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Windows 3.0 was released on May 22nd, 1990 and included a significantly revamped user interface as well as technical improvements to make better use of the memory management capabilities of Intel's 80286 and 80386 processors. Text-mode programs written for MS-DOS could be run within a window (a feature previously available in a more limited form with Windows/386 2.1), making the system usable as a crude multitasking base for legacy programs, though this was of limited use for the home market, where most games and entertainment programs continued to require raw DOS access.

The MS-DOS Executive file manager/program launcher was replaced with an icon-based Program Manager and a list-based File Manager, thereby simplifying the launching of applications. The MS-DOS Executive was still included as an alternative user interface program. The Control Panel, previously available as a standard-looking applet has been re-modeled after the one in Mac OS. It centralized system settings, including limited control over the color scheme of the interface. A number of simple applications were included, such as the text editor Notepad and the word processor Write (both inherited from earlier versions of Windows), a Macro Recorder (new; later dropped), and a Calculator (also inherited). The earlier Reversi game was complemented with a card puzzle named Solitare.

Windows 3.0 was the last version of Windows to advertise 100% compatibility with older Windows applications.


Microsoft Operating System Versions
Microsoft Operating System Versions:

MS-DOS: QDOS | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.11 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.21 | 3.3 | 3.3A | 3.31 | 4.0 | 4.01 | 4.01A | 5.0 | 5.0A | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.21 | 6.22 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 8.0

Windows 1.x: 1.0 | 1.01 | 1.02 | 1.03 | 1.04

Windows 2.x: 2.0 | 2.01 | 2.1 | 2.2

Windows 3.x: 3.0 | 3.0A | 3.1 | 3.11 | 3.2

Windows for Workgroups 3.x: 3.1 | 3.11

Windows 9x: 95 | 98 | ME

Windows NT: 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.51 | 4.0 | 2000 | XP | 2003

Future Windows NT: Vista | Longhorn Server | Blackcomb Server

Windows CE: 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.11 | 2.12 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 5.0

Windows Embedded: NT | XP

Windows Mobile: 2003 | 5.0

Previous Windows Codenames: Janus | Snowball | Kato | Daytona | Chicago | Memphis | Millennium | Cairo | Odyssey | Neptune | Whistler | Longhorn | Blackcomb

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