The Evolution of Operating Systems: Microsoft's Role after Apple's Success
When Apple introduced the MacOS in the late 1980s, it marked a significant milestone in the personal computer market. However, despite Apple’s innovations, it did not have a dominant market share, with desktop and laptop sales remaining around 12% for the last few years, and accounting for 10% of Apple’s revenue.
Early Attempts at Personal Computers: Sol-20 and Others
The concept of a personal computer was not pioneered by Apple but rather emerged gradually. In 1974, the Altair 8800 released, using an 8080 CPU. This computer system became foundational for the S-100 bus, influencing subsequent hardware designs. The Sol-20 was the first fully assembled home computer, released in 1976, heralding a new era of computing accessibility.
Early Windows and Unix-based Systems
Preceding the release of MacOS, several operating systems were developed for micro-computer systems. Microsoft initially acquired 8080-based OS and sold it to IBM as MS-DOS. It wasn’t until 1990 that Windows became more popular, with the release of versions 3.0 and 3.1, which supported 286 protected mode and 386 flat memory models.
Different operating systems such as Windows 95, which was the first 16/32-bit OS to support preemption, demonstrated significant advancements. OS/2, a joint venture between IBM and Microsoft, was another notable attempt but was later abandoned by Microsoft. Windows NT 3.1 marked the beginning of a new generation of 32-bit operating systems, leading to the development of subsequent versions including Windows XP and beyond, up to the latest Windows 11.
Apple’s Journey with MacOS
Apple’s versions of MacOS up to version 9 did not support preemption. The company took a significant leap forward by acquiring Next and converting its OS to create MacOS X, which was the first preemptive OS from Apple. This transition marked a critical enhancement in the operating system's functionality and performance.
Microsoft’s Response to Apple’s Innovations
The success of the Apple Macintosh, with its groundbreaking graphical user interface (GUI), spurred Microsoft to take swift action. Although MS-DOS was the initial response, the integration of GUI elements and features from the Macintosh into the development of Windows was evident. Notably, Windows, especially versions like Windows 3.0 and 3.1, began to closely replicate the user interface of the Apple Macintosh, leading to accusations of code theft.
The relationship between Apple and Microsoft has been complex. While both companies have made significant contributions to the evolution of operating systems, the timelines and developments show that Microsoft’s early DOS operating systems came before Apple’s MacOS, and their response to Apple's innovations involved both learning from and adapting these innovations into their own products.
Conclusion
Whether Microsoft created an operating system after Apple's success with MacOS is a nuanced question. In some ways, Microsoft did follow Apple's lead in several key areas, particularly in the development of graphical interfaces and 32-bit operating systems. However, the historical timeline of operating systems indicates a series of incremental advancements and adaptations across the industry, with both Apple and Microsoft playing pivotal roles.