You are most likely already familiar with the term operating system. However, hearing a term is not the same as understanding its definition and importance at an individual level and even more so for companies.
An operating system is nothing more than a program or software that is executed on a computer or device, allowing its use by giving it orders to perform one or more functions that we need.
For this reason, it is considered as a series of programs in charge of controlling all the functioning of those physical parts of an electronic equipment. The software facilitates the use of the computer or any other device. So in simpler words, the software is what drives the hardware.
Thanks to the operating system it is possible to manage all the resources offered by the hardware, being a kind of intermediary between the device or computer and the user. Additionally, it offers an environment where users can run programs efficiently and conveniently.
Why is an operating system so important?
The importance of an operating system lies in the fact that it allows interaction. It makes it possible to give commands to a computer or other electronic device.
With the absence of an operating system, any electronic devices and computers would be completely useless. You wouldn’t have that platform that can support the programs that make it easy to listen to music, surf the Internet, send emails, and so much more.
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What are the most commonly used types of operating systems?
There are many that will vary depending on the hardware and its purpose. Based on their functionality, the most used operating systems are as follows.
– Uniprocessor operating system.
As the term indicates, in this case there is only a single central processing unit CPU. This unit is designed to execute various instructions of a general nature.
– Multiprocessor.
So-called multiprocessor-type operating systems are also known as tightly coupled systems or parallel systems.
This type of system has one or more central processing units. The multiprocessor can be asymmetric, in which each processor will have a specific task, or symmetric, when the processors execute the same tasks.
– Distributed operating system.
They are operating systems in which there is a collection of processors but do not share memory or clock. The distributed system communicates through an interconnected network.
– Operating systems for laptops.
It is the operating system with which we are most familiar. It is the system with which we manage small devices, such as smartphones, tablets, notebooks and more. These devices include an operating system that controls the interface and communications.
– Real-time operating system.
Embedded or real-time systems are those O.S that control medical devices, household appliances, electronic devices, or automobiles, to name just a few.
These are operating systems that are in charge of performing very specific tasks on the computer without human supervision. These tasks can be adjusting to limited times, saving battery power, or others.
– Media operating system.
Multimedia operating systems are one of the most used in the world. They have been designed for handling multimedia data files such as audio and video files.
These files must be processed at a fixed speed and with a certain time to work correctly. Therefore, the multimedia operating system controls the compression of these files and the decoding of those large files. It is a type of operating system widely used in computers, smartphones, digital assistants and tablets.
The most common desktop operating systems.
The most common desktop O.S are Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Let’s detail a little more about each of these desktop operating systems.
1. Microsoft Windows.
It was developed in the eighties. Windows is the default installed on most new computers. It is undoubtedly the most popular operating system in the world, with several versions over time, the most current being Windows 11.
2. Mac OS.
Es la mayor competencia de Windows mencionada anteriormente. Ha sido creado por Apple Inc. y, por supuesto, viene instalado en todas las computadoras producidas por la empresa. The most recent versions of this operating system are: macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey 12, macOS Big Sur 11.
3. Linux operating system.
In this case it is very different from Windows and Mac OS. In this case, Linux is an open source system. That means that it can be distributed and modified by people anywhere on the planet. One of its main advantages is that it is free, and you can choose between different versions.
As a curious fact, Linux despite being free, is little used in home computers. However, for many servers and companies, the Linux operating system, due to its customization capacity and efficiency, is widely used. The most popular versions of this system are Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint and Ubuntu.
As you can see, operating systems are more present in our lives than we imagine. The OS are currently essential, so it is necessary to take the time to choose the right one according to your needs and preferences.
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