS applications, and Windows themselves worked in several memory modes: in real ( basic 640 Kb), in protected ( version 80286) and extended ( 80386 ). At the same time, it was possible to run applications that are larger than the size of physical memory. There was also a dynamic data exchange ( DDE). A couple of years later, Windows 3.1 also came out, in which there were no hemorrhoids with base memory ( if someone ran old toys, he remembers how they demanded 560 kb, then some more, although RAM could have been 16 MB). A newfangled lotion was also introduced that supports True Type fonts. Ensured normal operation in the local network. Drag&Drop appeared ( drag and drop files and directories). OLE appeared ( Object Linking & Embedding). In Windows 3.11, network support has been improved and a few more minor tweaks have been introduced. Windows came out at the same time NT 3.5, which was at that time a collection of basic network gadgets taken from OS / 2.
In June 1995, the entire computer community was excited by the announcement of Microsoft about the release in August of a new operating system, significantly different from Windows 3.11, but at the same time following the canons of MS - windows and windows again. August 24 - official release date Windows 95 (other names: Windows 4.0, Windows Chicago). Now it was not just an operating environment - it was a full-fledged operating system that did not require a disk operating system to boot. The 32-bit kernel made it possible to improve access to files and network chips. 32-bit applications were better protected from each other's errors, and there was support for multi-user mode on one computer with one system. A lot of differences in the interface, a bunch of settings and improvements "for the user" - just one Start button, which has become a byword, which was worth it ...
There was also an update specifically for Windows 3.1x - OSR1, which was not installed from under DOS, but simply upgraded "three-elevenths". By the way, the delivery included the so-called DOS 7.0, which, unfortunately, had strong differences from DOS 6.22 and, alas, not for the better.
Came out in 1996 Windows 95 OSR2 ( if I'm not mistaken, this stands for Open Service Release). The distribution included Internet Explorer 3.0 and some ancient version of Outlook ( then called simply Exchange). Of the main chips - support for FAT32, improved hardware and driver initializer. Some settings (including video) can be changed without rebooting. There was also a built-in DOS 7.10 with support for FAT32
blackcomb.
code name blackcomb belonged to Windows NT 6.0, the operating system that was planned to be the next after Windows XP. Blackcomb was to be the successor to this OS for both desktop and server workstations. In late 2001, Blackcomb was scheduled for release in 2005, and in August 2002 it was announced that the interim version would be Windows Longhorn, which would be an update to the Windows NT 5.x kernel.
During development Windows Longhorn some Blackcomb features were added to it and given the number 6.0. Blackcomb has been surrounded by confusion with some reports that marketing plans have been heavily revised and that it should be a Windows 6.x server OS with improvements.
In January 2006, Microsoft announced that the new client OS would be Vienna, scheduled for release in 2010.
In March 2006, it became known that Fiji, which was scheduled for release in 2008, would be the successor to Windows Vista.
In 2008, as a result of complaints from Fijians that the new operating system would be named after their country, new information about Fiji became known. According to the Fijians, Ben Green said that Fiji will be adding new TV formats, support for online services, and user interface improvements for Windows Media Center. It is likely to be included in Windows 7 Windows program Media Center has already added changes that should have been in Fiji.
Windows 7
Windows 7- operating system of the Windows NT family, following Windows Vista. In the Windows NT line, the system is version number 6.1 (Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 - 6.0). The server version is Windows Server 2008 R2, the version for integrated systems is Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (Quebec), the mobile version is Windows Embedded Compact 2011 (Chelan, Windows CE 7.0)
The operating system went on sale on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of the previous operating system, Windows Vista. Volume Licensing partners and customers were granted access to RTM on July 24, 2009. The final (copy from the discs, which then went on sale) pirated version was available to everyone from the first days of August 2009.
Windows 7 included as some developments excluded from Windows Vista, as well as innovations in the interface and built-in programs. Inkball, Ultimate Extras were excluded from Windows 7; applications that have analogues in Windows Live (Windows Mail, Windows Calendar etc..), Microsoft Agent technology, Windows Meeting Space; the ability to return to the classic menu and the automatic docking of the browser and email client have disappeared from the Start menu.
On July 24, 2007, Microsoft officially changed its code name to Vienna on the Windows 7. The number of Windows 7 in the NT line in which it will be located is 6.1 ( at one time, systems of this family received numbers: Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista - 6.0, Windows Server 2008 - 6.0).
On October 13, 2008, Microsoft Vice President Mike Nash announced that the code Windows name 7 and will become the official name of the new version.Initial edition ( Windows 7 Starter) will be distributed exclusively with new computers, it will not include functional parts for playing H.264, AAC, MPEG-2.