Unit 05: LO 4 - 4.1 - Common Operating Systems

Describe how a range of common operating systems are used (2 is fine)

Assessment

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Common operating systems, for example:

• Windows

• Mac OS (based on BSD Unix)

• Linux

• iOS

• Android (based on Linux)

Operating systems are the intelligence in a computer.

The hard drive is an electronic block that could not function on it's own.

Let's say you have some photos on a camera and you plug the camera into the computer with a USB. The operating system knows as soon as it's plugged in because it will go to install drivers from the camera in order for it to talk to it.

When the drivers have been installed, an icon will show up in the Windows File Explorer saying it's available to do some work. There are 1000s of things the operating system does between talking with the router, the printer, the mouse, the keyboard, etc and doing certain things.

The operating system (OS) is like your brain. You are unconsciously breathing right now. There are certain functions of the OS that are running in the background, like managing the RAM or the virtual memory, which is on the hard drive. When you go to save a document, it knows where the hard drive is and it saves your work so you can access it later.

All Operating Systems' purpose is to: Talks to the hardware (mouse through drivers) and to the software loaded on the hard drive to load programs like Chrome or save files from Word back to hard drive.

Windows

Purpose: General Computing, Office, Emails, Web surfing
Advantages: Broad software compatibility, user-friendly interface, extensive support.
Common Use Cases: Office workstations
You can do creative tasks as well like video editing and Photoshop

Mac OS

Purpose: General Computing and sometimes more creative tasks (although all of these can be done on a Windows machine) Graphic design, video editing, software development for Apple ecosystem.
Advantages: Robust performance, minimal susceptibility to malware, seamless integration with other Apple products.
Common Use Cases: Creative departments like design and media, executive laptops, and software development for iOS/Mac.

Linux

Purpose: Personal computers (Distribution: Mint), Server management, cloud computing, cybersecurity, specialized tasks.
Advantages: High stability, strong security features, open-source, cost-effective.
Common Use Cases: Web servers, database servers, cloud computing, and cybersecurity operations.

iOS (Apple)

Purpose: Mobile computing, client meetings, fieldwork.
Advantages: User-friendly, secure, high-quality apps, good integration with Mac OS.
Common Use Cases: Business communication, field data collection, mobile access to business applications.

Android

Purpose: Mobile computing, customized applications, fieldwork.
Advantages: Highly customizable, broad hardware choice, cost-effective.
Common Use Cases: Inventory management, field surveys, point-of-sale systems.

Chrome OS

Purpose: Cloud Computing
Advantages: Simpler, storage, battery life on the laptops it's installed on, security

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