Windows Evolved: 20 Years of PC Progress

1. Windows 3.1

While Windows 1 and 2 were just graphical shells for the MS-DOS operating system designed to be used with keyboard controls, with Windows 3.x, Microsoft took a gamble with (then fairly uncommon) mouse control. The system boasted large, colorful icons that one could click to run programs. The company introduced "Program Manager" for launching programs. It became the desktop homescreen, appearing when you started your PC in Windows mode. Meanwhile, people used the new "File Manager" option to manage files and drives. There were no right-click commands. The most common way to switch between running programs was the Alt+Tab shortcut.

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As Microsoft launches Windows 8 and we await consumer reaction to the radical redesign of the tiled Start screen, we thought it would be an interesting exercise to look back at the history of Windows' user interface.

From the early days of MS-DOS, when mice were considered unnecessary, to the introduction of the Start button and the various tweaks since, it's incredible how far Windows design has come over the years.

SEE ALSO: The History of Windows in Startup Sounds

Take a look through our image gallery above for a quick trip back in time. Share your memories of Windows with the Mashable readership in the comments section below.

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