The Clash of the Interfaces: Windows 95 Taskbar vs NeXT Dock
A Trip Down Nostalgia Lane
Last week celebrated the 31st anniversary of Windows 95 hitting the market. Indeed, more than thirty years on, people are still arguing over what influenced its design. It appears that tapping into nostalgia can stir up some tech enthusiasts. Over at GadgetLad, we ignited a discussion among former Microsoft employees by highlighting some possible British contributions to NeXTstep and Windows 95.
The X Thread That Triggered It
The excitement began with a simple comment in an X thread initiated by Dave Plummer, a past Microsoft engineer who enjoys chatting with GadgetLad. Former Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore participated, stating, “The NeXT dock did NOT inspire the taskbar. Two factors did: 1) The Cairo team had been creating a constantly visible, bottom-of-the-screen ‘tray’… ” There’s more, but you catch the drift.
The Other Side of the Atlantic
Paul Fellows and Acorn’s Perspective
Paul Fellows, who was at the helm of Acorn’s original Arthur project, also shared his thoughts. He believes that Acorn’s Arthur OS played a significant role in influencing both NeXTstep and Windows. Fellows once remarked to us, “Apple snatched the Dock from Steve Jobs’ NeXTstep OS, which borrowed it from Acorn’s Arthur Operating System from 1987.” You can’t copyright humor, my friend.
A Knight’s Story: King Arthur
Arthur, not the chap with the round table, but the original ARM OS for Acorn’s RISC-based Archimedes computers, was a hit in 1987. Arthur’s icon bar, which Acorn delivered even as a BASIC demo, remained intact when they livened things up to RISC OS in ’89.
The Technological Timeline
From Acorn to NeXT and Further
According to the timeline, Acorn’s Arthur introduced the first “icon bar” in 1987. It’s said that a former Acorn engineer dashed off to California with his Archimedes to show his friends the innovation. By ’88, Steve Jobs unveiled the NeXT Cube, and the rest is, as they say, history.
Visual Parallels in Technology
NeXTstep revealed its grayscale GUI in 1988 with a touch of pseudo-3D appeal. By 1990, Windows 3.0 amplified the 3D aesthetic. The resemblances position NeXTstep as a probable influence on subsequent OS/2 and Windows interfaces, but screenshots alone don’t convey the entire story. You can figure it out for yourselves.
The Cairo Link
Microsoft’s Cairo Venture
The Cairo project spanned from 1991 to 1996 and culminated with the launch of Windows NT 4. A former Windows leader noted that NeXT machines were present during Microsoft’s exploration phase.
The Final Take on Inspired Design
To clarify, we’re not asserting that Windows 95’s taskbar copied NeXT’s dock. They served different purposes. The taskbar was designed for app switching, while the Start menu functioned as the launcher. But let’s acknowledge the facts; Acorn’s Arthur had the initial stylish bottom strip by ’87, and NeXTstep had its dock by ’88.
Conclusion: The Great GUI Debate
Thus, we’ve explored this technological dispute, reminiscent of watching two kids argue over who owned the best toys. Keep in mind, history in technology is often as much about who raised their voice the loudest as it is about who made the initial invention. However, who doesn’t appreciate a classic nerd quarrel, eh?
