Microsoft

Microsoft is one of the largest and most diverse industries in the world. They provide a broad range of goods and services withing the computer technology industry. Founded by William Henry Gates (Bill Gates) in 1975, it has grown into a premier company. Listed as the 49th largest public company in the world by Forbes.com, it has made currently made Mr. Gates the worlds 2nd richest man(although 60% of his assets are now outside of Microsoft.). Microsoft has a spectacular balance sheet, with 77 billion in assets(2009) and about 27 billion in liabilities(2009), this gives them a stockholders equity of almost 40 billion, and an estimated profit of close to 18 billion for the fiscal year.


As stated earlier Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates, in order to sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 1800, one of the first microcomputers ever created. Gates struck a deal with Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems(MITS), to implement the BASIC programming language for the Altair. This move helped launch the Altair Basic, which marked the beginning of Gates career. He moved to New Mexico where MITS was located and founded Microsoft. After initial success Gates moved the company to the Seattle area of Washington State, and in 1980 hired Steve Balmer, his 24th employee and first business manager, who would succeed Gates as CEO of Microsoft in 2000. Together the two men have worked together to become two of the most successful men on the planet.


Over the last 30 years the company has seen tremendous, and somewhat unprecedented success. Although it has not come without criticism as many lawsuits and claims have come against the software giant for everything from monopolistic practices to environmentally damaging policies. The company currently has a hand in almost every aspect of the computer technology industry. Some of its most popular products/services include; MSN(web portal), the Microsoft Office Suite, Windows Live, Windows Vista, the Zune, MSNBC, the Xbox/Xbox 360, and the newly developed Windows 7. These are just a few of the examples of currently used products and services, as they have designed hundreds of products over their 35 year history. With this said the future of Microsoft seems bright, with no signs of the industry slowing down Microsoft is firmly in position to continue dominance of all things technological.

Windows

Last week in class, we talked about different operating systems, particularly the windows series. First off, the Microsoft Windows was invented in the 1980s, with Windows 1.0. This started off with the basics like a calculator, calendar, and a couple other different programs. Another thing that was really different about this series, was the way it was set up. The tool bar and the start box didn't come along until later. After the Windows 1.0, came the Windows 2.0 followed by the Windows 2.1. These early types of Windows were very important to how we got to where we are today.

Windows 3.0 and 3.1 came next. These still early versions of Windows were basically the same, with improvements that made them better. Mostly, that had to do with the memory. Next, Windows 95 and 98 came out. This is when we got what we know and love from the Windows series. Windows 95 and 98 really put the push out there to increase computer production and make them as good as they can. It really is amazing to look back at Windows 95 and remember using it. It seems like so long ago, when in fact it really was a little over ten years.

Finally, Microsoft came out with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. On my laptop now, I have Windows Vista, which, when I bought it, was the best there was, and that wasn't that long ago. It is amazing that in just a short few years, something new can come along very quickly and replace what is now considered "old." Windows Vista and Windows 7 are both really big launching points into the future of operating systems. Just think, in a couple years, they are already set to come out with Windows 8. When it comes to operating systems, things change very quickly.

Windows.

When thinking of Windows, they first design that comes to my mind is windows 95. There are plenty more versions of windows that I didn't know it about. So in class, Drake showed the us a video clip on Youtube and I was surprised by how many windows there were. I'm only 18 years old so I wasn't around to see the very first windows. I wonder how did Windows develop. Did they take surveys and got the public's opinion about the program or any other method.

In the clip you can see how far windows has came a long. I think its amazing how technology continues to innovate. The very fist windows was created in 1985 and it was called windows 1.0. In sense, it doesn't even look realistic compared to what we have now. To watch the evolution of computer programming is all new to me. Just to think that there is more technology out there. Also some that is already developed, but not available to the public. For example. the Air Force has many technologies that we are not open to.

There are other computer programs, but windows is the most popular. I've only constantly heard about Apple and Windows. That's about it. I know there's Linx and stuff like that. Honestly, I don't care about the others. They don't compete with Windows and Apple.