Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the key characteristic that defines personal or desktop operating systems, differentiating them from others in terms of user interaction?
What is the key characteristic that defines personal or desktop operating systems, differentiating them from others in terms of user interaction?
They are single-user operating systems, designed for one user to interact with the operating system at a time.
In what context is Linux considered 'open-source,' and how does this contrast with operating systems like Windows and Mac OS?
In what context is Linux considered 'open-source,' and how does this contrast with operating systems like Windows and Mac OS?
Linux is open-source because it's released to the public allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute it, unlike the proprietary Windows and Mac OS which are owned and updated solely by their respective companies.
Explain how the release of Windows on inexpensive personal computers impacted its popularity, and what other factors contributed to its sustained use?
Explain how the release of Windows on inexpensive personal computers impacted its popularity, and what other factors contributed to its sustained use?
The release of Windows on inexpensive personal computers increased its popularity, along with its ease of use, personalization options, and wide range of application support.
How did Xerox Corporation contribute to the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and how did their work influence later operating systems?
How did Xerox Corporation contribute to the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and how did their work influence later operating systems?
What is the significance of the General Public License (GPL) under which Linux is released, and what freedoms does it grant to users?
What is the significance of the General Public License (GPL) under which Linux is released, and what freedoms does it grant to users?
Describe the transition in naming conventions for Mac OS X versions, specifically mentioning the shift that occurred with version 10.9.
Describe the transition in naming conventions for Mac OS X versions, specifically mentioning the shift that occurred with version 10.9.
How did Apple's introduction of the Mac OS in 1984 mark a significant advancement in personal computing?
How did Apple's introduction of the Mac OS in 1984 mark a significant advancement in personal computing?
In the context of operating systems, what does 'multitasking' refer to, and how does it enhance user productivity?
In the context of operating systems, what does 'multitasking' refer to, and how does it enhance user productivity?
How did the advent of personal computers in the 1980s influence the development of operating systems? What was a common characteristic of these early operating systems?
How did the advent of personal computers in the 1980s influence the development of operating systems? What was a common characteristic of these early operating systems?
What are some of the Linux distributions offered by noncommercial Linux communities.
What are some of the Linux distributions offered by noncommercial Linux communities.
HOW IS LINUX RELATED TO UNIX
HOW IS LINUX RELATED TO UNIX
Flashcards
Personal/desktop OS
Personal/desktop OS
Operating systems for single computers; single-user but multitasking.
Multitasking
Multitasking
Ability to run more than one program at the same time.
Proprietary OS
Proprietary OS
Owned and updated solely by their companies. (Windows and Mac OS)
Open-source software
Open-source software
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Linux distributions
Linux distributions
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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
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GPL
GPL
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Command-line interface
Command-line interface
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Linux
Linux
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Mac OS X
Mac OS X
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Study Notes
- Operating systems fall into four main categories
- Personal computers
- Mobile computing devices
- Servers
- Devices other than computers
- When purchasing a personal computer or mobile device, the operating system is pre-installed, influencing the brand you might consider
Personal Computer Operating Systems
- Operating systems installed on a single computer are called personal or desktop operating systems
- These are single-user operating systems because one user interacts with the operating system at a time
- These are multitasking operating systems because they let you work with more than one program at the same time
- The three most popular personal computer operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
- Microsoft Windows runs on the most personal computers worldwide
- The most widely used version of Windows was Windows XP, released in 2001
- Windows 7, released in 2009, recently surpassed Windows XP in popularity
- Windows 8, the most recent major version of Windows, was released in 2012
- Windows became widespread because it ran on inexpensive personal computers created by many computer manufacturers
- Mac OS runs only on Apple Macintosh computers
- The current version of the operating system is called Mac OS X (X is the Roman numeral 10)
- Mac OS X versions up to 10.8 are named after big cats
- Mac OS X version 10.9 is called Mavericks and is named after a surfing location in northern California
Mac OS
- Mac OS set the standard for GUI operating systems
- Mac OS X is secure, reliable, and easy to maintain operating system
Linux
- Linux is related to UNIX, an operating system first developed in the 1960s
- It was designed for large, special-purpose computers used by scientists and programmers
- Unlike Windows and Mac OS, Linux is released to the public as open-source software
- This open-source model means that anyone can use, modify, and distribute it
- Programmers have collaborated on improving Linux, and developing applications and utilities
- Linux is available in versions called distributions, including commercial distributions
- Distributions of Linux are offered by Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu, and Mandriva
- Noncommercial Linux communities include Debian, Slackware, and Gentoo
- Ubuntu encourages humanity toward others
- Ubuntu has features similar to Windows and Mac OS
Early Days of Personal Operating Systems
- Personal computer operating systems appeared in the 1980s
- IBM and other companies developed the first personal computers
- The computers had a command-line interface
- Many ran a version of DOS, such as MS-DOS
- MS stands for Microsoft
- Apple introduced the Mac OS in 1984
- The Mac OS featured one of the first graphical user interfaces on a commercially available computer
- Microsoft released Windows 1.0 shortly after the Macintosh debuted
- Windows did not become popular until Microsoft released version 3.1 in 1992
- Linux was developed and introduced in the early 1990s by a Finnish student, Linus Torvalds
- Torvalds released Linux released under the terms of a General Public License (GPL) which allows you to copy the operating system for your own use, to give to others, or to sell
Apple Computers
- Apple is often credited with introducing the graphical user interface when it released its first Macintosh computer
- Xerox Corporation first developed the idea of using icons in an interface for an experimental computer called the Alto
- This computer and its icons, desktop metaphor, and menus of commands that popped up next to objects influenced the design of later graphical user interfaces, including the one for the Macintosh
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