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Why is it Windows *7*?

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by Charles Lavin, Oct 22, 2009.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Charles Lavin

    Charles Lavin Guest

    Hi --

    The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    this here ... [​IMG]

    I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:

    Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    the Windows desktop family:

    Windows 3
    Windows 95 = Windows 4
    Windows 98 = Windows 5
    Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    Windows XP = Windows 8
    Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)

    That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.

    Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...

    So what's the reason for this name?
     
    Charles Lavin, Oct 22, 2009
    #1
  3. Saucy

    Saucy Guest

    IMHO:

    It was the code name. Windows Vista had the 6.0 of the kernel version. I
    guess they originally planned a number 7 kernel. But it turned out to be
    version 6.1. Anyway, the beta version was codenamed "7". Usually they would
    later change it to something else, but the feedback on the name "Windows 7"
    during beta was so positive that they just stuck with it.

    Saucy



    "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Hi --
    >
    > The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    > this here ... [​IMG]
    >
    > I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    > answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >
    > Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    > the Windows desktop family:
    >
    > Windows 3
    > Windows 95 = Windows 4
    > Windows 98 = Windows 5
    > Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    > Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    > Windows XP = Windows 8
    > Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >
    > That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >
    > Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    > Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >
    > So what's the reason for this name?
    >
    >
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Saucy, Oct 22, 2009
    #2
  4. Al

    Al Guest

    Rather simple reason - it's the seventh version of windows beginning with
    3.0.
     
    Al, Oct 22, 2009
    #3
  5. Jim

    Jim Guest

    It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence,
    whatever their internal name may be, they don't count.

    NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a
    PC.
    Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000
    Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP
    Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista
    Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.
    Jim
    "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Hi --
    >
    > The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    > this here ... [​IMG]
    >
    > I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    > answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >
    > Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    > the Windows desktop family:
    >
    > Windows 3
    > Windows 95 = Windows 4
    > Windows 98 = Windows 5
    > Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    > Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    > Windows XP = Windows 8
    > Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >
    > That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >
    > Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    > Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >
    > So what's the reason for this name?
    >
    >
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Jim, Oct 22, 2009
    #4
  6. David Webb

    David Webb Guest

    David Webb, Oct 22, 2009
    #5
  7. David Webb

    David Webb Guest

    I think you may be revising history a bit.

    The first version of Windows NT was 3.1. See this link for details:


    For the full list of Windows versions, see this link:

    List of Microsoft Windows versions



    "Jim" <j.n@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
    news:Ory%23PD3UKHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    > Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence, whatever
    > their internal name may be, they don't count.
    >
    > NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a PC.
    > Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000
    > Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP
    > Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista
    > Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.
    > Jim
    > "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    > news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> Hi --
    >>
    >> The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post this
    >> here ... [​IMG]
    >>
    >> I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    >> answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >>
    >> Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    >> the Windows desktop family:
    >>
    >> Windows 3
    >> Windows 95 = Windows 4
    >> Windows 98 = Windows 5
    >> Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    >> Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    >> Windows XP = Windows 8
    >> Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >>
    >> That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >>
    >> Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    >> Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >>
    >> So what's the reason for this name?
    >>
    >>
    >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    David Webb, Oct 22, 2009
    #6
  8. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:07:13 -0400, Charles Lavin wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Hi --
    >
    > The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    > this here ... [​IMG]
    >
    > I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    > answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >
    > Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    > the Windows desktop family:
    >
    > Windows 3
    > Windows 95 = Windows 4
    > Windows 98 = Windows 5
    > Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    > Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    > Windows XP = Windows 8
    > Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >
    > That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >
    > Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    > Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >
    > So what's the reason for this name?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    All those other replies are wrong. The real reason is that "7" is
    hexadecimal for 10.

    Seriousness aside, maybe they just did it because 7 is a lucky number.

    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Oct 22, 2009
    #7
  9. Charles Lavin

    Charles Lavin Guest

    Why beginning with version 3.0? The first version of Windows was Windows
    1.01.


    "Al" <ajrjdr@comcast.net> wrote in message
    news:OWfAKC3UKHA.2836@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Rather simple reason - it's the seventh version of windows beginning with
    > 3.0. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Charles Lavin, Oct 22, 2009
    #8
  10. Charles Lavin

    Charles Lavin Guest

    That makes sense ... since Windows 98 and earlier are technically not
    operating systems.

    Thanks


    "Jim" <j.n@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
    news:Ory%23PD3UKHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    > Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence,
    > whatever their internal name may be, they don't count.
    >
    > NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a
    > PC.
    > Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000
    > Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP
    > Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista
    > Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.
    > Jim
    > "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    > news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> Hi --
    >>
    >> The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    >> this here ... [​IMG]
    >>
    >> I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    >> answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >>
    >> Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version
    >> of the Windows desktop family:
    >>
    >> Windows 3
    >> Windows 95 = Windows 4
    >> Windows 98 = Windows 5
    >> Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    >> Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    >> Windows XP = Windows 8
    >> Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >>
    >> That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >>
    >> Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    >> Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >>
    >> So what's the reason for this name?
    >>
    >>
    >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Charles Lavin, Oct 22, 2009
    #9
  11. Charles Lavin

    Charles Lavin Guest

    LOL --- almost ...

    If it had been Windows 8, you could have claimed that 8 is 10 in octal ...


    "Gene E. Bloch" <not-me@other.invalid> wrote in message
    news:10t5rkw7r084c.1aidwaizodib1.dlg@40tude.net...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:07:13 -0400, Charles Lavin wrote:
    ><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> Hi --
    >>
    >> The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    >> this here ... [​IMG]
    >>
    >> I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    >> answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >>
    >> Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version
    >> of
    >> the Windows desktop family:
    >>
    >> Windows 3
    >> Windows 95 = Windows 4
    >> Windows 98 = Windows 5
    >> Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    >> Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    >> Windows XP = Windows 8
    >> Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >>
    >> That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >>
    >> Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    >> Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >>
    >> So what's the reason for this name?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > All those other replies are wrong. The real reason is that "7" is
    > hexadecimal for 10.
    >
    > Seriousness aside, maybe they just did it because 7 is a lucky number.
    >
    > --
    > Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Charles Lavin, Oct 22, 2009
    #10
  12. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:38:46 -0500, "Jim" <j.n@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    > Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence,
    > whatever their internal name may be, they don't count.
    >
    > NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a
    > PC.
    > Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Yes.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Yes.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Yes.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Big surprise perhaps, but no! Check the under-the-hood name by issuing
    the VER command from a command Window. Windows 7 is Windows 6.1, not
    7.0


    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 22, 2009
    #11
  13. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:49:14 -0400, "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > That makes sense ... since Windows 98 and earlier are technically not
    > operating systems.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    A statement many people make, but one with which I thoroughly
    disagree.

    They *are* operating systems. Read here, for example:


    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "Jim" <j.n@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
    > news:Ory%23PD3UKHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    > > It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    > > Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence,
    > > whatever their internal name may be, they don't count.
    > >
    > > NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a
    > > PC.
    > > Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000
    > > Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP
    > > Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista
    > > Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.
    > > Jim
    > > "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    > > news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    > >> Hi --
    > >>
    > >> The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    > >> this here ... [​IMG]
    > >>
    > >> I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    > >> answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    > >>
    > >> Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version
    > >> of the Windows desktop family:
    > >>
    > >> Windows 3
    > >> Windows 95 = Windows 4
    > >> Windows 98 = Windows 5
    > >> Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    > >> Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    > >> Windows XP = Windows 8
    > >> Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    > >>
    > >> That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    > >>
    > >> Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    > >> Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    > >>
    > >> So what's the reason for this name?
    > >>
    > >>
    > >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > >
    > >
    > > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 22, 2009
    #12
  14. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    Because first was 3.0, quickly replaced with 3.1 as 3.0 bombed itself out;
    then was Win95 (4th generation), then Win98/ME (5th), famed Windows2000/XP
    (6th), and now Windows7.

    You're too young to remember Windows3.1, but I was already 19 years old by
    then and have used it for several years before WIn98 (I skipped WIn85).

    And in most countries people have better engineering brains and use numbers,
    only in late 1990's suddenly technical things began to be labeled with
    catchy/cute labels like 'Windows XP", or "Nissan Altima"
    Numberin system was before that and now we're returning to it somewhat, and
    that's great.
    The number 7 tells me "generation 7, after generation 6" and it's more
    technical instead of ever increasing vocabulary of catchy labels I don't
    want to waste cognitive capacity to recognize.

    What does Vista mean? That is far more senseless than naming that OS
    "Windows 6", but now it's engineer speaking in me.
    For you 'Vista" may sound nicer!
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #13
  15. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    Because all versions before 3.0, or actually 3.1 were commercially unfit.
    Sort of experiments, computers were weak and I do rememeber suffering even
    in Windows3.1 with endless GPF errors, let alone Windows 1.0!!
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #14
  16. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    Because all versions before 3.0, or actually 3.1 were commercially unfit.
    Sort of experiments, computers were weak and I do rememeber suffering even
    in Windows3.1 with endless GPF errors, let alone Windows 1.0!!
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #15
  17. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    the first version of Windows regular, not NT was also 3.1
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #16
  18. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    Nonsense.
    ALl Windows were OS's
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #17
  19. STAN STARINSKI

    STAN STARINSKI Guest

    Either you trying to be funny or pretending to know what you DON'T.

    A Hexadecimal for 10 is letter "A":
    Please know the subject before you post assumptions.
     
    STAN STARINSKI, Oct 22, 2009
    #18
  20. Rick Rogers

    Rick Rogers Guest

    Wrong family.

    WinNT (vers. 1-3)
    WinNT4/Win2K (vers.4)
    WinXP (ver.5)
    WinVista (ver. 6)

    Wins 3.x, 95, 98, and ME were part the now-dead 9x line built on MS's
    orginal DOS. Win7 is from the WinNT line.

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

    Windows help -

    "Charles Lavin" <x@x.x> wrote in message
    news:OEU3DQ2UKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Hi --
    >
    > The only Windows 7 ng I can find is an Italian one, so I guess I'll post
    > this here ... [​IMG]
    >
    > I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder about this, but I can't find an
    > answer anywhere. Maybe someone here can enlighten me:
    >
    > Why is the new Windows OS named Windows 7? It's not the seventh version of
    > the Windows desktop family:
    >
    > Windows 3
    > Windows 95 = Windows 4
    > Windows 98 = Windows 5
    > Windows Me = Windows 6 (or maybe 5.5, or maybe 0 ... but still ...)
    > Windows 2000 desktop = Windows 7
    > Windows XP = Windows 8
    > Windows Vista = Windows 9 (or maybe another 0 ... but still ...)
    >
    > That would make Windows 7 the 10th desktop version of Windows.
    >
    > Even eliminating Windows Me and Windows Vista from the list would make
    > Windows 7 the 8th desktop version of Windows ...
    >
    > So what's the reason for this name?
    >
    >
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Rick Rogers, Oct 23, 2009
    #19
  21. Gordon

    Gordon Guest

    "Jim" <j.n@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
    news:Ory#PD3UKHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > It is the seventh version of Windows NT.
    > Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, and ME are not based on Windows NT. Hence,
    > whatever their internal name may be, they don't count.
    >
    > NT 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never available to the general public for use on a
    > PC.
    > Windows NT5 was called Windows 2000
    > Windows NT5.1 was called Windows XP
    > Windows NT6 is called Windows Vista
    > Windows NT7 is called Windows 7.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    Err no. Winver in my 7 Home Premium tells me it's build 6.1.......
     
    Gordon, Oct 23, 2009
    #20
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