Computer Operating System

Computer Operaing System

An operating system (OS) is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is a vital component of the system software in a computer system. Application programs require an operating system which are usually separate programs, but can be combined in simple systems.

Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.

For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between application programs and the computer hardware, although the application code is usually executed directly by the hardware and will frequently make a system call to an OS function or be interrupted by it. Operating systems are found on almost any device that contains a computer—from cellular phones and video game consoles to supercomputers and web servers. 

Windows VS Mac OS X Lion

The operating system became the basis of a computer system, there are 2 major company that develop operating systems they are Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft with the product Windows and Apple with the products Mac OS. At the Apple WWDC Steve Jobs introduced a new operating system from Mac OS X that is Mac OS X Lion. Lion is the OS that adopt the features of iPad, Apple has successful already with the iPad and Apple would like to take the features of iPad and put on the Lion. Similarly Microsoft, Windows 8 also adopts features which are owned by the Windows phones 7. Lately so many tablet PCs introduced by their great brands and 2 companies of this OS wants to take the features of the tablet PC into a computer.

Lion is the operating system using multi-touch gesture system, of course the navigation between applications become easier and simpler. So many of gesture that can be used to simplify every movement your mouse so that it becomes so simple. In a previous Mac OS applications that run can not be displayed in full screen but on the Lions you can use the features that display a full screen application. Another new features which from Mac OS X Lion is a launchpad and mission control, if you ever use iPad then launchpad is the same as like iPad. When you run the launchpad then all the applications on your Mac will appear on the desktop and will be able to choose which application you want to run. Just like iPad you can use multi-touch features to shift the existing applications on lauchpad or you can manage your applications. Mission control represent all the things you’re doing, what were you go whether it be safari, keynote, desktop and your dock will appear all in mission control. Mission control is very useful when you work with many windows you can make navigation very easy and simple.Mac OS X Lion also gives application called Mac App Store to buy the application you want. App store not only serves as a place to buy applications but you can also view the latest update from your existing applications and easily you can update all your applications. App store will also present to you the most recent application and you can also see reviews of that application before buying. Another feature provided is the resume, this feature will automatically save all your open applications when you turn off your computer and then when you restart the application it will appear and you do not have to start from scratch to open the application. Auto Save also one of the new features of the Lion, you have nothing to worry about forgetting to save the data because Lion will save your data in various versions. You can take any version you want, you can take the old version and put it on the latest version. For users of Mac OS no need to wait any longer, Mac OS X Lion will be present in July.

Windows 8 also adopts the features available in Windows phones 7, most of Windows 8 is similar to Mac OS X Lion. Why is said similar? Because all the work in those OS can be done by using multi-touch gesture system. Windows 8 also has a gesture system that helps users to facilitate the work. The initial view of Windows 8 is different from previous Windows versions, Windows 8 appeared with different Start menu at startup as you can see in the picture. From there you can go to the applications you want by using the gesture, you can shift to the right or left just as the tablet PC. There are many features of Windows 8 is still unknown, let’s wait what will be done by Microsoft with innovation of Windows 8.

Source From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system and http://ecybershot.com/mac-os-x-lion-vs-windows-8/ Thanks