SCL QUESTION 3
What
is an Operating System?
An operating system is the most important software that runs
on a computer. It manages the computer's memory, processes,
and all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to
communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the
computer's "language." Without an operating system, a
computer is useless.
The
Operating System's Job
You've probably heard the phrase boot your computer, but do you know
what that means? Booting is the
process that occurs when you press the power button to turn your
computer on. During this process (which may
take a minute or two), the computer does several things:
Š It runs tests to make sure everything is
working correctly.
Š It checks for new hardware.
Š It then starts up the operating system.
Once the operating system has started up, it manages all of the
software and hardware on the computer.
Most of the time, there are many different programs running at the same
time, and they all need to access your
computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The
operating system coordinates all of
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Watch the video (2:13). Need help?
Windows 7 startup screen
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to make sure that each program gets what it needs. Without the operating
system, the software wouldn't even
be able to talk to the hardware, and the computer would be useless.
Types of Operating Systems
Operating systems usually come preloaded on any computer that you buy.
Most people use the operating
system that comes with their computer, but it is possible to upgrade or
even change operating systems.
Modern operating systems use a Graphical User Interface, or GUI
(pronounced "gooey"). A GUI lets you use
your mouse to click on icons, buttons, and menus, and everything is
clearly displayed on the screen using a
combination of graphics and text.
Each operating system's GUI has a different look and feel, so if you
switch to a different operating system it may
seem unfamiliar at first. However, modern operating systems are
designed to be easy to use, and most of the
basic principles are the same.
Windows 7, after starting up
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The three most common operating systems for personal computers are
Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X,
and Linux.
The Windows, OS X, and Linux logos
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reserved.Before GUIs, computers had a command-line interface, which meant the
user had to type every single
command to the computer, and the computer would only display text.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft created the Windows operating system in the mid-1980s. Over
the years, there have been many
different versions of Windows, but the most recent ones are Windows 8
(released in 2012), Windows 7 (2009),
and Windows Vista (2007). Windows comes preloaded on most new PCs,
which helps to make it the most
popular operating system in the world.
If you're buying a new computer or upgrading to a newer version of Windows,
you can choose from several
different editions of Windows, such as Home Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate.
Apple Mac OS X
Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple Inc. It comes
preloaded on all new Macintosh
computers, or Macs. All of the recent versions are known as Mac OS X
(pronounced Mac O-S Ten), and their
specific version names are Mountain Lion (released in 2012), Lion
(2011), and Snow Leopard (2009). Apple
also offers a version called Mac OS X Server, which is designed to be
run on servers.
According to StatCounter Global Stats, Mac OS X users account for 7.5%
of the operating systems market as of
January 2013 - much lower than the percentage of Windows users (over
90%). One reason for this is that Apple
computers tend to be more expensive. However, many people prefer the
look and feel of Mac OS X.
Linux
Linux (pronounce LINN-ux) is a family of open source operating systems,
which means that they can be
modified and distributed by anyone around the world. This is very
different from proprietary software like
Windows, which can only be modified by the company that owns it
(Microsoft). The advantages of Linux are that it
is free, and there are many different distributions (or versions) that
you can choose from. Each distribution has
a different look and feel, and the most popular ones include Ubuntu,
Mint, and Fedora.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel in
1991. The kernel is the computer code
that is the central part of an operating system.
According to StatCounter Global Stats, Linux users account for less
than 1% of the operating systems market as
of January 2013. However, most servers run Linux because it's
relatively easy to customize.
Mac OS X Lion
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
OS
Some of the advantages owned by Mac OS:
1).Mac OS is not easily affected by the virus.
Designed with security oriented, Mac OS isn't plagued by constant
attacks from PC viruses and malware. However there will also slow you down with
constant security alerts and other interruptions.
2).High Performance.
Particularly on Mac OS X — with the latest Intel processors and other
best innovation, a Mac can do all the things that only a Mac can do — with
stunning speed.
3).User-friendly
With the look of the GUI is very attractive, making Mac OS as one of a
lot of interest in particular OS by the graphic designer and for those just
learning the computer.
Lack of reply owned by Mac OS:
1). Mac could not be assembled on its own because Apple does not give
license to other companies to create hardware that can use the Mac OS
2.) Software on Mac OS is not so complete
The influence of the dominance of Microsoft Windows over the years make
the user has been very familiar and reluctant to adapt to the latest OS. The
same rationale be breeding grounds of the latest applications with a system
requirement of Windows.
3).It Costs Dearly
4.) Only useful for graphic designers
5.) can not be used at the same time
6.) the software is incomplete and does not match play games because it
looks less good
LINUX
ADVANTAGES
Freedom! Most Linux distros are
free..... users do not need to pay for a copy, but this is only one aspect of
freedom enjoyed by Linux users! In addition, Linux distros can be freely
downloaded and legally installed on as many computers as you want and freely
(and legally) given to other people. Because most distros are open source, you
have access to the source code and can customize Linux to be whatever you want
it to be; you can even create your own distro if you like!
Linux is easy to install! In many
instances, it is actually easier to install Linux to your computer than
Windows. Click here to learn more about how to download and install Linux to
your computer [1].
Linux is very stable! Linux
systems rarely crash, and when they do, the whole system normally does not go
down. The "blue screen of death" familiar to Windows users is not a
worry for Linux users.
Linux is less vulnerable to computer malware! Because most computer malware are designed to
attack Windows (often through Active X which is not typically found in Linux)
the odds are considerably less for Linux to be infected with a virus than
Windows [2]. The same holds true with spyware, trojans, and worms. While Linux
malware does exist, they are relatively few in number and none have become
widespread so far [3]. While Linux is very secure by its nature, users should
still employ good sense while surfing the Internet; click here to learn more
[4]. As long as Linux users download and install only from their distro's
official software repository, then security is greatly increased. One nice
security feature In Linux is that files must be made to be executable by
someone with administrator privileges, which requires a password. So even if a
Linux virus is loaded on a Linux computer, it will not be able to run without
the user who has administrator privileges intentionally making it executable.
Another important aspect of Linux security is the fact that it is open source.
Because the programing code is available for anyone to view, there are many eyes
constantly examining it, which makes it highly difficult for malware to be
hidden within the code [5]. Also, security patches normally come much quicker
to Linux than other operating systems because so many people are contributing
to it. Here are some resources with more information about Linux security and
why Linux computers are much less likely than Windows to ever become infected
with a virus:
Linux typically does not slow down over time! Unlike Windows, Linux does not easily become
bogged down with spyware, viruses, trojans, etc., which can greatly reduce a
computer's performance. Also, because Linux does not have a registry like
Windows, it is not plagued with registry errors which can slow down a computer
over time. Finally, the hard drives on Windows (especially Windows XP and
older) computers need to be defragmented on a regular basis in order to
maintain faster performance, due to being formatted in NTFS. On the other hand,
because Linux is normally formatted in a different way using ext4 among others,
there is no need to defragment a Linux hard drive.
Linux can breathe new life into old computers! If you have an older computer (especially
Pentium III or later) laying around, you can install Linux and in essence have
a new computer. In many cases Linux will run faster and you can do all of the
basics such as browse the Internet, email, play games, and create and edit
documents, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. It should also be
mentioned that Linux runs great on newer computers as well.
With Linux, you have so many choices in a wide variety of distros! Linux comes in all sizes and flavors, which
offers a wide variety from which to choose the distro which will best suit your
needs. Another advantage of this variety is the innovation that is taking place
in the Linux world because it is open source. You can learn more about
different Linux distros by going to distrowatch.com.
With many Linux distros, you have access to free software which numbers
in the thousands! Popular distros such
as Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, andOpenSUSE offer excellent software repositories within
their package managers where virtually any type of software can be downloaded
and installed to your Linux system for free. This includes just about anything
you can imagine, such as games, educational software, office suites, and much
more! Some smaller distros, such as Peppermint OS, Lubuntu, Bodhi Linux, and
Puppy Linux are based on Ubuntu and as a result have access to Ubuntu's
software repositories. One very nice aspect of these repositories is that the
software found in them has already been tested for compatibility and safety.
For example, the thousands of free and open source software found in the Ubuntu
Software Center has been tested and examined by Ubuntu, so a user can be
confident that the software will be compatible with Ubuntu and will not include
malware.
DISADVANTAGES
Many Windows programs will not run in Linux. iTunes, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer
and many other Windows programs will not run natively in Linux. The good news
is that there are decent ways around most of these problems. For example, music
libraries can be managed with an iPod using programs such as Amarok,Banshee, or
Rhythmbox in Linux. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are outstanding Internet
browsers which can be used in the place of Internet Explorer. It is also
possible to run iTunes in Linux using Wine, VirtualBox, or Parallels, though it
is difficult to have good results. LibreOffice and OpenOffice are excellent
office suites which can be used in the place of Microsoft Office, but while
overall compatibility in both suites is good with Microsoft Office formats, it
is not perfect. Click here to learn more about Linux equivalents to software
commonly used in Windows [14].
There is a smaller selection of peripheral hardware drivers for
Linux. There is a smaller selection of
peripheral hardware drivers (for printers, scanners, and other devices) in
Linux as compared to Windows, though many new Linux hardware drivers are
constantly being added. Closely related to this issue is the fact that not all
Linux distros work with all sets of computer hardware, so a person may need to
try more than one distro to find one which works well with his/her computer.
When it comes to printers, some manufacturers offer better Linux support than
others; for example, HP offers excellent printer support for Linux.
There is a learning curve for people who are new to Linux. Despite this, most Linux distros, especially
the major ones, are very intuitive and user-friendly. Also, the desktop
environments in Linux are in many ways similar to Windows in their appearance.
One thing which should be emphasized is that there is also a learning curve for
Windows XP users who switch to Windows 7 or Windows 8.
2...
COMPARISON BETWEEN ANDROIDS AND WINDOWS IN SMARTPHONE
ANDROID WINDOWS 8
l Android is currently sitting at version 4.2, which is another
iteration of the popular Jelly Bean OS. Jelly Bean built upon the work done by
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with everything being much smoother with 'Project
Butter', and the introduction of Google Now.
Pretty much every OEM has placed a skin over the top of Android, take a
look at HTC's Sense, Samsung's Touchwiz or Huawei's Emotion UI.
That said, nigh on every version builds on the use of multiple home
screens populated with widgets, and apps being kept tidy in a 'drawer'.
l Microsoft's
offering bases itself around a system of 'LiveTiles'. These are used in a
similar way to widgets on Android, providing information at a quick glance.
Users of Windows Phone 7, or Windows 8 on tablets or desktops will feel right
at home.
In terms of user customisation, much like iOS, Windows Phone 8 is
relatively closed. Live Tiles can be resized, so that more important tiles can
take up more screen real estate, and the tile colour can be any of 20
variations. It is also possible to change the lock screen, to bring up photos,
or widgets and notifications.
l Android's camera app is one that gets a lick of paint with each UI
that is placed over the top. Also, with the incredible variation in Android
devices, each camera is different, the HTC One being most notable for camera
tech with UltraPixel and HTC Zoe, or there is Samsung with Burst Mode found on
the Galaxy S3 or S4. That said, there is an underlying theme that graces
Android's camera and gallery app. Photo filters are common place, even the
basic Android devices offer Sepia, Monochrome and Negative effects. Gallery
apps are a little more varied, however most can pull down images from the cloud,
from Picasa/Google+ web albums, with some going so far as Facebook albums too.
l Being a unified OS across all devices, Windows Phone 8 camera
settings are common. Pinch to zoom has been brought in, and the ability to take
photos by tapping the screen making the app feel a little more natural. There
is also the idea of 'lenses', that allow you to use camera tools that you have
downloaded, rather than via a separate app.
l Playing catch up in the media department, Google has launched its
Play Books, Play Magazines, Play Movies and Play Music apps. Whilst nowhere
near as popular as the iTunes version, media downloading is now a lot easier on
Android devices.
Downloading apps is also very easy, as Google's rebranded Play Store
has become a very attractive and very functional marketplace, with different
sections and lists of apps for you to peruse. Auto updating is available, and
disable-able too.
l The Windows
Phone 8 and BlackBerry app stores are far less populated in comparison to both
the Google and Apple offerings, although we would be doing them a disservice by
calling their offerings sparse (BB10 has 120,000apps compared to iOS' 900,000),
especially given that the Microsoft OS has Xbox compatibility.
Since Android 2.2 Froyo, apps to microSD has been a standard feature,
alongside its long supported media storage feature. App installation on microSD
is also supported via Windows Phone 8, with standard microSD support also being
available in BB10.
l Android has supported NFC for a while. Android Beam has been used on
devices to share data since Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Certain
manufacturers have taken it a little further, with Samsung adding it's S title
to create S Beam. Google's wallet application is also likely to make use of NFC
as mobile payment becomes increasingly popular.
l Windows Phone 8 also packs in NFC support, with its very own
Microsoft Wallet app to rival Google's version, and BlackBerry has long had NFC
in its handsets so it's no surprise BB10 also makes use of the technology.
l Android has had its notifications bar longer than Apple, so it has
come on in leaps and bounds. Jelly Bean also brings in expandable
notifications, showing more information about the top event, as well as being
able to swipe to dismiss.
Many custom UI's include access to the quick settings (Touchwiz has
gotten this nigh on perfect) in the notifications bar. Android also include a
Power Control widget that can be placed on home screens, giving quick access to
a lot of important settings.
l Notifications aren't something that ever made it over to Windows
Phone 8, however there are strong suggestions that there is a notifications
centre making it over in Windows Phone 8.1. Notifications are viewable from the
lock screen.
l There has been no such problems for mapping on Android, given that
Google has managed to port across its Google Maps desktop browser application
so successfully.
Google maps provides one of the most comprehensive mapping apps
available, as well as being able to provide information through its Local app,
and sat-navving via the Navigation app. Google's recent acquisition of Waze is
going to throw in user based traffic updates as well.
l icrosoft has also got a decent map app. Bing maps brings over many
features that were prevalent throughout Nokia phones of old, including Nokia's
turn-by-turn directions from Nokia Drive. Other useful features include
downloading maps for offline use, pinning favourite locations and Local Scout
(similar to Google's Local).
l Since Ice Cream Sandwich, Google has mobilised its Chrome browser,
which now interestingly sits alongside the native Android Internet app. We've
not understood why both browsers are run side by side, but it provides a little
choice. Google bookmarks can be synced across, and incognito browsing is
available too.
l Internet Explorer is available on Windows Phone 8 devices, with the
version being nearly identical to IE10, even if it looks a little different.
Internet Explorer is a very accomplished mobile browser overall, and comes with
the Do Not Track feature by default, as well as SmartScreen phishing
protection.
l Google's multi-tasking has been handled for a long time through the long
press of the home button, if the device has one, or through the dedicated
button on total touch screen devices. This brings up a quick window of what was
last on the app whilst you were using it, and can be swiped to dismiss.
l Windows Phone 8 has a similar method of bringing up its multi-tasking
window. Long pressing the back button brings up the multi-tasking screen,
allowing users to flick across to the app they wish to use.
l Android Jelly Bean has been around for two years now, available on
devices from multiple OEMs, and with devices now being launched 4.1 or 4.2.
There is a lot of talk of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean also being released at some
point this year, and rumours of the Key Lime Pie (Android 5.x) also being
launched this year.
It is available on the highest end devices, from a variety of OEMs,
such as the five star HTC One, and at the bottom end of the market on devices
such as the LG Optimus L3 2.
l Windows Phone 8 is also available on devices from different OEMs,
with Nokia Lumia devices being the most talked about. HTC, Samsung and Huawei
also have their own devices out and about.
Talk of Windows Phone Blue, or 8.1 has also been bandied about, with an
expected release alongside Windows 8.1. Current devices span the market, again
from a variety of OEMs, with the high end Nokia Lumia 925, or the low end Lumia
520.
Android Jelly Bean Advantages
Android is an open type of system that is generally a Linux based
platform, and the 4.1 and 4.2 Jelly Bean versions are no exception. One of the
biggest advantages this Android version has going for it, and that Android in
general holds, is that it is extremely and very easily customizable. Each
smartphone that runs on the operating system comes with a specific user
interface that is generally easy to use and allows you to customize the look of
your device with a variety of skins or themes, wallpapers and the ability to
create widgets based on the apps you have on your phone.
The notification bar on the Jelly Bean operating system has also been redesigned
so that it is more noticeable and attractive. You no longer need to swipe over
the top bar to bring the screen down, which is what longtime Android users have
had to do. In addition, Jelly Bean has support for more languages in its
keyboard. Some of the newest supported languages include Arabic, Hindi and
Persian.
Google Now is included in Android’s Jelly Bean powered smartphones.
This app is generally like the Siri voice assistant feature that has appeared
in Apple devices since the iPhone 4S. It does everything Siri does and more.
Windows Phone 8 Advantages
Windows Phone 8 has advantages as well. The user interface is simple
and clean and boasts a great metro look that includes live tiles and the
ability to customize your home screen with apps of your choice and making them
the size of your choice from small, medium and large. Windows Phone 8 is easy
to use and a refreshing change from the other, older operating systems found in
smartphones.
Another advantage Windows Phone 8 holds over Android’s Jelly Bean is
that phones that run on it consume considerably less battery power. In general,
Windows Phone provides enough juice to last the user all day and sometimes into
the next. This is largely due to the fact that it is easy to close apps that are
running in the background and the phones run on a dual-core processor instead
of quad-core processors that have to work twice as hard.
While the Windows Phone Store still has a great ways to go before it
can compete in terms of the number of apps available – it currently has 125,000
while Android’s Google Play is home to 650,000 – all of the most essential apps
are already available. Apps like Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp Messenger, Evernote
and Angry Birds are all in the Windows Phone Store.
Windows Phone 8 also integrates its People Hub with the most popular
social networking websites and email hosts. The integration is quite gorgeous
and installation of apps such as Facebook, for instance, are not necessary as
it is already built into the phones. All of your updates are updated on the
home screen, which is something that cannot be done in Jelly Bean.
