The computer operating
system.
Operating system or OS are
needed to use a computer. Depending on it's
use you may install Windows, Linux... it may
also depend to the computer you own, if it's a
MAC, you'll have to install MAC OS.
For the PC, DOS or Disk
Operating System was used. This was a long
time ago and now most will use a more graphic
environment like windows. DOS was not graphic,
was not mouse driven and was basically used
with typing commands on the keyboard. After
installing DOS, you could install Windows 3.11
for example to have a graphic and mouse driven
environment. So you had to purchase and learn
both of them.
Windows 95 became a one
package operating system that would not
require DOS to be installed first. It was also
implemented with Plug&Play a new standard to
detect and install computer devices
automatically, it was not perfect but was a
good step in the right direction. PC devices
needed to be set on the hardware itself with
the use of jumpers. If the settings were not
done properly the computer would not be
stable.
Windows 98 was better than
95 because the Plug&Play standard had improved
and more suppliers manufactured Plug&Play
devices to satisfy the new standard. The OS
was also improved over the 95 version but
would still have configuration problems with
older ISA cards or devices.
Today more and more people
use Windows XP and are happy about the
operating system enhancements. It's Plug&Play
device detection is excellent and most devices
will be functional without having to install
drivers. It's also pretty stable and if one
application locks up, you can stop this one
without crashing all the other running
process.
Linux is used more for email
servers, network or web application software.
Some will use it as an every day OS, but
programs like games and many other types of
software are not developed for it as much as
for the Windows operating systems.
MAC OS is like you guessed
for MAC computers. It's a solid OS and is very
easy to use and quite stable. MAC computers
were very expensive compared to a standard PC.
This stalled it's progression on the market
and the cheaper PC got much more attention from
the software makers and computer devices
manufacturers since it was more widespread.
I've been a PC user since
the XT PC computer running DOS using a
monochrome monitor. Running a personal
computer with a Windows XP operating system is
really not the same experience anymore.
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