Source: Time, Nov 2014
“It Took Microsoft 3 Tries Before Windows Was Successful”
… not even Windows 2.0, released in 1987, set Windows on its path to world dominance.
That spark didn’t come until Windows 3.0, released in 1990 to critical acclaim and widespread adoption, thanks to a redesigned interface and speed improvements. As TIME put it in the June 4 issue of that year, “Microsoft seems to have got it right this time.”
Related Resource:
Wired, Dec 2008
Released in 1990, Windows 3.0 was a complete overhaul. A new file-management system and enhanced graphics finally made the Windows PC a competitor to the Mac — six years on. The OS had a new look, and protected and enhanced operating modes for more efficient memory handling. Windows 3.0 was a huge success, selling 10 million copies in two years.