As one for whom technical progress and possibility are of much significance, Perky is fascinated by the phenomenal journey of Microsoft, from its humble beginnings in the 1970s to the present day.
Microsoft’s journey reflects a continual pursuit of tools that expand human potential. It began with a dream of “a computer on every desk and in every home,” and its role in connecting people, ideas, and innovation worldwide.
The company’s evolution can be traced directly to the ideas that shaped its very first product. When Bill Gates and Paul Allen created Microsoft BASIC in the mid-1970s, they were not just writing a programming language; they were defining a set of principles that would guide Microsoft’s journey for decades.
BASIC gave early hobbyists the power to program and control their machines, an unprecedented step toward personal computing.
That same vision guided the creation of MS-DOS, Windows 95, and ultimately Windows 11. Each new generation of Microsoft software worked to make technology easier, more inclusive, and more universal, from the first GUI interfaces to today’s AI-assisted productivity tools.
Windows 11 continues that mission through its streamlined interface. Accessibility features and seamless integration across devices ensure that computing power remains within reach of every person and organisation.
In the early days, memory was scarce and every byte mattered. Gates’ and Allen’s mastery of efficient assembly code was, thus, born out of necessity.
Windows 11’s redesigned kernel, faster startup, and intelligent resource management all trace their roots to those first few kilobytes of BASIC. Microsoft never abandoned its drive for efficiency, even as computing resources exploded.
Another guiding principle adhered to by Bill Gates was that of platform independence. This refers to a platform designed to run on countless configurations of hardware around the world. BASIC’s design allowed it to run on multiple microcomputers, a decision that helped Microsoft expand rapidly across a fragmented market.
The dream for Windows 11 of “write once, run anywhere,” which started in 1975, now continues on a global scale. This portability has now evolved into a new era of cross-device and cross-architecture compatibility, where x86, ARM, touchscreens, and tablets are supported.
Gates insisted that beginners should feel that interacting with computers was always within their capabilities and grasp. BASIC was, therefore, chosen because it was simple and spoke the user’s language. This user-first mindset shaped Microsoft’s later innovations: the Windows graphical user interface, Office’s ribbon design, and the clean, intuitive look of Windows 11.
From the start, Gates believed software had real value. His 1976 Open Letter to Hobbyists promoted the idea that software should be the subject of fair compensation. This created a foundation for the software industry as we now know it. Such a principle led to Microsoft’s licensing model, which turned Windows into a global platform.
The original Dartmouth BASIC standard was created in 1964, and when Microsoft BASIC faithfully followed this, it built trust. Users knew their programs would run correctly and consistently across different systems. That same commitment to compatibility became a cornerstone of Windows, which now maintains compatibility across decades of software, while supporting new technologies.
Microsoft is associated with continual innovation, and version after version of Windows has been developed for new systems. Windows has never been static: from Windows 1.0 in 1985 to Windows 11, every release reflects cycles of innovation, feedback, and reinvention.
Windows 11 now represents a continually updated living platform; connected via the cloud, enriched by AI, and informed by billions of users worldwide. Windows 11, from hand-coded assembly to cloud-powered intelligence, brings to life a vision from half a century ago: empowering people and organisations worldwide to achieve more.