Operating Systems

Operating Systems

Many people use computers without knowing how does it works. The main

software when using the computer is the operating system. The

operating system defines all the experience when using a computer it

manages the hardware and software resources of the computer system,

provides a way for applications to deal with the hardware without

having to know all the details of the hardware, and it is the software

that makes all the programs we use work, and it organizes and controls

the hardware on our computers. Operating systems is the first software

we see when we turn on the computer, and the last software we see when

the computer is turned off.

It's important to know and understand that not all computers have

operating systems. For example the computer that controls the

microwave ovenin your kitchen doesn't need an operating system, it has

only simple tasks to perform, very simple input and output methods (a

keypad and an LCDscreen). For a computer like this, an operating

system would not be needed; it will only add things that are not

required. Instead the computer in a microwave oven only runs one

program all the time. When using computer systems that are more

complex than a microwave oven you need an operating system in order

for the computer to work. All desktop computers have operating

systems. The most common are the Windows family of operating systems,

the UNIX family of operating systems and the Macintosh operating

systems, and there are hundreds of other operating systems available

for special applications. The operating system plays the role of the

good parent, making sure that each application gets the nec...

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...ystem useable by corporations and

consumers together. Linux, the operating system created and

distributed according to the principles of open source, could have a

significant impact on the operating system in general. Most operating

systems, drivers and utility programs are written by commercial

organizations that distribute executable versions of their software --

versions that can't be studied or altered. Open source requires the

distribution of original source materials that can be studied, altered

and built upon, with the results once again freely distributed. The

continuing growth of the Internet and the proliferation of computers

that aren't standard desktop or laptop machines means that operating

systems will change to keep pace, but the core management and

interface functions will continue, even as they evolve.