Computer Operating System Essay, Research Paper
An operating system is a program that acts an intermediary between
a user of a computer and the computer hardware. The purpose of an
operating system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute
programs. The main purpose of an operating is to make the computer system
convenient to use and user can the computer hardware in an efficient
manner. An operating system is similar to a government. The components
of a computer system are its hardware, software, and data. The operating
system provides the means for the proper use of these resources in the
operating system. Like a government, the operating system performs no
useful function by itself. It simply provides an environment within
which other programs can do useful work.
The Operating System With Advantages and Disadvantages Nowadays,
most of the computers are using the Window as their operating system.
Microsoft-designed computer operating system, a program that controls
the basic functions of personal computers. Windows started life as
Microsoft?s take on a graphical user interface (GUI). Windows 3.0,
Window 3.1, and Window 3.11 were the three earliest versions of
Microsoft?s Windows operating system. Windows 95 is a major upgrade to
Windows 3.1. This operating system is a true operating system and not
an operating environment as were the 3.x version of Windows. Windows 95
does not require a separate version of DOS, although some DOS features are
included for compatibility. One advantage of Windows 95 is its improved
graphical user interface, which makes working with files and programs
easier than earlier versions. Another advantage of Windows 95 is most
programs run faster under it because it is written to take advantage of
newer 32-bit processors and supports cooperative multitasking. Window 95
includes support for peer-to-peer networking and e-mail. Windows 95 does
not include the tools for developing Internet Web pages and operating
Web page server.
After some times, Microsoft comes out another operating system to
upgrade the Windows 95which named as Windows 98. Windows 98 is able to
provide faster system startup and shutdown, better file management,
support for few multimedia technologies such as digital video disk
(DVD) and Web TV. Windows 98?s Internet integration allows for automatic
delivery of Web pages to your computer and an optional Web page-like user
interface. Like Windows 95, Windows 98 can run 16 and 32 bit software,
which means it can run software designed for DOS and other versions
of Windows. Windows 98 comes with excellent online help specifically
designed to troubleshoot gaffe with your hardware, operating system,
and applications. It?s called the Windows 98 Resource Kit Plus Tools
Ampler. There are some disadvantages for Windows 98, it is easier for
trashing or what we call hang compare to Windows 95.
Microsoft?s Windows NT (for new technology), also referred to as NT,
is a sophisticated graphical user interface operating system designed
for client-server networks. Windows NT is a complete operating system
but not an operating environment. The advantages of Windows NT, the
capability of working with multiple CPUs using symmetric multiprocessing,
preemptive multitasking and multithreading, it can support of most major
networking communications protocols, and Windows NT also include the
user and account system security. The disadvantages of the Windows NT
are it requires more disk space, memory, and the faster processors just
for the tools for developing Internet web pages and operating system.
UNIX, which is also a real operating system. More than one person can run
multiple applications, making it a multi-user and multitasking operating
system. With UNIX, each user logs in using a login name. Optionally,
the user must also supply a password. The password ensures that the
person logging on with the user login name is really who she claims
to be. If the computer is attached to a network, it has several other
identifying items, including, but not limited to, a domain name and an
IP address. UNIX will run on just about every platform made.
Linux is a full-fledged operating system. It provides full multitasking
in a multi-user environment. It gives a high quality of software for
a cost far lower than other commercial versions of Unix. There are
many advantages of Linux, it is cheap, almost all the distributions
are available in their entirety as free downloads via FTP. Linux is
a low hardware requirements operating system. It can run on much more
modest hardware than most other modern operating systems require. An
old 486 with 16 megabytes of ram and 500 megs of hard drive space has
plenty of capacity to host an intranet, including duties as firewall and
print/AMTP/POP server for dozens of other computers. Linux will boot and
run (with full graphical user interface) in less than 4 megabytes of
ram, and 8 megs of ram is plenty for web surfing with Netscape. Linux
is available under the GNU public license, which states that anyone is
allowed to copy, distribute, and modify it. It?s impossible to ?pirate? a
GNU program. Anyone and everyone is explicitly allowed to make and use
as many copies as they need, without ever having to buy.