Text-based Operating Environment

The Text-based Operating Environment was Microsoft's first operating system. Development began in March 1982 and the system was made alongside Windows 1.0.

Builds

 * Text-based Operating Environment ALPHA August 1982
 * Text-based Operating Environment PRE-BETA March 1983
 * Text-based Operating Environment BETA June 1983

Reception
'''"What not everyone knows is that Microsoft made an operating system before Windows. In 1983, the Text-based Operating Environment was released. It had a good selection of applications, even including a text adventure, but it was painfully unstable and looked ugly, which caused its unpopularity and quick end of support in January 1989. It is worth noting that by the time Microsoft was developing a text-based OS, Apple's Lisa was already on the market with a graphical interface." 'The 10 Worst Operating Systems of All Time, PC World, 2009''