Microsoft Windows

Windows is the name of a family of graphical operating systems that is developed by Microsoft.

The current version of Windows is Windows 11 for Home users and Windows Server 2022 for Servers. The modern Windows family is Windows NT, and Windows Server, but in the past, there were versions of Windows that were meant for mobile devices, versions of Windows that were meant for other handheld devices, the Windows 9x series, and graphical operating system shell versions for MS-DOS (1985-1994).

Microsoft Windows used to be a commercial software, but has slowly been transforming into a trialware service since Windows XP.

The Families of Windows
Windows NT has been developed since 1991 and is the current family of Windows versions. Windows NT 3.1 became the first 32-bit version of Windows and the latest version, as of now, is Windows 11 version OCT21.

Windows 9x is an unofficial name of family of the Windows family of operating systems. The family primarily consists of Windows 95, 98, and Millennium Edition. Windows 95 introduced the Start button, and was the first version to make full use of a desktop. It still uses MS-DOS, but all 9x OSes are actually stand alone operating systems that can run along side MS-DOS. Windows 98 introduced Internet interrogation to the Windows shell. Windows ME was the last MS-DOS based and Windows 9x OS but included features like the Internet Games and System Restore along with Media Player and Movie Maker.

Windows CE is an edition of Windows only made for portable devices from 1996 to 2013. Its latest known version is Windows Embedded Compact 2013.

Another Windows family for mobile users is Windows Pocket PC. It started with Pocket PC 2000 and was discontinued with Windows 10 Mobile Fall Creators Update in 2017.

Trivia

 * Windows 8 is the only version of Windows to have been made freeware.
 * The codename for Windows Small Business Server (2003) is Bobcat.
 * The codename for Windows Essential Business Server (2008) is Centro.
 * The codename for Windows Small Business Server (2010) is Aurora.