Windows 2.0
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Windows 2.0
(Part of the Microsoft Windows family)
Screenshot
Developer
Microsoft
Release information
Release date:	November 1987 info
Current version:	2.03, November 1987 info
Source model:	Closed source
License:	Microsoft EULA
Support status
Unsupported as of December 31, 2001

Windows 2.0 was a 16-bit Microsoft Windows graphical user interface-based operating environment that superseded Windows 1.0. Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386 in 1988. Windows 2.0, Windows/286 and Windows/386 were superseded by Windows 3.0 in May 1990.

History

Application support

The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel run on Windows 2.0. Third-party developer support for Windows increased substantially with this version (some shipped the Windows Runtime software with their applications, for customers who had not purchased the full version of Windows). However, most developers still maintained DOS versions of their applications, as Windows users were still a distinct minority of their market.

AT&T

Windows 2.0 was packaged with AT&T Computers as test software for many educational institutions. This variation of Windows 2.0 has "plug 'n' play" capabilities^{citation needed}.

Legal conflict with Apple

Main article: Apple v. Microsoft

On March 17, 1988, Apple filed suit against Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, accusing them of violating copyrights Apple held on the Macintosh System Software.^[1] Apple claimed the "look and feel" of the Macintosh operating system, taken as a whole, was protected by copyright and that Windows 2.0 violated this copyright by looking extremely similar to it.

Features

Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each other, unlike its predecessor Windows 1.0, which could only display tiled windows. Windows 2.0 also introduced more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts and the terminology of "Minimize" and "Maximize", as opposed to "Iconize" and "Zoom" in Windows 1.0.

References

1. ^ "1980 – 1989: An Industrial Milestone". The Apple Museum. Retrieved on 2006-06-25.

External links

• GUIdebook: Windows 2.0 Gallery – A website dedicated to preserving and showcasing Graphical User Interfaces
• GUI Gallery Review of Windows 2.0
• Microsoft article with details about the different versions of Windows