TECHNOLOGY - March 18, 1992

Microsoft Starts to Roll Out New Version of Windows: The company based in Redmond, Wash., will start shipping its long-awaited new version of Windows, the popular software that makes IBM-type personal computers easier to use. Microsoft will ship at least 1 million copies of Windows version 3.1 to U.S. stores and directly to customer homes by April 6, when the product will go on sale, Chairman Bill Gates said. “We have orders for very close to a million right now. So by the time we ship the thing, we will be well over a million,” Gates said. He said Microsoft expects to sell 1 million copies in the first 30 days. Windows works in conjunction with DOS, the Microsoft operating system software used on about 90% of PCs. Microsoft shares rose $3.75 to $128 in over-the-counter trading.