1.7. Operating Systems

Operating systems are software systems that make using computers more convenient for users, application developers and system administrators. Operating systems provide services that allow each application to execute safely, efficiently and concurrently (i.e., in parallel) with other applications. The software that contains the core components of the operating system is called the kernel. Popular desktop operating systems include Linux, Windows 7 and Mac OS X. Popular mobile operating systems used in smartphones and tablets include Google’s Android, BlackBerry OS and Apple’s iOS (for its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices).

Windows—A Proprietary Operating System

In the mid-1980s, Microsoft developed the Windows operating system, consisting of a graphical user interface built on top of DOS—an enormously popular personal-computer operating system of the time that users interacted with by typing commands. Windows borrowed from many concepts (such as icons, menus and windows) popularized by early Apple Macintosh operating systems and originally developed by Xerox PARC. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s latest operating system—its features include enhancements to the user interface, faster startup times, further refinement of security features, touch-screen and multi-touch support, and more. Windows is a proprietary operating system—it’s controlled by one company exclusively. Windows is by far the world’s most widely used operating system.