By Ajibola Olaniyan with Agency report
On Thursday 10th November 1983,founder and president of Microsoft,Mr Bill Gates unveiled Microsoft Windows software and later introduced Microsoft Windows 1.0 on Wednesday 20th November 1985 at a graphical user interface in 16-bit and sold a copy at $100.00.
He released Microsoft Windows 2.0 on Wednesday 9th December 1987 with big innovation that windows could overlap each other, and it also introduced the ability to minimize or maximize windows instead of “iconizing” or “zooming”. Windows 386 was introduced on same day (Wednesday 9th December 1987) that Windows 2.0 was released and sold at same price of $100.00 and later Windows 286 in June 1988 at the same price.
Microsoft Windows 3.0 was released on Tuesday 22nd May, 1990 with full version that required hard drive and the first version to see more widespread success and be considered a challenger to Apple’s Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga graphical user interface. It has the ability to run MS-DOS programmes in windows, which brought multi-tasking to legacy programmes, and supported 256 colours bringing a more modern, colourful look to the interface. It was the one that introduced the card-moving timesink (and mouse use trainer) Solitaire.
In April 1992, Microsoft Windows 3.1 was released and sold more than one million copies within the first two months of its release. It was tagged a notable Window because it introduced TrueType fonts making Windows a viable publishing platform for the first time and also made Minesweeper its first appearance. Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time and also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, although once installed on a hard drive it only took up 10 to 15MB (a CD can typically store up to 700MB).
Thursday 24th Augustn 1995, Microsoft Windows 95 was released and sold more than one million copies in four days. Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 and with it brought the first ever Start button and Start menu and also introduced the concept of ‘plug and play’ : connect a peripheral and the operating system finds the appropriate drivers for it and makes it work. That was the idea; it didn’t always work in practice. Internet Explorer also made its debut on Windows 95, but was not installed by default requiring the Windows 95 Plus pack.
Windows 98 was release in June 1998. It was a newer version of Windows 95 and brought with it IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat and NetShow Player, which was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2 in Windows 98 Second Edition on Friday 5th May, 1999.
Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories ,one driver to support all future versions of Windows. USB support was much improved in Windows 98 and led to its widespread adoption, including USB hubs and USB mice.
On Thursday, 17th February 2000 Microsoft Windows 2000 was released and was based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT and later became the basis for Windows XP. Microsoft’s automatic updating played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation.
Windows ME (Millennium) was released on Monday 19th June, 2000 and considered a low point in the Windows series by many because it was the last Windows to be based on MS-DOS, and the last in the Windows 9x line. Windows ME made IE 5.5, Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker all made their appearance for the first time. Autocomplete also appeared in Windows Explorer, but the operating system was notorious for being buggy, failing to install properly and being generally poor.
The month of October 2001 was when Bill Gates made Microsoft Windows XP known worldwide it is arguably one of the best Windows versions, that brought Microsoft’s enterprise and consumer line of operating systems under one roof. It was based on Windows NT like Windows 2000, but brought the consumer-friendly elements from Windows ME. The Start menu and task bar got a visual overhaul, bringing the familiar green Start button, blue task bar and vista wallpaper, along with various shadow and other visual effects. ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were built-in CD burning, autoplay from CDs and other media, plus various automated update and recovery tools, that unlike Windows ME actually worked. Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall built in, it was turned off by default.
Windows XP’s huge popularity turned out to be a boon for hackers and criminals, who exploited its flaws, especially in Internet Explorer, mercilessly – leading Bill Gates to initiate a “Trustworthy Computing” initiative and the subsequent issuance to Service Pack updates that hardened XP against attack substantially.
Thursday 30th November, 2006 was the day Microsoft Windows Vista was released after Windows XP stayed the course for close to six years, it updated the look and feel of Windows with more focus on transparent elements, search and security. Its development, under the codename “Longhorn”, was troubled, with ambitious elements abandoned in order to get it into production. It ran slowly on older computers despite them being deemed as “Vista Ready” – a labelling that saw it sued because not all versions of Vista could run on PCs with that label. Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 debuted, along with Windows Defender an anti-spyware programme. Vista also included speech recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery, as well as being the first Windows to be distributed on DVD. Later a version of Windows Vista without Windows Media Player was created in response to anti-trust investigations.
Zenith Bank donates ultra-modern ICT Centre to UNN
In demonstration of its vision to partner with the critical sector of the Nigerian economy, Zenith Bank Plc, over the weekend, donated an ultra-modern ICT Centre to Nigeria’s premier university, The University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The centre parades, among other state-of-the-art facilities, two e-learning training halls equipped with over 200 computer sets and training facilities, an exhibition and training halls, conference hall, server/online facilities, Wi-Fi facility, executive offices for the Centre’s director and other officials.
Speaking at the project’s commissioning last Friday, the elated Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, who led the university’s management team, commended Zenith Bank’s management for the project, which he said, came at a very auspicious moment when the university was planning to roll out an incubation park to drive the university’s entrepreneurship aspirations.
The VC who described Zenith Bank as “a genuine partner in progress”, said the Centre was the first of its kind in the South eastern part of Nigeria adding that it would impact the university community positively, especially in the areas of learning and research.
While calling on other private organisations to emulate Zenith Bank’s gesture by exploring other areas of partnership with the university or indeed, other universities in Nigeria generally, the VC said, with the event coinciding with the 56th Founders’ Day ceremonies of the University, it had become evident that the dreams of the founding fathers of the university were being fulfilled.
Speaking earlier, the representative of the Bank’s Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Amangbo, also Zonal Head of the Bank; Enugu/Ebonyi Zone, Mr. Ifeanyi Dike; said the centre was part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility, aimed at boosting e-learning and impacting quality research by the university that would, in turn, positively impact the rest of society and humanity at large.
He further said, with an ATM Gallery also provided by the Bank to complement the Centre, it was the Bank’s hope the centre would become a one-stop-shop where banking services can easily and conveniently be accessed by the users of the facility; even as he expressed optimism that the facility will also serve as a training Centre for the students on information technology as well as employment generation.
Other facilities provided by the Bank at the Centre include; solar panels, two 100KVA generators and a 100KVA transformer to guaranty power 24/7; borehole facility and water treatment plants, among others.