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.