What is Operating System?

   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.