6. WINDOWS 3
Released on 22 May 1990.
It was known “Janus”.
Was the most popular amongst the Win
1, 2 and 3 as it improved its User
Interface (UI) and gave serious
competition to Apple’s Macintosh
Computers.
It sold nearly 10 million copies in 2 years
before the new version was released.
Improved VGA graphics and enhanced
mode allowed applications to use more
memory in a more painless manner.
Was compatible with any processor –
8088/8086.
Also released a “multimedia version”
which was bundled with multimedia
upgrade tools and comprised of a CD-
ROM and SOUND CARD.
Windows 3
MS-DOS version 3.1 or later.
One floppy-disk drive and one
hard disk with 6-7 MB of free
space.
Graphics adapter card (IBM
EGA, IBM VGA, IBM 8514, IBM
CGA, Hercules Graphics Card,
or compatibles).
Use of the Microsoft Mouse
is optional.
512K Memory.
640K Conventional Memory.
256K Extended Memory.
System
Configuration
7.
8. Name Release date Latest version Status support Source model Codename OS required Architecture Editions Target market
Windows 1.0 1985-11-20
1.04 (1987-04-
08)
Unsupported
(2001-12-31)
Closed source
Interface
Manager
DOS 2.0 or
higher
16-bit Desktops
Windows 1.0
DR5
Pre-release
version
0.9 (1984)
Unsupported
(1985)
Closed source
Interface
Manager
DOS 2.2 Only 16-bit Desktops
Windows 2.0 1987-12-09
2.03 (1987-12-
09)
Unsupported
(2001-12-31)
Closed source ? 16-bit Desktops
Windows 2.1x 1988-05-27
2.11 (1989-03-
13)
Unsupported
(2001-12-31)
Closed source ? 16-bit Desktops
Windows 3.0 1990-05-22
3.0a with
Multimedia
Extensions
(1991-10-20)
Unsupported
(2001-12-31)
Closed source
DOS 3.1 or
higher
16-bit
Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0a
Windows 3.0a
with
Multimedia
Extensions
Desktops
Windows 3.1x 1992-04-06
3.11 (1993-12-
31)
Unsupported
(2001-12-31)
Closed source
•3.1: Janus
•3.1 for
Workgroups:
Kato
•3.11:
Snowball (LB)
•3.11 for
Workgroups:
Sparta
DOS 3.3 or
higher
16-bit
Windows 3.1
(build 040)
Windows for
Workgroups
3.1
Windows 3.11
Windows for
Workgroups
3.11
Windows 3.2
(Simplified
Chinese only)
Desktops
