What Came Before Windows?

Before Windows: A Journey Through Computing's Past

Microsoft Windows reigns supreme as the world's leading operating system. But its dominance wasn't inevitable. Let's explore the computing landscape that preceded Windows.

Pre-Screen Computing: Plug Boards, Punch Cards, and Printouts

Imagine a world without screens! Early computers, like the ENIAC and IBM mainframes, relied on physical methods. Users programmed using plug boards—a system of cables inserted into slots to perform calculations, resembling a telephone switchboard.

Punch cards, originating in the late 1800s, encoded data and instructions via punched holes in stiff paper. Output wasn't displayed but printed on long paper rolls by line printers—a very low refresh rate indeed! Teletypes provided another output method.

The Command Line Era

The 1960s and 70s saw the rise of interactive computing via command-line interfaces (CLIs). Display technology allowed for text-based interaction. Operating systems like UNIX and CP/M standardized commands and file management. MS-DOS, a precursor to Windows, also used this approach. Many commands from these early systems still function in modern Linux, demonstrating remarkable continuity.

Xerox's Graphical Innovation and Missed Opportunity

Xerox PARC's 1970s research pioneered graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The Xerox Alto (1973) featured windows, icons, menus, and a mouse—groundbreaking innovations. However, Xerox failed to commercialize the Alto successfully. While not the first GUI, Doug Engelbart's 1968 "Mother of all demos" showcased many of these concepts. The commercially released Xerox Star, while graphically advanced, also failed to gain traction.

Apple's Lisa: A Vision Ahead of Its Time

Inspired by Xerox's work, Apple's 1983 Lisa incorporated a GUI with icons representing files and drives. However, its high cost and slow performance hindered its market success, despite showcasing the potential of GUIs.

The Macintosh: A GUI Revolution

Apple's 1984 Macintosh offered a more affordable and efficient GUI, sparking a personal computing revolution. Its iconic Super Bowl commercial cemented its image. While not an immediate blockbuster, it set the stage for widespread GUI adoption, alongside competitors like the Atari ST and Amiga 1000. MS-DOS suddenly seemed outdated.

GEM: A Contender Before Windows

Digital Research's GEM (Graphical Environment Manager), released in 1985, provided a Macintosh-like desktop environment. Its ease of use contrasted sharply with the complexity of command-line systems. A legal battle with Apple, however, hampered its development and potential. A BBC documentary from 1986 highlights the significance of GUIs and compares GEM to Windows.

Windows 1.0 and the Path to Dominance

Microsoft, already established with MS-DOS, recognized the GUI's future. Windows 1.0 (1985), a graphical shell for MS-DOS, marked its entry into the GUI market. Though primitive by today's standards, it laid the groundwork for future iterations. Windows 3.1 propelled Microsoft to dominance, building upon the foundation established by earlier systems.

The journey from plug boards to Windows illustrates the evolution of computing, highlighting the innovations and challenges that shaped the modern digital landscape.

The above is the detailed content of What Came Before Windows?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!