Operating System - MS Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of Graphical User Interface (GUI) operating system developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft.

A GUI (Graphical User Interface) allows users to interact with computers and electronic devices through visual elements like icons, buttons, and menus, rather than typing commands. This makes devices more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience by offering an intuitive, point-and-click experience for performing tasks and navigating systems.

Evolution of Windows:

The evolution of Microsoft Windows began in 1985 with Windows 1.0 as a graphical shell on top of MS-DOS, progressing through major versions like the iconic Windows 95 (introducing the Start Menu) and the popular Windows XP, to the current versions, Windows 10 and 11, which offer streamlined, integrated, and cloud-connected experiences. Key milestones include the shift to 32-bit multitasking with Windows 95, improvements in user-friendliness with Windows 7, and a focus on unified devices and modern design in Windows 10 and 11.

List of Windows:

1. Windows 1.0
2. Windows 2.0
3. Windows 3.0
4. Windows 3.1
5. Windows 95
6. Windows 98
7. Windows Me (Windows Millennium Edition)
8. Windows 2000
9. Windows XP
10. Windows Vista
11. Windows 7
12. Windows 8
13. Windows 8.1
14. Windows 10
15. Windows 11

Components of Windows:

Following are the main components of windows: -

1. Desktop – It is the very first screen that you will see once the windows start. Here you will see “My Computer”, “My Documents”, “Start Menu”, “Recycle Bin”, and the shortcuts of any applications that you might have created.

2. Taskbar - At the bottom, you will see a row which is known as the taskbar. It has the currently running applications, you can also pin applications that you frequently use by using an option “Pin to Taskbar”.

3. Start Menu - This is located in the bottom left corner of Windows OS GUI. This is the place where the user can search for any setting and for any application for their use. Users can uninstall or repair applications from the control panel. The user can do a lot of activities just by searching through the start menu.

4. My Computer – When you double click on “My Computer” menu, it will let you navigate between your different computer drives and the control panel tools. You can see and manage the contents that are inside your drive.

5. Recycle Bin – When you delete an item from any of your drives by making use of “delete” button or even by simply right clicking and selecting “delete” option, it is not deleted completely, instead, it is moved to “Recycle Bin” folder of Windows. You can recover your content if you have deleted it by mistake from here or if you choose to delete the items from here, it will get deleted permanently. Should you wish to delete the item in first go itself without moving it to recycle bin, you can use the key “Shift+Del”.

6. Notification Menu – an area located at the rightmost side of the taskbar and shows date, time, sound, network available, any new notifications etc.

7. Control Panel – provides options to customise the appearance and functionality of the computer, add hardware, add/remove programs, set up network connections etc. By default, it is displayed in category-view. It can be used to change settings form windows. It can also be used to change passwords, change auto play settings, adjust keyboard and mouse settings, add a printer etc.

Features of Windows:

The primary features of windows operating system are as follows: -

1. User Interface – windows is based on Graphical User Interface (GUI) which provides interaction between users and machine through graphics, which is easier and convenient than commands.

2. File Naming - Windows file naming is characterized by its use of file extensions to denote file types, its case-insensitive file system, and a long path length limit of 260 characters. In contrast, other operating systems like Linux are typically case-sensitive, handle directory paths with a different separator (forward slash), and may have different naming constraints and features, such as less reliance on file extensions or different path length limits. 

3. Easier Mailing Facility - MS Windows provides easier mailing features through the built-in Mail app's user-friendly graphical interface and its integration with the broader ecosystem of Microsoft services, which simplifies tasks for most users compared to the command-line or more complex mail functions found in systems like Linux or Unix-like systems. Features like the familiar interface, ease of accessing mail on desktop and touch devices, and the availability of Mail Merge in applications like Word offer a simpler experience for many users than the technical requirements of other operating systems.

4. Easier Remote Access - Windows offers straightforward remote access through its built-in Remote Desktop protocol (RDP) and the associated Windows App, which provide seamless remote control, file sharing, and printer access from various devices and platforms, including iOS, Android, and web browsers, making it simpler for users familiar with the Windows ecosystem. Other operating systems may require third-party tools or command-line interfaces that are less accessible to basic users, whereas Windows' integrated, user-friendly graphical interface simplifies setup and use.

5. Windows Search - We can have numerous files and contents located on our system and sometimes we may run out of memory about the exact location of our file. Windows Search is a search function included within Windows that allows the user to search their entire computer. 

6. Windows File Transfer - We may have the need to transfer in or transfer out the files and contents from our machine to other devices such as other computers or mobiles and tablets. We can do this by using an Easy Transfer Cable, CDs or DVDs, a USB flash drive, wireless Bluetooth, a network folder, or an external hard disk.

7. Windows Updates – windows include an automatic update feature with the intended purpose of keeping its operating system safe and up to date.

8. Windows Taskbar - At the bottom most part of your windows, you will see a row which is known as the taskbar. It has the currently running applications, you can also pin applications that you frequently use by using an option “Pin to Taskbar”. The taskbar is the main navigation tool for Windows.

9. Remote Desktop Connection - This feature of windows allows you to connect to another system and work remotely on another system.

Advantages:

Advantages of Windows are as follows: -

1. Desktop as well as tablet-friendly OS.
2. Switch between applications is very easy.
3. Not much technical knowledge is required to operate windows.
4. Windows OS is the dominant OS and enjoys more than 90% of Market share.
5. MS OS have a great support community and it also has the largest number of applications.
6. Microsoft provides a powerful set of Enterprise focused Operating System, Applications and the services making it the most dominant player in the OS market.

Disadvantages:

Disadvantages of Windows are as follows: -

1. There are privacy and security concerns and incidents, and they are widespread. Linux OS is by far most secure OS ever built.
2. Cost for upgrade is considerably high.
3. Windows OS attracts many virus programs due to its largest market share and easy to breach paradigm

Moving, Resizing and Closing a Window:

1. Moving - to move a window in Windows, you can click and drag the title bar with your mouse, use the Alt + Spacebar + M keyboard shortcut to activate a move mode with your arrow keys, or use the Win + Arrow Keys shortcuts to snap the window to a specific screen area.

2. Resizing – to resize a window, place the cursor at the boundary of a window. Whether horizontally or vertically, the mouse cursor will change to a double tipped arrow. By clicking and holding the cursor, the user can change the size by moving it accordingly.

3. Closing – to close a window, simply click the close (X) button from the title bar in the top-right corner or use short-cut key Alt+F4.

Difference between Command-Line User Interface (CUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI):