Operating Systems
An Operating System or OS is a software program that
enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate
with the computer software. Without a computer Operating
System a computer would be useless.
Microsoft
Windows Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows is a range of closed-source operating
environments for personal computers. The range was first
introduced by Microsoft in 1985 and eventually came
to dominate the world personal computer market. All
recent versions of Windows are fully-fledged operating
systems.
Linux
Operating Systems
Linux (pronounced Lih'Nuks) is a computer operating
system. It is probably the best known example of free
software and of open-source development. "Linux"
strictly refers to the Linux kernel, but the name is
often used to describe the entire Unix-like operating
system formed by combining the Linux kernel with the
GNU libraries and tools. Linux supports a vast range
of computer hardware and has been deployed in applications
ranging from personal computers to supercomputers and
embedded systems such as mobile phones and the TiVo
PVR.
Unix
Operating Systems
The UNIX operating system was developed at AT&T.
Because it was essentially free in early editions, easily
obtainable, and easily modified, it achieved wide acceptance.
Later it was the choice starting point for developing
operating systems for evolving minicomputers. Due to
its earlier widespread use it exemplified the idea of
a operating system that was conceptually the same across
various hardware platforms. It still was owned by AT&T
and that limited its use to groups or corporations who
could afford to license it.
IBM OS/2 Warp
IBM and Microsoft announced they were working together
on future PC operating systems.
Microsoft wanted to use Windows, while Big Blue
pushed its own code. The issue was still unresolved
when the two companies announced OS/2, Version
1.0 in April 1987. OS/2 was originally writen
for the 286. The 286 had introduced what Intel
called "protected" memory and the
ability to write programs beyond the 640K barrier,
but it did so in a way that sometimes made it
incompatible with existing 8088/8086 based software.
Mac OS
Mac OS is Apple Computer's operating system for Apple
Macintosh computers. Mac OS was the first commercially
successful operating system which used a graphical user
interface - although early versions did not use that,
or any, name.
MS-DOS
On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its new revolution
in a box, the "Personal Computer" complete
with a brand new operating system from Microsoft and
a 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0.
