3. Read and translate the text

The term Windows is used as a collective term for several generations of operating system products which can be classified into the following categories : 16-bit operating environments, Hybrid 16/32-bit operating environments, 32-bit operating systems, 64-bit operating systems.

The early versions of Windows were just graphical user interfaces or d esktops, mostly because they used the underlying MS-DOS for file system services and all operating processes. Soon, 16-bit Windows versions would have their own executable file format and provide their own device drivers (graphics, printer, mouse, keyboard and sound). Unlike DOS, the Windows environment allowed all users to execute multiple graphical applications at the same time (cooperative multitasking). The first independent version of Microsoft Windows, version 1.0, released in 1985, lacked a degree of functionality and achieved little popularity. Windows 1.0 did not provide a complete operating system; rather, it extended MS-DOS.

W indows 3.0, released in 1990

W indows 3.0 (1990) and Windows 3.1 (1992) improved the design, mostly because of virtual memory and loadable virtual device drivers which allowed them to share arbitrary devices between multitasked DOS windows. Also, Windows applications could now run in protected mode (when Windows was running in Standard or 386 Enhanced Mode), which gave them access to several megabytes of memory and removed the obligation to participate in the software virtual memory scheme. They still ran inside the same address space, where the segmented memory provided a degree of protection. For Windows 3.0, Microsoft also rewrote critical operations from C into assembly.

The most obvious feature of the more recent Windows versions (since Windows 95 and NT 4.0) besides the window, is the desktop, which holds various icons, or graphical objects that the user can double-click to open. Windows has produced a significant change in the way people interact with computers; it is possible to perform most common tasks, some quite complex, with very little computer knowledge.

Another quite significant feature of Windows since Windows 95 is the Start Button and Start Menu, which gives users access to installed programs and many of the other features of the operating system. It is attached to the taskbar (blue in the picture on the right).

Windows XP introduced a new visual style dubbed "Luna", which updated the classic Windows style (a plain grey box look) with a more graphical a ppearance. The new style features bold colors and a larger titlebar and start button, which some people have labelled immature or childish. Users can still elect to use the old Windows 9x/2000 visual style.

There is a view that modern operating systems need to cater to the vastly increased user base with a lower average computer skill level and the increased power and complexity of modern computer systems. However, some users accuse the Windows interface of isolating the user from too much of the inner workings of the computer, making it more difficult to control, configure and troubleshoot some system features.

Windows also comes with features to help the disabled through its accessibility options. Under Windows XP, these features include the Narrator, Magnifier and contrast display mode.

Microsoft Windows is installed on the majority of personal computers. A July 2005 poll of Network Computing magazine readers found that 87% of their organizations used Microsoft's desktop operating systems. It achieved enormous market penetration due to the domination of MS-DOS in the early days of PC compatible computers (IBM-PC clones). It is also the primary platform for Microsoft Office and many computer games.

Microsoft Operating System has also benefited from not being tied to the success of one choice for much of the market. Most consumers do not delete Windows or install another operating system.

For some consumers, Windows is the only valid option as their computing environment, additionally, the unfamiliarity with most other operating systems limits the desire, to switch to other operating systems. Further, a growing part of the computer market lacks the technical knowledge needed to install an operating system.

Finally, the large software base of programs available for the Windows family of operating systems has become the single largest self-perpetuating reason for the popularity of Windows. In recent years, many companies have started up with the sole intention of releasing Windows software; the fact that there is already a large customer base in place is reason enough for such companies to only spend resources on Windows software development. In turn, the fact that many companies are supporting Windows exclusively is reason for many customers to choose Windows.

Recent Windows versions such as Windows Vista, Windows 7 have new f eatures and functionalities not present in its predecessors.

F or example Windows Vista system load time is shorter than Windows XP and on most computers it is less than 1 minute. The new Windows Vista shell differs significantly from the shell in Windows XP, offering a new range of organization, navigation, and search capabilities. A transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place Desktop Gadgets, which are small applets designed for a specialized purpose (such as displaying the weather or sports scores). Gadgets can also be placed on other parts of the desktop.

Windows 7 also includes a number of new features, such as advances in touch and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved boot performance, kernel improvements etc. Many new items have been added to the Control Panel, including Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Location and Other Sensors, Biometric Devices, System Icons, and Display and so on.

Security has been a major weakness of Windows for many years. Due to the widespread usage of Windows on desktops, many crackers (also known as Black Hat hackers) have targeted. Windows rather than the lesser used operating systems such as Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, and FreeBSD. Additionally most modern operating systems were designed for security in a multi-user and/or networked environment and have a relatively small number of security issues. Windows was originally designed for ease-of-use on a single-user PC without a network connection, and did not have security features built in from the outset. Combined with occasionally flawed code (such as buffer overflows), Windows is a continuous target of worms and virus writers.

Microsoft publicly admitted their ongoing security problems shortly after the turn of the century and now claims to regard security as their number one priority. As a result, Service Pack 2 for Windows XP greatly increases the security. Microsoft releases security patches through its Windows Update service approximately, once a month, although critical updates are made available at shorter intervals. In Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 updates can be automatically downloaded and installed if the user selects to do so.