May 22, 1990
Windows 3.0 released
MicrosoftThe software giant behind Windows, Office, Azure, and Xbox — founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. shipped Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990 — the first widely successful version with protected mode, Program Manager, and Solitaire.
What it was for
Windows 3.0 sold 10 million copies in two years and made GUIs standard on PCs — Visual Basic, Excel, and early Delphi apps targeted it. Protected mode finally used the 386 properly; developers wrote for one APIApplication programming interface — a defined way for programs to talk to each other or to a service. instead of bare DOSDisk Operating System — an OS centered on disk storage; often refers to MS-DOS on PCs..
Companies
- Microsoft
Why it's here
Windows 3.0 was the breakthrough that made MicrosoftThe software giant behind Windows, Office, Azure, and Xbox — founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Windows a mass-market platform.
Why it mattered
It shifted PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines. software from DOSDisk Operating System — an OS centered on disk storage; often refers to MS-DOS on PCs. text mode to graphical applications.
What it solved
Earlier Windows versions were too limited; users and developers needed a credible GUIGraphical user interface — windows, icons, and pointers instead of typed commands. OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications..
Media
- ImageWindows 3.1x
Original work: Microsoft Corporation Windows 11 logo.svg: Multiple editors; see image description page This work: Jelican9, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- MS-DOS 1.0 released with IBM PCAugust 12, 1981
- IBM PC 5150 releasedAugust 12, 1981
- Microsoft Windows 95 releasedAugust 24, 1995