Windows 2.x vs OS/2: The Battle for MS-DOS's Throne

In the late 1980s, Microsoft faced a critical decision: which operating system would succeed MS-DOS? The two contenders were Windows 2.x and OS/2, a joint venture with IBM. Despite OS/2's technical superiority—preemptive multitasking, a more robust file system, and protected memory—Windows 2.x won the war. The key factor? Hardware compatibility. Windows ran on the vast majority of existing PCs, while OS/2 required powerful new machines. This lesson—that technical merit often bows to market momentum—still echoes in today's tech landscape.