Operating+System

toc **__ Operating Systems __**

An operating system (OS) is the interface between the hardware and the user. It is the most important program that runs on a computer. To run other programs, a computer needs an operating system. They perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the computer, sending output to the display screen, organizing files and and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

= __ Types of Operating Systems __ = There are many different types of operating systems. Below we have chosen a few of the most common types and have given a few examples of each, but keep in mind that there are many different examples of operating systems that fall under each category and this is just a sample. The types of operating systems that will be covered are:
 * Graphical User Interface
 * Multiprocessing
 * Multitasking
 * Multithreading
 * Multi-User
 * Real-Time

__Graphical User Interface:__
A short form, which is more commonly used, is GUI. A GUI operating system can run many graphics and images and can be navigated by using a computer mouse.

Examples:
Windows 98, and System 7.x

__MultiProcessing:__
A multiprocessing operating system is an operating system that is capable of supporting and running more than one computer processor at a time.

Examples:
Linux, Mac OS, Windows Vista/2000

__Multitasking:__
This type of operating system allows the user to run multiple software processes at a time.

Example:
Linux, Mac OS, Windows Vista/2000

__Multithreading:__
Multithreading operating systems allow the user to run multiple parts of a software program at the same time.

Examples:
Linux, Mac OS, Windows Vista/2000

__Multi-User:__
If users have a multi-user operating system, this allows them all to use the same computer at the same time or at different times.

Examples:
Linux, Mac OS, Windows Vista/2000

** __Real-Time:__ **
This operating system's main objective is to execute real-time applications. They mostly are event driven or time-sharing and are made to be quick and predictable so they can respond to each event.

= __Operating System Functions __ = Operating systems control:
 * Applications
 * Input/Output Management
 * Device Drivers
 * Memory Management
 * CPU Managament
 * Hardware

= __Examples of Operating Systems__ =

Organizations || * one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration
 * ~ Operating System ||~ Logo ||~ **Developed By** ||~ ​ Information ||
 * ==Macintosh== || [[image:Apple.png width="56" height="62" align="center"]] || Apple Inc. || * the Macintosh was introduced on January 24, 1984
 * the first successful personal computer to have a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI)
 * current version is Mac OS X
 * the releases of Mac OS X are names after big cats, for example Mac OS X v10.6 is the Snow Leopard ||
 * ==Windows == || [[image:Windows.jpg width="66" height="58" align="center"]] || Microsoft || * a series of software operating systems and graphical user interface
 * the first OS (Windows 1.0) was introduced in November 1985
 * came to overtake Mac OS after it was introduced
 * the current version of Windows is Windows Vista ||
 * ==Linux== || [[image:Linux.jpg width="56" height="70" align="center"]] || Many Different
 * the source code can be used, modified, and redistributed by anyone with a proper licence
 * installed on a wide variety of computer hardware and servers
 * currently, over three hundred distributions are being developed ||

= __Links __ =

__ Quiz __
Operating Systems Quiz

__ Helpful Websites/Bibliograhy __

 * 1) Buzzle.com
 * 2) Computer Hope.com
 * 3) US-CERT
 * 4) Webopedia
 * 5) How Stuff Works

** __Fun Videos!__ **
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 * __​__ Created By: Sarah Ryan and Amy Warchuk**