Brian White

Windows 3.0 was released in 1990, the greatly improved system offered performance good enough for users.

Overview

In May of 1990 Microsoft released Windows 3.0 a upgrade of older windows. Windows 3.0 added many new features and applications to make it easier and better for users. 3.0 replaced the old MS-DOS Executive with Program Manager, File Manager, and added print manager. Program manager gave users large icons that would start programs, and the icons could be dragged and dropped into different program groups. File Manager allowed files to be dragged and dropped into different folders and drives. 3.0 was able to address more than 640K of memory. The new windows control panel also included new larger icons. The Windows 3.0 control panel allowed users to change the background to display a specified pattern or bit-mapped graphic. Also, Task Manager, a program that could be used to switch tasks easier if many windows are open, rearranging the open windows, and rearranging minimized program icons, could be activated by double clicking the desktop. Windows 3.0 included a advanced hypertext help system. 3.0 also featured Paintbrush that replaced the old Microsoft Paint, Paintbrush could actually handle colors. Windows 3.0 had an advanced graphics system with 16 colors. Windows 3.0 is the first version to have solitaire. Windows release of a new Windows software development kit (SDK), which helped software developers focus more on writing applications and less on writing device drivers; this helped sell over 10 million copies of Windows 3.0 making it the best selling graphical interface in computing history.

Significance

Windows 3.0 was the first user friendly version of Windows. Windows 3.0 set up Microsoft to create other successful versions of windows, setting up Microsoft for their dominance in the computer industry.