Examples of Operating Systems

 Ms-Dos

• Windows 95

• Windows 98
• Windows 98 Second Edition
• Windows NT Workstation
• Windows NT Server
• UNIX
• Macintosh

Microsoft Windows

 

Microsoft created the operating system,

Windows, in the mid-1980s.

 

They have a version of the operating 

system

that is designed for the home user, and a

professional version, which is intended for

businesses.

 

The versions differ in the depth of 

networking,security, and multimedia support

Windows is a proprietary software, which means that Microsoft has placed restrictions on how people can use or copy the software. Windows comes preloaded on most of the PCs sold today, and can also be purchased separately Various versions of the software are priced from $79 to $399 for home users.

See the image for the Windows Vista Desktop

Microsoft has a big share of the operating system market. According to web analyst Net Solutions, over 90% of computer users have one of the Windows operating systems, such as Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or the most recent Windows 8, as of August 2013.

Apple’s Mac OS

Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple Inc. The Mac operating system is proprietary software that comes preloaded on all new Macintosh computers, or Macs. 

The most recent version of the operating system is called Mac OS X (pronounced Mac O-S Ten). Like Microsoft, Apple offers a professional version of the operating system that is intended for use on servers and a version of the operating system that is developed for home users. 

 Mac OS X Desktop

According to web analyst Net Solutions, Mac OS users account for almost 7.5% percent of the operating systems market as of March 2008. Although the percentage of users is low, especially in comparison to Windows users, Mac operating systems have seen a dramatic jump in growth in 2007. Mac computers are sleek and modern looking, which has started to appeal to many home users.

The common version names of Mac OS X are Leopard and Tiger. There is Lion.

To learn more about the Macintosh computers Watch the Kawa Video about understyanding OS or visit the Apple Inc. website, and explore the Mac computers available, as well as the Support center for information about the Mac OS.

Linux

Linux is an open source, or free, operating system. Unlike Windows and Mac OS, Linux is not proprietary software and all the computer code that is part of the operating system can be used and modified by any user. 

 Linux was started in the 1990s when Linus Torvalds, a person interested in creating a free operating system, developed the Linux (pronounce lynn-ux) kernal, which is computer code that is a central part of an operating system. 

 As an open source software, any individual or company can take the Linux kernal and modify and add to it.

Hundreds of companies and individuals have taken the Linux kernal and added additional computer programs to create various versions of the Linux operating system. These versions are known as distributions and are available to download for free. 

 

Ubuntu Desktop: A Version of Linux

Linux is extremely popular in businesses, especially for servers, because it is adaptable. According to Net Application statistics, Linux represents under 1% of the market share for home users, but it does offer an alternative to commercial operating systems.

Despite being used in many businesses for servers, you do not have need to have special programming skills to download and use Linux. In fact, if you want to try Linux, you don't have to actually install it on your computer. Several versions of the operating system can be downloaded and burned to a CD.

Two popular distributions of the software are Ubuntu and Red Hat. Ubuntu is completely free and is available in a version geared specifically for home users.

 

Red Hat is a company that offers technical and training support for businesses that use its version of the operating system, Red Hat Linux.