
                               Executive Summary

                             Microsoft Backgrounder

                   Microsoft Windows Environment Version 3.1
                                  August 1991

     Overview

     With more than 4 million copies sold since the announcement of version
     3.0 in May 1990, the end user community has affirmed its support for
     the Microsoft Windows environment. Users have made Windows the best-
     selling retail software product of all time and the second most
     popular operating system ever (after MS-DOS). More than 200,000
     Windows users have attended Microsoft-sponsored conferences,
     workshops, shows and 20 third-party events this year. And users have
     made Windows applications the fastest growing segment of the total
     software applications market, according to data from Software
     Publisher Association and other sources.

     It is fitting, then, that Microsoft should look to users to understand
     how to advance Windows in its next release, version 3.1. In the year
     since the announcement of version 3.0, Microsoft has conducted an
     unprecedented campaign to reach out and listen to the feedback and
     comments of the Windows installed base. This feedback collection
     process has taken several forms:

     A commissioned survey of 11,000 U.S. households revealed Windows usage
     patterns, satisfaction levels, favorite and least favorite features as
     well as data about the hardware configuration of typical Windows
     users. This data was particularly interesting in that it was a "pure"
     user pool, not biased toward users who are more likely to register
     their software, subscribe to a particular magazine, etc.

     Microsoft "Strike Teams" fanned out to gather data from corporate
     Windows 3.0 users. Nearly 90 percent of the suggestions resulting from
     these meetings have been implemented in Windows 3.1.

       About two thousand Windows users called Microsoft Product Support
     Services each day for more information about using Windows. From these
     calls, PSS has developed an extensive knowledgebase; a representative
     from PSS served on the Windows 3.1 design committee. The 10 most
     commonly asked questions have been addressed in Windows

       An active CompuServe support forum through the auspices of the
     Windows Presentation Manager Association (WPMA) resulted in extensive
     suggestions and feedback.

     User suggestions were the driving force behind the improvements and
     new features in version 3.1. As an important evolutionary step in what
     is planned to be a long series of Windows-based operating systems from
     Microsoft, Windows version 3.1 will offer refinements to version 3.0
     that are designed to bring greater ease of use, functionality, and
     performance to Windows users while maintaining backward compatibility
     with Windows version 3.0 applications. These refinements fall into the
     following categories:

     . Improved usability and performance
     . Application and system robustness
     . TrueType scalable font technology
     . Improved application integration
     . Extensions for new computing platforms

     This paper will describe the key added features of Windows version 3.1
     in greater detail .

     Improved Usability and Performance

     Among the results of the extensive feedback from users of Windows
     version 3.0 are significant enhancements to the usability of the
     Windows environment. Dozens of improvements will be immediately
     noticeable, while hundreds of others work behind the scenes to support
     the new features. While many of them are minor, taken together, these
     improvements contribute to a smoother, more responsive user
     interaction with Windows.

     Improved Installation

     The Windows version 3.1 Install program will be able to detect even
     more hardware and software configurations than its version 3.0
     predecessor. The result is an improved ability for Windows to
     configure itself optimally for the machine on which it is being
     installed. The Installer program detects a wide variety of TSRs
     (terminate-and-stay-resident programs), and hardware devices that are
     known to cause problems, taking action to notify the user or correct
     the problem without user involvement.

     Windows version 3.1 will be easier for novice users to install with
     Express Install, and more customizable for advanced users, who can
     select groups of programs to install. For PC coordinators, Windows
     version 3.1 installation is improved with the batch install option,
     and better network setup features for installation in networked
     environments.

     File Manager Improvements

     The Windows version 3.1 File Manager has been completely redesigned
     for improved usability and performance. The File Manager now supports
     multiple "panes" for easy browsing. Users can now display the
     directory tree and a list of files side-by-side in a window. The File
     Manager also allows the display of more file attributes than before
     and can even display file and folder names in a choice of fonts.

     Another significant improvement is the new "quick format" capability,
     which allows users to format floppy disks in much less time than
     before.

     The File Manager will support an easier, more intuitive "drag and
     drop" model for manipulating files. For example, to print a file, the
     user draws the file's icon with the mouse and "drops" it onto the
     Print Manager, which prints the document. Users will also be able to
     take an icon and drop it on a running application or the application
     title bar; then the application will automatically open that file.

     Program Manager Improvements

     Improvements to the Program Manager include "wrappable" icon titles
     that sit neatly under each icon in multiple lines, instead of a single
     long line that may overlap with other icon titles. Users also will
     appreciate the new "startup group," which allows them to launch any
     group of applications automatically when the Windows environment is
     started.

     Printing Improvements

     The Windows version 3.1 Print Manager now has the ability to resume
     stalled print jobs automatically, without user intervention. For
     example, if a printer runs out of paper, the print job will be resumed
     after the paper tray is restocked.

     Another printing improvement introduced with Windows version 3.1 is
     the universal printer driver (UNIDRV). This software offers a single,
     printer-independent driver for which specific printer drivers can be
     built rapidly. The universal printer driver makes it easier for
     printer manufacturers to write or update printer drivers because it
     encapsulates all the major features of a printer driver in a single
     piece of software Vendors simply provide a table of printer-specific
     parameters for each printer. Instead of using dozens of large
     "monolithic" printer drivers, the Windows environment will need only a
     single driver and a small support table for each printer. Nearly 250
     printers will be supported in Windows 3.1, with the majority supported
     through UNIDRV.

     Better Support for Networks

     A number of improvements will make Windows version 3.1 easier to use
     on a computer that is attached to a network. Network administrators
     will find that setup is easier under Windows version 3.1, especially
     for complex system configurations. Network problems are also easier to
     trace and fix because network errors are displayed with more
     information regarding the type and source of the problem.

     Another significant change is that users can specify "persistent"
     network connections, meaning that information about a remote disk
     drive or printer is maintained by the Windows environment after a
     network session is terminated. Any "disconnected" drives will appear
     in the File Manager's drive bar as "unavailable." To re-establish
     connection, users will simply click on the drive's icon.

     Improved Performance

     Performance improvements have been achieved throughout Windows 3.1.
     These include faster, more responsive user shell components (notably
     File Manager and Program Manager); increased display driver
     performance (for example, the VGA and 8514 drivers); better printing
     performance (overall speed is improved, but Windows will also give
     control back to the application quicker once the print command is
     invoked) and faster paging in 386 enhanced mode. Version 3.1 will
     include FastDisk, a 32-bit driver that allows Windows to bypass DOS in
     the BIOS for its virtual memory paging file.

     Application and System Robustness

     Since its shipment in May of 1990, Windows version 3.0 has proven to
     be a remarkably stable product. In fact, Microsoft has only
     implemented a single update release (version 3.0a) to accommodate
     minor bug fixes. Like any mature operating system, however, Windows
     works in cooperation with a vast number of hardware platforms,
     applications software and peripherals. With the countless permutations
     of software and hardware, occasional conflicts are inevitable, and
     approximately one to two percent of Windows-related calls to Microsoft
     Product Support Services are regarding these "Unrecoverable
     Application Errors" (UAEs).

     Through its communication with Windows version 3.0 users and
     developers, Microsoft has developed a fine-tuned understanding of how
     applications generate and handle errors. Most UAE questions have been
     resolved through helping users deinstall misbehaved TSRs, resolve
     questions on Windows 3.0 versions of drivers or software, or remove
     unnecessary lines in the Windows CONFIG.SYS files. In Windows version
     3.1, Microsoft's accumulated knowledge serves as the basis for the
     following design focal points: 1) Better diagnostics to pinpoint the
     cause of application errors; 2) Tools and information to help
     developers write error-free applications; 3) Graceful handling of
     application errors if they do occur (so the faulting application
     doesn't crash the System). Following are several examples of how these
     design goals are implemented in Windows version 3.1.

     Error Diagnostics and Reporting

     If an application program generates an error under Windows version
     3.1, the user will receive an error dialog box with more specific
     information about the type of fault that occurred and which
     application generated the error (the Windows 3.0 dialog box says:
     "Unrecoverable Application Error"). This allows problems to be traced
     and corrected much more quickly than before.

     Additionally, Windows version 3.1 will ship with a diagnostic tool
     called "Dr. Watson" that will record and store information about an
     application error, should one occur. This data will provide feedback
     on the error that can be used by a support technician to determine the
     solution for the error.

     Developer Tools for Error Tolerance and Prevention

     Microsoft's developer support program for Windows version 3.1 includes
     tools and information to help developers write more error-free Windows
     applications. For instance, a new mechanism has been implemented
     within Windows version 3.1 that enables validation of the many
     parameters that applications use to communicate with the Windows
     environment. If an application uses the wrong type of parameter, or if
     the parameter's value is outside the acceptable range, Windows will
     report an error. Developers are thus notified of potential parameter
     problems before their product ships.

     Several utilities are also being made available to Windows developers
     that help to detect and trace the source of problems. For example, a
     new "stress test" utility creates a highly active and dynamic
     environment in which application bugs may be "shaken out" during all
     stages of development.

     Error Recovery

     Windows version 3.1 includes a number of improvements designed to
     handle UAEs more effectively. Under version 3.1, if an application
     "hangs," users can press the CTRL+ALT+DEL reboot key sequence, and
     Windows will ask whether the application should be continued or
     closed. If the user chooses to close the application, Windows will
     reset the environment to a stable state which will allow the user to
     continue working within the Windows environment. There is no longer a
     need to exit and restart the Windows environment.

     TrueType Scalable Font Technology

     Windows version 3.1 includes the new TrueType scalable font
     technology. TrueType provides "outline" fonts, giving users instant
     access to fonts in any point size, and allowing high quality output on
     any monitor or printer supported by Windows itself. TrueType was
     designed and developed to meet the requirements of type professionals
     and graphic designers. TrueType offers the following benefits.

     Complete Integration with the Operating System

     TrueType is an integrated component of Windows version 3.1. For users,
     this means that there is nothing to buy or install. All the benefits
     of scalable font technology are built into the operating environment
     itself, and existing Windows applications can use them immediately.
     Four TrueType scalable font families will ship with all copies of
     Windows version 3.1: Arial (alternative to Helvetica), Times New
     Roman, Courier and Symbol. Every major font vendor (with the exception
     of Adobe) has committed to develop substantial TrueType font libraries
     for both the Macintosh and Windows platforms.

     Cross-Platform Compatibility

     TrueType is also offered on the Apple Macintosh and TrueType fonts can
     be ported between Windows and the Macintosh without conversion. So
     documents using TrueType fonts may be exchanged between a Windows PC
     and the Macintosh without required changes in character set, font
     metrics or line endings. TrueType is also available in Macintosh-
     compatible laser printers, in TrueImage printers, and has been
     licensed to numerous printer vendors for use in future products.

     Dynamic Font Downloading

     TrueType fonts are automatically converted to bitmap images and
     downloaded to laser printers so that what the user sees on the screen
     is the same as the printed page. TrueType uses dynamic downloading,
     sending only the characters requested rather than the entire character
     set, resulting in faster, more efficient printing.

     Open Technology

     In order to make it easy for vendors to support TrueType fonts, each
     font's "metrics" are made available as public specifications and are
     available without royalties. A font's metrics provide a complete
     mathematical description of the font's characteristics, which allows
     vendors of output devices to render the font exactly as it appears on
     the screen. Public availability of TrueType font specifications will
     make it easier and less expensive for vendors to support TrueType
     fonts on their products.

     Improved Application Integration

     Windows environment version 3.1 provides the most sophisticated
     platform yet for application integration, making it easier for users
     to exchange data between documents and for programmers to build these
     capabilities into Windows applications. Application integration is
     supported by the following features in version 3.1:

     Object Linking and Embedding

     An important technology for the 1990s, Object Linking and Embedding
     (OLE) creates an environment in which applications can share
     information seamlessly. With OLE, all data can be thought of as being
     a type of "object." A spreadsheet chart, an illustration, a table, and
     even a paragraph of text are all examples of objects. OLE provides the
     capability for applications to share these objects easily.

     Windows environment version 3.1 supports OLE by providing standard
     libraries, interfaces and protocols that applications will use to
     exchange data objects. As Windows developers begin implementing OLE
     capabilities within their programs, users will see a new generation of
     applications that work together cooperatively.

     OLE capabilities have already been implemented within new versions of
     the Windows Write, Faint, and Cardfile accessories, all of which are
     provided with the Windows version 3.1 product. A user can, for
     example, create an illustration using the Paint program and "embed"
     the graphic in a Write document. If the illustration must be updated,
     the user can click on its icon within the Write document, which
     automatically launches Paint to allow editing of the drawing. Since
     the original graphics file is "linked" to the image embedded in the
     document, any change made to one will automatically update the other.
     This eliminates the need to modify multiple copies of the image or
     modify the original image and re-import it into the document.

     Better Support for Dynamic Data Exchange

     In the Windows environment, the standard way of sharing data between
     applications is through a mechanism known as dynamic data exchange
     (DDE). Object Linking and Embedding (as well as other forms of data
     exchange) use DDE as their primary means of data exchange. Windows
     environment version 3.1 Provides developers with a new Dynamic
     DataExchange Manager Library (DDEML) that offers a higher-level
     programming model and makes it easier for developers to implement DDE
     capabilities in a Windows application.

     Better Support for DOS Applications

     A number of changes improve support for existing DOS- applications
     within the Windows environment. In particular, DOS application
     performance is enhanced when using Windows version 3.1 in conjunction
     with MS-DOS version 5, since MS-DOS 5 makes significantly more memory
     available to DOS applications. In addition, Windows version 3.1 now
     supports DOS applications in VGA graphics mode in a window or running
     in the background. Also, Windows version 3.1 will include more pre-
     written Program Information Files (PIF files "tell" Windows how to run
     specific DOS applications) for even greater DOS application support.
     Finally, disk-paging will allow users to run more DOS applications
     than they can under Windows version 3.0.

     Extensions for New Computing Platforms

     Windows version 3.1 will allow users to exploit significant new
     computing platforms such as pen-based computers and multimedia PCs.

     Windows for Pen Computing

     Building on the Windows Graphical user interface and coupled with
     advances in symbol recognition, pens will be the foundation for highly
     intuitive and "personal" user interfaces. To exploit the potential of
     pen computing, Microsoft has developed a series of extensions to
     Windows that include: enhancements to the user interface to allow for
     pen input; a pen message interpreter allowing existing Windows (and
     DOS) applications to use the pen; and a modular open handwriting
     recognition engine. More than 30 hardware vendors will ship Microsoft
     Windows version 3.1 with extensions for pen-based computing with their
     systems, starting in early 1992.

     Multimedia

     Windows version 3.1 will work seamlessly with the Microsoft extensions
     for multimedia computing. These extensions allow users to include new
     objects such as audio, animation and full-motion video and embed them
     in existing applications. These features will also enable a whole new
     class of multimedia documents, such as encyclopedias enhanced with
     video and audio clips, or catalogs that display animated
     illustrations. Personal computers integrating Windows and the
     multimedia extensions to Windows will begin shipping this fall.
     Windows' extensible architecture makes it possible for multimedia
     computing to span low-cost systems for home and education and
     sophisticated multimedia authoring platforms for the high end of the
     market.

     An important enabling technology for multimedia computing is the OLE
     protocol described above. With OLE plus the Windows multimedia
     extensions, a user can embed a multimedia "object" such as a video or
     audio clip into an existing Windows application, just as he or she
     would a chart or text file.

     Laptop Support

     Many vendors of today's popular 286 and 386-based laptop computers
     ship Windows version 3.0. Users of laptops will appreciate a feature
     in Windows version 3.1 called "mouse blur," which makes it easier to
     find the cursor on a laptop display. In addition, Windows version 3.1
     supports the Advanced Power Management specification, which allows
     Windows to interact with native power management of a laptop PC for
     longer battery life.

     With version 3.1, vendors of laptops and other small form-factor
     computers will have the option of licensing a special version of
     Windows in ROM. This version of Windows 3.1 will be burned in to a ROM
     chip and will execute directly from ROM rather than from a hard disk.
     A ROM version of Windows opens the doors to other types of computing
     as well, including the emerging category of palm-top computers.

     Beta Testing and Developer Support

     Windows environment version 3.1 is currently in beta testing. The beta
     program will be one of the largest Microsoft has ever conducted,
     eventually involving as many as 10,000 participants. Additionally,
     Microsoft is conducting technical seminars for Windows developers to
     discuss the details of the new APIs in Windows version 3.1. A new
     Software Development Kit (SDK) and Driver Development Kit (DDK) will
     allow developers to more effectively implement the API features.
     Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility Program currently includes 350
     testers and Microsoft is actively recruiting additional participants
     to ensure the tightest possible compatibility of Windows with the vast
     array of hardware and peripherals on the market today.

     Developer enthusiasm for Windows version 3.1 is high. Nearly 2,000
     Windows developers attended a recent Seattle conference on Windows
     version 3.1. In addition, a June 1991 survey of the top 70 PC
     independent software vendors (ISVs) found that 100 percent are
     planning to test for and take advantage of Windows version 3.1.

     Conclusion

     Windows version 3.1 is an important next step in Microsoft's core
     Windows strategy, an evolutionary strategy that spans 286 laptops to
     high-end workstations or servers. Today, Windows runs on MS-DOS, the
     operating system that spawned the PC industry and is currently in use
     by tens of millions of people. Today's Windows runs the thousands of
     existing MS-DOS and Windows-based applications. Extended versions of
     Windows -- for example, for multimedia or pen -- allow users to run
     all of these applications as well, plus unique new applications
     developed with pen or multimedia in mind.

     Microsoft will ship a high-end version of Windows called Windows NT
     (for "new technology") in 1992. Windows NT will run the same DOS-based
     and Windows-based applications as Windows 3.1., while also supporting
     advanced security, multithreading, multiprocessor systems, and RISC
     chips that promise even higher performance.

     Microsoft's vision of computing in the 1990s and beyond is that
     computers will empower individuals and organizations. With its
     scalable implementations, the investment of Microsoft and the
     commitment of third parties, Windows will be the foundation for
     realizing this vision.
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