Page 33 - DCAP403_Operating System

Operating System

Notes UNIX is made up of the kernel, file system and shell (command line interface). The major shells are

the Bourne shell (original), C shell and Korn shell. The UNIX vocabulary is exhaustive with more
than 600 commands that manipulate data and text in every way conceivable. Many commands
are cryptic, but just as Windows hid the DOS prompt, the Motif GUI presents a friendlier image
to UNIX users. Even with its many versions, UNIX is widely used in mission critical applications
for client/server and transaction processing systems. The UNIX versions that are widely used
are Sun’s Solaris, Digital’s UNIX, HP’s HP-UX, IBM’s AIX and SCO’s UnixWare. A large number
of IBM mainframes also run UNIX applications, because the UNIX interfaces were added to
MVS and OS/390, which have obtained UNIX branding. Linux, another variant of UNIX, is also
gaining enormous popularity.

2.3.3 Windows

Windows is a personal computer operating system from Microsoft that, together with some
commonly used business applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, has become a de facto
“standard” for individual users in most corporations as well as in most homes. Windows contains

built-in networking, which allows users to share files and applications with each other if their
PC’s are connected to a network. In large enterprises, Windows clients are often connected to a
network of UNIX and NetWare servers. The server versions of Windows NT and 2000 are gaining
market share, providing a Windows-only solution for both the client and server. Windows is
supported by Microsoft, the largest software company in the world, as well as the Windows
industry at large, which includes tens of thousands of software developers.
This networking support is the reason why Windows became successful in the fi rst place.
However, Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP are complicated operating environments.
Certain combinations of hardware and software running together can cause problems, and
troubleshooting can be daunting. Each new version of Windows has interface changes that
constantly confuse users and keep support people busy, and Installing Windows applications
is problematic too. Microsoft has worked hard to make Windows 2000 and Windows XP more
resilient to installation of problems and crashes in general.

2.3.4 Macintosh

The Macintosh (often called “the Mac”), introduced in 1984 by Apple Computer, was the fi rst
widely-sold personal computer with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The Mac was designed
to provide users with a natural, intuitively understandable, and, in general, “user-friendly”
computer interface. This includes the mouse, the use of icons or small visual images to represent
objects or actions, the point-and-click and click-and-drag actions, and a number of window
operation ideas. Microsoft was successful in adapting user interface concepts fi rst made popular

by the Mac in its first Windows operating system. The primary disadvantage of the Mac is that
there are fewer Mac applications on the market than for Windows. However, all the fundamental
applications are available, and the Macintosh is a perfectly useful machine for almost everybody.
Data compatibility between Windows and Mac is an issue, although it is often overblown and
readily solved.
The Macintosh has its own operating system, Mac OS which, in its latest version is called Mac OS
X. Originally built on Motorola’s 68000 series microprocessors, Mac versions today are powered
by the PowerPC microprocessor, which was developed jointly by Apple, Motorola, and IBM.
While Mac users represent only about 5% of the total numbers of personal computer users, Macs
are highly popular and almost a cultural necessity among graphic designers and online visual
artists and the companies they work for.

Task DOS is a character based operating system what about Windows operating
system.

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