Talk:Windows 3.0/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Urbanoc (talk · contribs) 04:43, 5 March 2020 (UTC)

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

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This is my first review, so bear with me...

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, and grammar): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

   Minor corrections suggested and implemented. Beyond that, it was already reasonably well-written.

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (reference section): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

   The potentially most contentious sources are the Microsoft Press ones, as they can be considered primary and linked to the subject. However, they seem to be used according to WP:PRIMARY policy.

The Business Insider-supported bit seemed to have too close paraphrasing, it required either some rewritting or in-text attribution. Fixed.

1. a (major aspects): b (focused):

   It seems correct in its coverage.

2. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

   Both negative and posite aspects of the topic are addressed, without bias.

3. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

   No red flag on article stability.

4. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have fair use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

   The screenshot rationale seemed good enough. I asked for File:Windows 3.0 logo.svg at Commons to have a second opinion and stay on the safe side. As I suspected, there are doubts about its public domain tag, so I thought it should be removed, because it didnn't bring much to the article and could become a red link in the future

5. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

   All concerns were addressed, so I consider it already pass the GA criteria.

Some suggestions:

Lead

• Windows 3.0 is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, released in 1990.

"Release... released" doesn't look good to me. I suggest to replace "released" with "launched"

• Like its predecessors, it is not an operating system, but rather a graphical operating environment that runs on top of DOS.

I'd link "operating environment"

• It features a new graphical user interface where applications are represented as clickable icons, as opposed to a list of file names seen in its predecessors

I'd add "(GUI)" after "graphical user interface", I'd link "applications" to "application software", "icons" to "icon (computing)", and "file names" to the same. I'd replace "a list" to "the list", I think it makes more sense with the way the sentence is written

• Microsoft was, however, criticized by third-party developers for the bundling of its separate software with the operating environment, which they viewed as anticompetitive

I'd remove the "however" and replace "anticompetitive" with "an anticompetitive practice"

• It sold 10 million licenses before it was succeeded by Windows 3.1 in 1992.

I'd replace the first "it" with "Windows 3.0"

Development section

Please link the first mention of "graphical shell"

• Before Windows 3.0, Microsoft had a joint relationship with IBM

Change it to either just "business relationship" or "partnership", as "joint relationship" seems redundant

• Software that was compatible with DOS was not with OS/2, giving IBM the upper hand.

I'd replace "the upper hand" with "an advantage"

• When IBM learned of Microsoft's upcoming project, their relationship was damaged, but Microsoft asserted that it would cancel Windows after it was released and that it would continue to develop OS/2.

I'd replace "it was released" with "its release"

• That said, the company's "Entry Team", assigned to that task, was concerned that the public might perceive it to be no more than a tool used by large enterprises, due to the software's high system requirements

I'd remove the "That said,"

Features section

• The Control Panel, where users can change settings to customize Windows and hardware, is also redesigned as an icon-based window.

I'd change "is" to "was"

• Windows 3.0 retains many of simple applications from its predecessors

I'd add a "the" after "of"

• Unlike DOS applications, which may have Help as part of them...

I'd replace "Help" with "help functions"

Reception section

IBM'S → IBM's

@Urbanoc: I think I addressed all the problems and suggestions above. It was not difficult, taking me an hour to fix them all in only one edit. If you like, you can take a look at the article and see whether there is anything else that could use improvement or anything I missed. I appreciate the review. GaɱingFørFuɲ³⁶⁵ 22:13, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

Thanks Gamingforfun365. In my opinion, it already pass the criteria. I'll be finishing the review and listing the article as GA. Good work! --Urbanoc (talk) 02:30, 8 March 2020 (UTC)