Popular modern Operating Systems

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Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are Linux , Mac Os X and Windows, but others are available, such as DOS.

LINUX

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of Linux is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds.

Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal computers. It has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system. It is a leading operating system on servers and other big iron systems such as mainframe computers and supercomputers: more than 90% of today's top 500 supercomputers run some variant of Linux, including the 10 fastest. Linux also runs on embedded systems (devices where the operating system is typically built into the firmware and highly tailored to the system) such as mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions and video game consoles; the Android system in wide use on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration: the underlying source code may be used, modified, and distributed—commercially or non-commercially—by anyone under licenses such as the GNU General Public License. Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a Linux distribution for desktop and server use. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include Debian (and its derivatives such as Ubuntu), Fedora and openSUSE. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel, supporting utilities and libraries and usually a large amount of application software to fulfill the distribution's intended use.

A distribution oriented toward desktop use may include the X Window System and an accompanying desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE Plasma. Other distributions may include a less resource intensive desktop such as LXDE or Xfce for use on older or less powerful computers. A distribution intended to run as a server may omit all graphical environments from the standard install and instead include other software such as the Apache HTTP Server and an SSH server such as OpenSSH. Because Linux is freely redistributable, anyone can create a distribution for any intended use. Applications commonly used with desktop Linux systems include the Mozilla Firefox web browser, the LibreOffice office application suite, and the GIMP image editor.

Because the main supporting user space system tools and libraries originated in the GNU Project, initiated in 1983 by Richard Stallman, the Free Software Foundation prefers the name GNU/Linux.

So, once you know what Linux is and its history, whether you want to know what the real advantages of Linux from Windows is? There are several advantages of Linux, and of course, some disadvantages to using the Linux operating system. This article covers 5 advantages of using Linux over Windows, and lists some disadvantages as well.

Advantages of Linux:

• Cost – The most obvious advantage of using Linux is the fact that it is free to obtain, while Microsoft products are available for a hefty and sometimes recurring fee. Microsoft licenses typically are only allowed to be installed on a single computer, whereas a Linux distribution can be installed on any number of computers, without paying a single dime.
• Security – In line with the costs, the security aspect of Linux is much stronger than that of Windows. Why should you have to spend extra money for virus protection software? The Linux operating system has been around since the early nineties and has managed to stay secure in the realm of widespread viruses, spyware and adware for all these years. Sure, the argument of the Linux desktop not being as widely used is a factor as to why there are no viruses. My rebuttle is that the Linux operating system is open source and if there were a widespread Linux virus released today, there would be hundreds of patches released tomorrow, either by ordinary people that use the operating system or by the distribution maintainers. We wouldn’t need to wait for a patch from a single company like we do with Windows.
• Choice (Freedom) – The power of choice is a great Linux advantage. With Linux, you have the power to control just about every aspect of the operating system. Two major features you have control of are your desktops look and feel by way of numerous Window Managers, and the kernel. In Windows, your either stuck using the boring default desktop theme, or risking corruption or failure by installing a third-party shell.
• Software - There are so many software choices when it comes to doing any specific task. You could search for a text editor on Freshmeat and yield hundreds, if not thousands of results. My article on 5 Linux text editors you should know about explains how there are so many options just for editing text on the command-line due to the open source nature of Linux. Regular users and programmers contribute applications all the time. Sometimes its a simple modification or feature enhancement of a already existing piece of software, sometimes its a brand new application. In addition, software on Linux tends to be packed with more features and greater usability than software on Windows. Best of all, the vast majority of Linux software is free and open source. Not only are you getting the software for no charge, but you have the option to modify the source code and add more features if you understand the programming language. What more could you ask for?
• Hardware - Linux is perfect for those old computers with barely any processing power or memory you have sitting in your garage or basement collecting dust. Install Linux and use it as a firewall, a file server, or a backup server. There are endless possibilities. Old 386 or 486 computers with barely any RAM run Linux without any issue. Good luck running Windows on these machines and actually finding a use for them.

Disadvantages of Linux:

• Understanding – Becoming familiar with the Linux operating system requires patience as well as a strong learning curve. You must have the desire to read and figure things out on your own, rather than having everything done for you. Check out the 20 must read howto’s and guides for Linux.
• Compatibility – Because of its free nature, Linux is sometimes behind the curve when it comes to brand new hardware compatibility. Though the kernel contributors and maintainers work hard at keeping the kernel up to date, Linux does not have as much of a corporate backing as alternative operating systems. Sometimes you can find third party applications, sometimes you can’t.
• Alternative Programs – Though Linux developers have done a great job at creating alternatives to popular Windows applications, there are still some applications that exist on Windows that have no equivalent Linux application. Read Alternatives to Windows Applications to find out some of the popular alternatives.

WINDOWS
 

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.

Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer market, overtaking Mac OS, which had been introduced in 1984.

The most recent client version of Windows is Windows 7; the most recent server version is Windows Server 2008 R2; the most recent mobile version is Windows Phone 7.

Windows operating system is the most widely used in the world, because of the ease and support the many applications available. To be able to use the operating system is not free, we have to buy a legal license from Microsoft. And will be subject to sanctions if we get caught using pirated versions of these operating systems.

Advantages of  Windows:

• User friendly compared to other operating systems
• Installing the software was easy compared to the installation on other operating systems 
• Many Windows-based software 
• Driver support for more 
• Many people use Windows so that many companies create applications using basic Windows. There are some applications that exist only in Windows OS and not in others. Even some of the vital world of work applications. 
• The most rapid progression than other software because many software companies that consistently make progress on the Windows operating system. 
• Many offer a free GPL and Freeware for Windows. 
• If there is a problem easy to solve because almost anyone can, and experts are also not difficult to find around us.

  Disadvantages of Windows : 

• The price of expensive licenses
•  Community is too little, because it is closed-source
• Many viruses that often attack Windows 
• The security system is still arguably less  
• The system less stable

Mac OS

Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer, Inc.) for their Macintosh line of computer systems.

HISTORY OF MAC OS
Mac OS stands for Macintosh Operating System. Mac OS is a computer operating system created by Apple Computer for Macintosh computers and is compatible with IBM-based PC. Introduced in 1984, Mac OS since 2006 has had compatibility with PowerPC and x86 architectures.Macintosh operating system or the Macintosh operating system is the operating system in use to operate a computer notebook apple macintosh. Mac OS is the first operating system that uses a Graphical User Interface - GUI. Important people in the Macintosh that Bill Atkinson, Andy Hertzfeld and Jef Raskin. This computer is named after the McIntosh, the preferred type of apple Jef Raskin. Macintosh was first introduced in January 1984 through Super Bowl advertising is phenomenal. At that time, the steps taken by Apple is a revolutionary development in the world of personal computers.There are different views on how the early Macintosh in creating.Apple purposely made ​​plain for Macintosh Macintosh can more easily be run by people who are just learning the computer once. Macintosh operating system was originally identified as a system, such as "System 6.0.7" or "System 7". In the beginning is also recognized as a "toolbox" that there are some advantages that can be used to replace the toolbox being associated with the computer. Initially Apple also deliberately hide the operating system is to distinguish the Mac with other operating systems like MS-DOS, which is easier to use than the Macintosh.

 

Advantages of the Mac operating system :

• Multitasking 
• Windows can recognize the file format 
• A more glossy look so good for graphic design / multimedia
• Documents created in Mac OS can be read on the other, and vice versa. Both the format of 'generic' (eg pdf, html, mp3, text) as well as a special format (eg. Doc,. Xls,. Ppt). Provided there is an application program (application) on both platforms (Mac and Windows) that can read that format.  
• Open source code so that the Mac OS hard hijacked 
• There is a 'Time Machine' which will work automatically in the background without disturbing the running application to backup system and ongoing changes to the data 
• There is a program "Sherlock" is not only looking for files on disk and in the local network, but also can act on the Internet and search by keyword.
• More stable 
• Macintosh has a security against viruses, spyware, and so forth. This is the biggest reason why many people choose Mac as to avoid the virus.
• Operating System Mac is easy to use and easy to learn. Because the source is clear, his training center there, and generally when people are faced with the Mac OS is easy to learn.
• Mac has a guarantee of certainty and a clear hardware support.

Disadvantages of the Mac operating system :

• Expensive.
• Only suitable for graphic designers. 
• Mac OS can not be used together other operating systems that do not use the Mac OS system.
• Mac can not be assembled because Apple is not giving license for other companies to make hardware that can use the Mac OS. 
• Software on the Mac OS is not so complete.
• Less suitable for server applications and games. 

And this is Our_Team Padinsa opinion ... 
Now that you have an understanding of some of the advantages of Linux, Windows, and Mac, it's time to get out and experiment. Windows and Mac can be a great tool for the lazy and incompetent, but it takes a true scholar and one who wants to learn to run a robust operating system like Linux.

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