Introduction to Operating Systems

Introduction to Operating Systems

  • Operating system manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs

  • Acts as an intermediary between programs and computer hardware

  • Found on various devices, from cellular phones to servers

  • Microsoft Windows is the dominant general-purpose personal computer operating system

What is an Operating System?

  • Market share: Microsoft Windows (74.99%), macOS by Apple Inc (14.84%), Linux (2.81%)

  • Android's share in the mobile sector is 70.82% in 2020

  • Android dominates the smartphone market with 87.5% share, followed by Apple's iOS with 12.1%

iOS

  • Mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc

  • Powers Apple's mobile devices, including iPhone and iPad

  • Second-most widely installed mobile operating system after Android

  • Basis for other Apple operating systems like iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS

Android

  • Mobile operating system developed by Google

  • Primarily used for touchscreen devices, cell phones, and tablets

  • Intuitive design with finger movements like pinching, swiping, and tapping

  • Used in televisions, cars, and wristwatches with unique user interfaces

Android Operating System vs. Apple iOS

  • Android is the most popular operating system on mobile devices with 23.7% global market share

  • Apple's iOS is in second place with 18% market share

Microsoft Windows 1.0

  • Released in November 1985 as a competitor to Apple's operating system

  • Not a complete operating system, but an extension of MS-DOS

  • Does not allow overlapping windows, only modal dialog boxes

Microsoft Windows 2.0

  • Released in December 1987 and more popular than its predecessor

  • Improved user interface and memory management

  • Changed from tiled windows to overlapping windows

  • Led to a copyright infringement lawsuit by Apple, settled in Microsoft's favor

Microsoft Windows 2.1

  • Released in two versions: Windows/286 and Windows/386

  • Windows/386 used virtual 8086 mode and paged memory model

  • Windows/286 ran on Intel 8086 and 80286 processors

Microsoft Windows Family

  • Windows NT, Windows, Windows Server, Windows PE, Windows IoT

Microsoft Windows Versions

  • Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone

Windows 9x

  • Windows 95: MS DOS-based, supports 32-bit applications and plug and play hardware

  • Windows 98: Introduced USB composite device

  • Windows ME: Last DOS-based version of Windows

Windows XP

  • Major version of Windows NT, released in October 2001

  • Unified Windows 9x series with Windows NT architecture

  • Redesigned user interface, multimedia and networking features, compatibility mode

Windows Vista

  • Released in November 2006

  • Redesigned shell and user interface, focus on security features

  • Available in different editions, subject to criticism for performance and license agreement

Windows 7

  • Released in July 2009

  • Incremental upgrade to Windows Vista, compatible with applications and hardware

  • Introduced new features like multi-touch support and redesigned taskbar

Windows 8 and 8.1

  • Successor to Windows 7, released in October 2012

  • Introduced user interface based on Microsoft's Metro design language

  • Start screen with large tiles, optimized for touch-based devices

Windows 8 and 8.1

    • Minimum resolution requirement of 1024×768 pixels

      • Unfit for netbooks with 800×600-pixel screens

    • Increased integration with cloud services and online platforms

      • OneDrive and Xbox Live services

    • Windows Store service for software distribution

    • Windows RT variant for ARM architecture devices

    • New keyboard shortcut for screenshots

Windows 10

    • Released on July 29, 2015

    • Addresses shortcomings in the user interface of Windows 8

    • Return of the Start Menu

    • Virtual desktop system

    • Ability to run Windows Store apps within windows on the desktop

    • Available as an update from qualified Windows 7 and 8.1 devices

Windows 11

    • Released on October 5, 2021

    • Free upgrade to Windows 10 users who meet the system requirements

    • Redesigned Start Menu with separate "Widgets" panel

    • Replaced Internet Explorer with Microsoft Edge

    • More user-friendly and understandable design

Windows 11 Security System Requirements

  • Increased over Windows 10

  • Officially supported on devices with:

    • Eighth-generation Intel Core CPU or newer

    • AMD Ryzen CPU based on Zen+ microarchitecture or newer

    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 ARM system-on-chip or newer

  • UEFI secure boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 support and enabled

Windows 365

  • Announced in July 2021

  • Subscription-based service for virtualized Windows desktops

  • Built on top of Azure Virtual Desktop

  • Not a standalone version of Windows