Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarmat89
That's not correct. Microsoft embraced 286s and 386s since 1987, developing an optional 32-bit kernel for Windows which eventually became mandatory since Windows for Workgroups.
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Yes, full Win 3.1 mode had Win32s to run NT programs. Used 386 mode to task switch, had 32 bit TCP/IP and 32 bit disk drivers. But it was not a "real" OS, nor was Win9x, not in sense the MS Xenix was (only usable on specially made for UNIX/Xenix 286 computers), the 1989 MS version of OS/2 with built in LAN Manager for servers was, not in sense NT 3.1 Windows was (1993).
I maintained, installed and programmed those (except NT 3.1, didn't use it till NT 3.5). I also gave training courses.
A decent PC was not cheap and Windows was pretty rubbish till early 1992 when Windows 3.1 came out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_3.1x
Almost all 286 PCs only ran DOS. Most 386 computers were still running only DOS programs even in 1990. DOS only used 8086/8088 instructions on 286 (real 16 bit CPU) and 386/486/Pentium and could not address more than 64K without paging (Segment register). Kludges such as Expanded and Extended memory.
I remember well my AST 386 with three big memory cards in 1992 to run WFW 3.11 because most 386 motherboards had 640K or 1M. Fortunately I got a 486 then too. I was also running Minix and DR Multi Dos with serial connected PCs in 1990.
Boxes running Xenix or OS/2 were not regular PCs.
I still have my original Win 3.0 installed to run in DOS Box. I think I might have Win 286 and Win 386 in the attic.
The Pentium Pro ran NT much faster than a Pentium. But Windows 9x ran slower because there was so much native 8086 code. The Pentium Pro had no simple way to to return to 8086 mode (Needed for Win3.x, Win 9.x and ME) NT ran any old Windows or DOS code on NT VDM and never executed any 8086 code natively, so it ran well on the Pentium Pro. The PII was slower on NT than the earlier Pro, but ran Win9x faster than original Pentium or Pro, because it had the fast switch to native 8086 code mode. Simplified explanation. Hence the DEC Alpha and Power PC etc could run their native NT but only run 8086 code (on the NTVDM). They couldn't run 386, 486 or Pentium code. There was even a 64 bit NT 4.0 for the Alpha. The next 64 bit was XP for the Itanium, which was one of the shortest supported OS from MS. It was HP's idea that Intel did and a failure compared with the AMD expansion to 64 bit.
But by 1987 the ARM based Archimedes had RiscOS and UNIX.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Archimedes
Apple helped fund ARM development to use it in the Newton (Killed by Jobs because it wasn't his idea).
The first widely used Smartphone was the Nokia Communicator N9110 using a 486 clone in 1998 and a real 32 bit OS (monochrome). The next main version was the N9210, ARM based which was also colour and used CCFL backlight in 2001. The N9210i had LED backlight and improved Internet access (I had it and the N9110).
Now Apple and MS are doing ARM laptops.
The IBM choice of 8088 (8086 code) and MSDOS did hold back computing by 10 years, and Intel and actual IBM brand PCs were never cheap. It was the clone 486s and clone PCs that brought down the price.