Operating Systems

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Topic

CONTENTS Operating system Windows Apple Linux

OPERATING SYSTEM Operating system – a program that runs on

a computer and controls the hardwareTrend – strong graphical user interface Users use a mouse to click on pictures or icons Controls files, hard disk access, software, etc.Connects computer to a network or internetRequires security against viruses, hackers, etc.

Note – phones and handheld devices also have an operating systemCellphones have Google Android Ipad, Iphone, and Ipod have Apple’s

WINDOWS Founded by Bill Gates

Bill Gates is worth $53 billion in 2010 The second richest person in the world Usually was the richest until 2010 Over taken by Carlos Slim Helu

Mexican Telecom Worth $53.5 billion in 2010

Before Microsoft Nobody thought you could make money from

software Software is easily copied and traded Apple computers bundled the software with its

hardware

WINDOWS

Microsoft’s Market Share

Microsoft dominates the operating systems market Pre-installed on many

computers Computer vendors

pay Microsoft to install operating system

All software runs on Microsoft

Type Market ShareSept 2010

All Windows 89%

Windows 7 19.81%

Windows Vista

18.43%

Windows XP 48.32%

WINDOWSWindows Version Year

ReleasedWindows 3.x 1990Windows NT 3.1 1993Windows 95 1995Windows NT Workstation 4.0

1996Windows 98 1998Windows Millennium Edition

2000Windows 2000 Professional2000Windows XP 2001Windows Vista 2006Windows 7 2009

WINDOWS Windows also dominates Office software

Microsoft charges $200 to $500 for its softwareSoftware

Excel – spreadsheets Word – word processing PowerPoint – presentations Access – database Outlook - email

Sun MicrosystemsOffers a comparable office suite for freeOpenoffice.orgEstimated at 20%

WINDOWS Operating system is designed for a large

variety of computersVariety of microprocessorsVariety of graphic chipsVariety of computer manufacturers

Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, etc.Hardware configuration

A problem of Windows Drivers – a program that allows Windows to use

a device like the display, modem, etc. Can be a headache

WINDOWS Windows XP

StablePeople like it; still the most popularTends to be fast

VistaMade people angryMicrosoft stopped making its operating system

(OS) backwards compatible Backwards compatible – older software will install

and work correctly on the OS Many bugs and problems Bloated – too many programs; ran slowly; eats up

RAM memory

WINDOWS Vista

Had nice attractive appearancePrograms frequently crashed, especially

Microsoft Office Windows 7

Vista was a huge failureVista’s name was droppedWindows 7 is a revamped VistaMost things work correctly in Windows 7

WINDOWS

WINDOWS Windows programs are expensive

Operating systems and office suites are commonly pirated

Windows does not release details about operating system

Computer hackers from Russia, China, etc. easily hack the software

Windows actively tries to stop piracyEmbeds programs in Windows system to

check if Windows is genuine

WINDOWS Windows 7

Hackers hacked Windows 7 within a week after it was released

Rumor – it was hacked before its releaseHacked version can pass Windows Genuine

Activation (WGA)

Microsoft releases Windows to computer vendors Called Release to Market (RTM) Vendors installs RTM on computers and laptops Insider releases RTM copy to hackers who crack

it and post it on torrents

WINDOWS Problems

Way too many to describe Windows does not allow users to go backwards Example

If Toshiba makes a new laptop and Windows 7 is current operating system

Toshiba will not create the drivers for Vista, XP, etc

Prone to attack by viruses, worms, etc. Dominant operating system

Could have driver problems

WINDOWS Benefits

All programs and software are designed to run on Windows Usually the last few operating systems Windows 7, Vista, and XP

APPLE Apple Operating System

Has 7% market shareOld name

Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS)New name

OS XX is the Roman numeral 10Releases are named after catsSnow Leopard (Previous release)Lion (New release)

Operating system is bundled with hardware

APPLE

APPLE OS X Benefits

Consistency – all programs and applications are similar Users can learn a large variety of applications

quicklyError reporting – Apple OS only tells you

when something goes wrong Windows tends to nag; displays balloon

messagesHides technical detailsFitt’s Law – users are more productive the

less distance a mouse has to travel All Apple applications are designed with this

feature

APPLE Benefits

Best graphics on a desktop or laptop Uses good powerful video chips Microsoft Vista and 7 copied many graphical

features from the Apple Designed to be beautiful

Apple spent lots of money Stable operating system

Based on UNIX Linux is also based on UNIX

Does not get attack by viruses as much People write viruses to cause the most headache

which is Microsoft with 89% of the market share

APPLE Disadvantages

Apple operating system is only available for Apple computers Note – a group of hackers altered the OS X to run

on computers with Intel processors Against the licensing agreement of Apple

Apple computers are expensiveMany games and software does not run on

OS X Reinforces Microsoft’s monopoly power

APPLE Apple Users

Publishers – layout and design of professional documents, books, etc.

Musicians – to edit music filesGraphic designers – Apple’s strong graphics

support Edits video clips

Photographers – editing photographs

Snobs with too much moneyWannabe artists

LINUX Linux – free operating systems

Has approximately from 1% to 2% of market share

Distribution (or distro) – many teams develop their own Linux operating system Causes confusion Over 100 distros of Linux www.distrowatch.com for list Some are very GUI; some are complicated Open source – anyone programmer can modify their

system

Many talented people contribute to Linux “United in their hatred of Microsoft”

LINUX Operating system

Home computers and notebooksServers – for businesses, corporations, and

websites

Linux is popular in some countries like FranceMicrosoft Windows and Office are expensivePopular with some businesses and

governments

LINUX Benefits

Most Linux operating systems are free Note – some are not free

Linux tends to be much faster than Windows System uses less resources Linux installs on older computer systems Does not use programs to monitor system’s

licenses, etc.Linux tends to be much more stable than

Windows Used for web servers so they do not crash

LINUX Benefits

Some like Ubuntu and Linux Mint are easy to install Does not require search for drivers like Windows

Most viruses and worms are written for Windows Linux tends to be immune

Access to over 30,000 free software Software is simpler Software is much smaller in size Software can share libraries and programs with

other programs

LINUX Benefits

Open source – all computer code is open to the public People can modify any programs People can modify the operating system

Change menus, styles, icons, etc.Apple and Microsoft keep their operating

systems rigid Allows some things to be changed, like wallpaper More difficult to alter menu bars,icons, etc.

LINUX Problems

Changing advance options requires terminal Terminal is similar to DOS Not user friendly Use Terminal to fix major problems

Too many Linux distributions are available Software may not be compatible across platforms Creates confusion Each distribution has benefits and problems

Limited in software, usually games Most games are written for Windows or Apple; not

Linux Most software runs on Windows; may or may not

work on Linux

LINUX Problems

Some codecs, software, and drivers are proprietary Driver – a program that allows the operating

system to use a device like a WiFi or network card.

Linux does not pay for this proprietary rights

Some countries like United States and Japan have strong protection of intellectual property rights Businesses have to be careful about the software

it uses Otherwise it can get sued

LINUX Problems

People are scared of LinuxLinux is associated with computer geeks

and genius

LINUX Ubuntu – most popular Linux program

Canonical Ltd. Based in the United Kingdom Ubuntu is free Company earns money from technical support

Mark Shuttleworth, founder South African entrepreneur Worth about $225 million Paid to be an astronaut

Ubuntu means “humanity towards others” Most GUI intense

LINUX Ubuntu

Complaints – Ubuntu is trying to look like Apple’s OS X Apple computers sets the standards Even Microsoft “copied” features from OS X

LINUX Linux Mint

Possibly the fourth most popular operating system

Founded by Clement Lefebvre, FranceOriginally based on UbuntuVery GUI intense

Good for beginnersComes with proprietary software, codecs, and

licensed components Illegal in the U.S., because founder did not pay

to use proprietary software in its systemGives alternatives where proprietary software is

not included

LINUX I have two operating systems

Debian Linux MintWindows 7

LINUX