The Rise of Microsoft Windows Part 2: Windows 2x

After many delays and becoming the butt of many industry jokes, Windows 1 had finally staggered onto the market at the end of 1985. It was met by basically complete indifference, as it performed poorly on most people's computers, and lacked any sort of compelling software to kickstart adoption and thereby drive more interest from software developers and users alike.

But Microsoft pressed on with the followup, Windows 2. Although most of Microsoft's time and attention was focused on their partnership with IBM to develop a shiny new operating system, OS/2, and in spite of the fact that Steve Ballmer and others inside of Microsoft saw no point in continuing to develop the successor to the original Windows release, Bill Gates refused to call a halt to its development.

Windows 2's story is a complex one, and IBM, OS/2, and OS/2's GUI Presentation Manager weave in and out of it at various points, together with Apple, HP, Compaq, and others.

It's development was also further complicated by the decision to break it into two pieces, one for 8088/8086 machines and one solely aimed at systems utilizing the powerful new 386 processor.

Battling a wide variety of obstacles, Windows 2.0 eventually succeeded in making it to market, and it and its successor Windows 2.1 eventually proved that Windows could be a viable product that could take Microsoft into the 1990s, and allow them to break free of riding the IBM tiger.

In many ways, Microsoft's incredible growth in the 1990s was rooted in the success that Windows 2x delivered. This sprawling, messy, confusing, contradictory, poorly documented and incredibly fascinating story is the focus of this video. I hope you enjoy it :)