What is an operating system?
An operating system (commonly abbreviated as OS) is the software that your computer, tablet, or smartphone runs on. All the applications that you use run on the operating system in order to receive the resources that it needs, such as power from the central processing unit (CPU), memory from the Random Access Memory (RAM) sticks that are installed, and storage from your hard drive.
If you want a slightly more detailed explanation, you can watch the following video from Techquickie:
You’ve probably heard of at least one of these terms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Well, these are all examples of operating systems. They allow you to connect with the different applications on your computer or phone in different ways. Each of them allow users to interact with their device with graphics and text, which is known as a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Even though they handle processes in different ways, their ultimate goal is to keep the user experience intuitive (except for Linux, which we’ll get to later).
These days, operating systems are usually pre-installed on a device. That way, when you buy your new laptop and open it, all you have to do is enter your user information and preferences, with the rest of the technological stuff being handled without you knowing it. Let’s take a look at some operating systems you might have on your computer today.
Windows
Microsoft Windows probably rings a bell in your brain. Launched by Microsoft in 1985, it is the most common operating system to date, running on 76.56% of all personal computers (desktops, laptops, etc.) as of December 2020. Almost every company that creates computers uses Windows as their operating system, as it is simple to use and is compatible with the most amount of software. That compatibility can also be a bad thing, as it has the most attackers that can put viruses on your computer. You can watch plenty of reviews of machines that use Windows, but this is a link to their YouTube channel if you wish to learn more:
macOS
macOS is exclusive to the entire Apple Macintosh line, or Mac for short. Apple computers tend to be more expensive as you pay for the exclusive features and the brand name, and their operating system shows it. macOS is preferred by many users, with the general experience being more fluid and simpler without the plethora of advertisements and useless features present in Windows. The optimizations that macOS has has been hard to match by Windows because of the sheer number of computers that Windows runs on, but the operating system being from the same company as the computer’s manufacturing company allows Apple to greatly control the user experience, which can be a make-or-break deal for some.
If you don’t need complex functions and just want an easy-to-setup experience on a computer, here’s a comparison between macOS and Windows, the two operating systems that are probably meant for you:
Linux
Linux, which is not pre-installed on at least 99% of computers, is the operating system that your tech-nerd friends probably use. It is completely open-source, meaning the software’s code can be freely distributed and modified by anyone. It allows users to almost completely customize their user experience, which allows them to have complete control of their security. For this reason, some companies prefer to run their servers on Linux rather than other operating systems. Fun fact: Android is partly based on the Linux kernel, the interface between a device’s hardware and processes!
To Summarize…
Operating systems allow you to connect with the computer’s hardware and software components, making it one of the most important components that manufacturers need to consider when creating a computer. There are multiple operating systems out there, with some of them being much simpler to use than others. However, you’ll probably know when you need a specific one, as the defaults (Windows and macOS) are enough for 99% of people who use a computer. But remember, operating systems are in almost every technological device, including tablets and phones!
