OPERATING SYSTEM

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OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating system is a collection of system programmes that control and coordinate the overall operation of a computer system. These programmes act as an interface between the hardware and the applications software. It manages the resources of the computer namely the central processing unit, memory and input/output devices. Normally transparent to the user, operating system performs its task without intervention. The user is usually unaware that the operating system is quietly at work assisting the user in vaious ways. Examples are Disc operating system (DOS), Macintosh, and Unix. Dos is a command driven interface discussed in the next pages.

The trend today is towards more user friendly, graphics oriented environment called a graphic user interface (GUI), the user can interact with DOS through a series of pull down menu. Software that provides a GUI instead of command driven interface is called a shell. Dos shell provides a Graphical user interface (GUI) and was first introduced with DOS 4.0 version. Operating system 2 (OS/2) is an operating system devloped for IBM compatible microcomputers. UNIX is another operating system that was once used only on mini and mainframe computers, but has now been adapted for microcomputers as well. Unix is a protable multitask multi user, layered operating system. It is written in C language, which is a high level language. Hence it is less hardware dependent than those written in lower level machine language. ZENIX or XENIX is another operating system developed by Microsoft for microcomputers. It has multiprogramming capabilities with many useful utilities and GUI and is gaining rapid acceptance Windows is an operating system developed by Microsoft for microcomputers using Intel microprocessors. A true Windows operating system is Windows NT (New Technology). It is intended to work on computers for multiple manufacturers. Windows NT provides a whole new set of applications. Applications that once ran on large computers can now run under Windows NT on PCs. Windows NT can run any programme written for the earlier MS DOS, Windows, and OS/2 operating systems. Macintosh operating system is an operating system particularly used in Apple Computers. It has an extremely user friendly GUI.

continue..DOS, OS/2, IBM, UNIX, ZENIX, XENIX