Introduction

Components

Software & Hardware Central processing unit (CPU) Storage Devices Operating System (OS)
Application Software Computer Communication Chinese Input System Useful Link Your Comments Quiz Zone

 

 

 

>>> Add your comments !

>>> Try it out !
News Headlines !
>>> Update everyday !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating system (OS)

The computers can do lots of wonderful tasks, but there must be some programs installed in the computer in order to operate. What is inside the computer doing this? The answer is the operating system (OS)

The need for OS Types of OS Examples of OS

The need for an operating system

The operating system is an integrated set of systems programs that manages the resources, controls the overall operations of a computer, an functions as an interface between the computer and the users

An operating system helps us to use computers in many ways. However, we are not usually concerned about how the OS instructs the hardware to perform certain tasks. The functions performed by an OS are generally transparent or invisible to us.

The main functions of an operating system include :

  1. To efficiently utilize the computer hardware.

  2. To allocate memory space to programs and data.

  3. To deal with errors when they occur and to keep the system running despair them.

  4. To allocate system resources to different programs and users.

  5. To make computers easy for users to use and easy for developers to program.

  6. To maintain security by checking passwords.

Types of operating system

Computers are expensive. It is necessary to use them as economically and efficiently as possible. There are therefore different modes of operations. The best mode of operation will depend on the types of applications.

Examples of operating systems

There are many different types of operating systems. They are designed to meet the requirements of different computing environments. Some examples of operating systems used in the mini or mainframe computers include UNIX, AIX, VMS, OS/MVS, ... etc. For microcomputers, there are also many operating systems, some commonly used included Microsoft DOS, IBM 0S/21, Apple OS, Windows, etc.

Before you use a microcomputer, you must load the OS or 'boot' the system. To do this , you have to :

  1. inset an operating system disk into a disk drive

  2. close the drive door

  3. turn on the switch

On micros with hard disks, all you have to do is turn on the system. Below are some common operating systems used on microcomputer :

MS-DOS DOS is the most widely used OS on IBM PC and IBM PC compatibles. The first version of DOS was introduced in 1981. Currently DOS has been revised to version 6.22. There is also a MS-DOS 7 which is installed along with MS-Windows.

In process management, you need to type in your program name using keyboard. In memory management, DOS can only access the 1 MB of system memory.

IBM OS (OS/2) It was designed to be a preemptive multitasking OS with a graphical user interface to replace DOS. To run OS/2, an INTEL 386 CPU is required. 
Macintosh DOS This OS is designed for Macintosh line of computers with quality graphics and graphical user interface. It is more powerful than MS-DOS.
UNIX UNIX is a multi-user operating system, which was originally designed for minicomputers. It is good for multitasking and networking. As networking become more and more common, UNIX becomes more popular as it excels in multi-user and multitasking capability.
Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows 3.0 and 3.1 started as a GUI DOS shell aiming to make the computer easy to use for everyone. They are graphical user interfaces (GUI) which utilized icons, dialog boxes, pull-down menu, etc, to help users to complete their tasks

One characteristics of a GUI is its heavy dependency on the use of mouse in managing tasks and operations. Starting a program in the Windows environment is easy , you need only double click on the icon.

For now, the windows 's version has been introduced from 3.0, 3.1, to Window 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000 , up to now Windows ME, soon a new version, Windows XP, will be sold in the market too.

 
 If you want to have deeper understanding on this topic, please click: 
Windows DOS 使用秘笈   About using window95/98, commands of dos 
美麗的DOS時代 提供常用DOS工具程序、軟件、遊戲及自製程序
MyDesktop.com covering all aspects of Windows95/NT information, including software, reviews, tips, games, features, and support.
Ms-Dos Brief introduction about Ms-Dos (Chinese)
Widows Family Useful and detail information about how to operate windows system and dos system (Chinese)

 

click to computer on-line dictionary click to Computer Desktop Encyclopedia

[ Home ] [ Components of a computer system ] [ Software and hardware ] [ Introduction of CPU ] [ Main Memory and Backing Store ] [ OS ] [ Applications software ] [ Computer_communication ] [ Chinese Input ] [ Useful links ] [ Quiz Zone ] [ Syllabus on Computer System ] [ News on technology and computer ]  

You are the Hit Counter visitors ! 

Thank you !

Last updated: 2001/10/25

This homepage was designed by 7B Lau Ming Wai (13)

Copyright @ 2001CA. All right reserved.

 

 

 

 

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1