Operating System

Key Features / Changes from Prior Version

DOS (Disk Operating System)

Disk Operating System

Command-line interface

No longer widely used, but some knowledge of DOS is helpful for some maintenance tasks

 

Macintosh Operating System

First successful GUI interface

Windows patterned after it

Now called Mac OS

 

Early Windows Versions

3.x was initial GUI interface – answer to Macintosh environment

3.x ran on “top” of DOS

 

Windows 95

True operating system – not an environment that sat on top of DOS

Improved interface

Improved speed and stability

 

Windows NT

Windows “New Technology”

Designed for client-server networks

 

Windows 98

More internet integration

Addition of Active Desktop

 

Windows 2000

Replacement for Windows NT

Win 2K Server

Win 2K Professional (for the client)

 

Windows ME (Millennium Edition)

Home-user version of Win 2K

 

Windows XP

Increased performance

Multiple user accounts

Enhanced system recovery from failure

Firewall

Network support

Enhanced internet and multimedia capabilities

Windows CE

Designed to run on PDAs

 

Linux

Open-source software

The code is available to the public

Users can personalize it to their needs

Users can share the changes they make with others