An operating system (OS for brevity) is responsible for coordinating, managing activities, and resource sharing on a computer. Without the OS, it is impossible to operate these devices. The three most dominant computer operating systems found in the market today are Windows (manufactured by Microsoft), MAC (by Macintosh/Apple Computers), and Linux (by Linus Torvalds and his partners). Current Windows OS has the best Graphical User Interface with an upgraded menu bar, start menu, button, and taskbar appearance. These user-friendly features allow clients to use computers with just simple instructions conveniently.
This OS is known to be very stable and is protected with a high level of security measures. These have phishing filters that alarm their users when unauthorized people are attempting to access their sites. It also has spam protection, Windows Defender, which blocks suspicious programs, an advanced firewall, automatic back-up during program crashes, and data encryption/decryption. This software allows fast interconnectivity in local area networks and the internet. High-speed data downloading and uploading can be achieved. Multimedia functions such as video and audio are richly provided in Windows OS.
The main disadvantage of Window OS is that this has high computer system requirements. It would help if you had a computer with very high memory capacity, graphics card requirement ranging from 128 to 256 megabytes, minimum hard disk space of at least 20 gigabytes, and Random Access Memory (RAM) with 2 gigabytes capacity. Windows OS is usually expensive. You may need to upgrade your current software or purchase a new operating system to keep abreast with technological advances.
Macintosh provides its own operating system, which is called MAC OS. It is less prone to infiltration and damage from harmful software such as malware and spyware than Microsoft Windows. However, this system is not sold solely in computer stores because it is exclusively used in Apple Computers. Because of this, MAC OS-equipped units are typically pricey.
Related Articles :
- The iPhone 4 By Apple Provides A Wealth Of New And Improved Features
- The Best Gaming Computers – Tips To Building Or Buying
- Google Offers Peek at New Fuchsia Operating System
- Did you buy a PC without an operating system?
- Your Internet Security – Is it Defined by the Operating System That You Use?
The Linux operating system is known for its stability and durability in withstanding long use. This system rarely crashes. If this indeed happens, it will not usually harm its computer programs. It can run even on old computer hardware such as Pentium 100 with 16 megabytes of memory and a 1-gigabyte disk drive. You can still use your outdated computer since several program applications are compatible with Linux. Its security features are very impressive because its developers can immediately fix any weak spots that the operating system may have.
However, Linux has many disadvantages. First of all, many people are not familiar with this computer software. Thus, it will take some time to learn how to operate it. Secondly, there are a lot of office suite programs that do not run on Linux. Thirdly, you need specialized personnel to service your computer that uses the said operating system. Lastly, there are computer programs that are incompatible with the Linux software. Therefore, these may not run and function properly.
In choosing an operating system, consider its affordability and the full availability of support services. Kate Hagen is a social media marketing expert. She has her BS in Business Information Systems and her Masters in Accounting. She has worked in corporate America for 20 years before starting her own home-based business consulting with companies and individuals on social media marketing and helping them gain a presence on the world wide web.
