A brief history of Microsoft Windows

Beleaguered Microsoft has finally realeased its Windows 10 operating system, which it hopes will reverse its fortunes in the mobile industry. The core code will run on PCs, tablets, Windows Phones and Xbox*
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COMPANY PERFORMANCE (NASDAQ Stock Market)

0 10 20 30 40 50 $60

1990 95 2000 05 10 15

Bill Gates, original CEO †

Microsoft IPO Mar 13, 1986 Close: $0.07

Dec 27, 1999 Close: $59.56

Jun 28, 2015 Close: $45.34

Jan 13, 2000: Steve Balmer becomes CEO

1987-2003: Nine stock splits

Feb 4, 2014: Satya Nadella becomes CEO

“1.0”‡“2.0” (no data) “3.0” 30 million “95” 20m “98” 75m “ME” (no data) “XP” 1 billion

“Vista” 200m “7” 600m “8” 200m

WINDOWS VERSIONS Licences sold (approximate figures)

*Launching on XBox One Autumn 2015 †Founded company Apr 4, 1975 ‡Launched Nov 20, 1985
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Sources: IBTimes, Time, Microsoft, ZDNet, wire agencies

Picture: AP

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