Windows 1.01 was launched 40 years ago, but it didn't start well — Microsoft's graphical OS adventures were uncompetitive at launch

Windows 1.01 was released by Microsoft 40 years ago. It was the software company’s first commercially released WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointer)-driven shell, laying the foundations for the family of shells and operating systems marketed under the Windows brand. However, the operating system faced far superior competition at launch, stifling uptake for about eight years when version 3.X landed.

Running atop of DOS, a trait that would continue for several revisions, 1985’s Windows 1.01 had the incredibly meager-sounding minimum system requirements of an Intel 8088 processor, 256KB of RAM, twin-floppy drives, and CGA graphics. A mouse was recommended, but this new-fangled input peripheral wasn’t a strict requirement.

The story goes that Bill Gates was inspired to develop a graphical shell after seeing a Visi On demo at Comdex in 1982. It took Microsoft only 11 months to publicly demo Windows for the first time. However, it wouldn’t be until November 1985 that the public could buy the software. By that time, Apple’s Macintosh had already become well established as the most desirable and user-friendly personal computer with a graphical user interface and a mouse. Moreover, legendary home computers like the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, with their own takes on graphical OSes, were months ahead of Windows 1.01’s debut.

Windows 1.0X didn't set the world alight. Arriving against clearly superior competition, Windows wouldn’t really take off until version 3.X from 1990 onwards. This coincided with the wider adoption of SVGA graphics, networking (Windows for Workgroups), and important PC game milestones such as Wing Commander, Dune II, Alone in the Dark, and Syndicate. Before Microsoft’s significant leap forward with Windows 95, we also saw momentous FPS games such as Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993) – and the processors that could drive such titles - exert their gravitational pull on beleaguered Atari and Amiga home computer users.

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Perhaps some of the most interesting aspects of Windows 1.01 that we have yet to mention are the familiarities and contrasts with Windows today. Even version 1.01 came with familiar apps like Notepad, Paint, Clock, and Calculator. There’s even a game included, Reversi. However, the way the windows tile, rather than overlap, and the task switching, seems alien to someone who has used Windows frequently since the v3.11 days.

Test if yourself

If you want to play around with Microsoft Windows 1.01, probably the quickest way to do so is by visiting the PCjs Explorer site in your browser. Opening this page, you will be greeted by an embedded IBM PC XT (Model 5160) with the luxury of 640KB of RAM, a 10MB hard disk, and an EGA Display.

U.S. customers could purchase Microsoft’s Windows 1.01 for $99 (~$300 in today’s money) from Wednesday, November 20, 1985. It was released in Europe (1.02) in May 1986.

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