Operating systems for computers. What is an operating system? Types of operating systems. Belarus has the following OS statistics

These groups are already for a long time They are fighting almost equally to monopolize the market, and this struggle is expected for a long time - it is difficult to single out a favorite in it. Let's try to figure out which product is of the highest quality.

Windows

At the moment, there are three current versions of the OS of this corporation - 7, 8, 10. Windows XP has already gone out of fashion - now it is installed mainly on old computers. Latest version– Windows 10, but not the most popular version from the company. Windows 7 is firmly in the ranking of the most used systems: 52% personal computers in the world are served by it.

Windows operating systems are optimized and work stable on most computers, with XP and 7 being the most preferred on older versions. Windows is not the most secure product, so if you use Windows OS, you need to take care of installing licensed security software.

Many users compare operating systems based on their interface. Windows is not inferior to its competitors - a large selection of themes for data visualization, window animation and translucency create a pleasant contrast. Newer versions of Windows have retained elements of the very first systems from this manufacturer, which attracts the user.

One of key advantages– the ability to install programs to perform a wide variety of tasks. This concerns office programs and gaming applications, as well as other applied areas.

Linux

Here, manufacturers decided to release many versions that have a special purpose. Ubuntu is the most widely recognized Linux product. It has become popular with Linux because it is the most optimal for home use.

The Linux product is unique in that you can change everything in the system settings in such a way that the system will be completely rebuilt taking into account the PC parameters. This fact provides the most high performance, and in this component Linux is the undoubted leader among OS manufacturers. Linux also has the advantage of high reliability and security, since distribution kits provide many mechanisms for restricting access to user information.

Regarding appearance, it can be configured in any way. Linux has many variations for choosing an interface - from simple and strict to complex and colorful, with a large number effects. One of the most important details for Linux is that in order to manage it effectively, the user must learn to work on the command line.

Many professional programming applications are written on the Linux kernel. But as for the choice of applications for performing applied tasks, everything here is not as rich as that of competitors.

MacOS

The “OS” itself appeared along with the appearance of the first products from Apple, and accordingly, it is used on these devices. Currently, the latest version of MacOS is version 10.

MacOS are oriented to a specific hardware standard, so their performance is the highest among all available OSs. It is worth noting that the high performance of MacOS systems is a distinctive feature - all products from this manufacturer are characterized by very stable and productive operation. MacOS systems are very reliable, the total number of virus programs on this platform is not very large, and there is no need to worry about installing additional security software.

Most users are confident that MacOS is the most convenient and attractive operating system, judging by user interface. The manufacturer pays a lot of attention to this component, and it is not surprising that they are superior to their competitors in this component. Developers use a huge range of technologies that are aimed at harmonizing and improving the appearance of controls. Interestingly, the company regularly requires developers of third-party software to use a design style that is as similar as possible to the standard Mac application style, so that users work in new program just like in a friend before.

DOS

There are few users left who remember these developers operating systems. It must be remembered that they became innovators in the field of OS development, inventing the entire operation of the operating system. Yes, competitors have moved on, improving all the developments of DOS, but the developers of the first OS have now begun to come up with innovations for previous developments. Since the beginning of the 2000s, DOS has released a couple of OS emulators for PCs, but they were not recognized by users due to low performance and the lack of most of the necessary characteristics for modern OSs.

However, DOS remains necessary for many users. DOS software is the best option for those users who want to use old computers with new applications. To do this, the developers launched FreeDOS and DJGPP, which included several programs that are popular today - file manager, text editor, web browser, mail client etc. In other words, DOS products are still suitable for running on older PCs.

Safety and reliability

In general, competition for the title best group The operating systems are Windows, Linux and MacOS - DOS has already stopped competing with more modern developments. In terms of reliability and safety, the most optimal are Linux and Apple products. The best Linux distribution for this component is Ubuntu. Experts believe that systems with a Linux kernel are preferably used as a storage device, especially important information, since the protection against unauthorized access to the information stored in the system is very strong. By the way, users themselves need to be very careful when assigning passwords and long paths to their the necessary files– otherwise you may lose them.

Unlike Linux and MacOS distributions, Windows is clearly inferior in reliability and security. The Windows product still remains with the title of the most unreliable operating system. Third-party security software is released regularly, but system protection is at the lowest level, and if you value the security of your information, you should not choose Windows as the OS for your PC. As for MacOS, security here is also at the highest level.

The most gaming system

As mentioned above, in terms of the number of programs in different directions, Windows leads, and in the gaming component this developer is the undoubted leader. Quite a lot of gaming applications are also produced for Linux, since these “operating systems” are also quite popular in the world, for example, everyone’s favorite Steam can be found here. But in the end, in the total volume of gaming applications, Windows will outperform both Linux and MacOS combined. The system itself has enough good characteristics for smooth and error-free operation of gaming applications on any computer, but, however, this rarely happens.

If you look at Windows distributions, then users are very cautious about calling Windows 7 the most preferable for games, despite the fact that three new versions of the system have already been released! Of course, the “seven” is a proven system, and therefore it is given greater preference by users. But this won’t last long - within a year and a half the whole world will be talking about the fact that the eighth and tenth versions of Windows are much better than the seventh in terms of gaming.

The simplest OS

If we take into account all the operating systems available in the world and choose the simplest one, the absolute champion here will be DOS systems. But if we talk specifically about the three giants of OS release at the present time, then Windows will again be ahead of everyone in simplicity. Simplicity can be different - banality of development, ease of use, etc. We are more interested in which systems are more convenient for users to work with. And most of them believe that Windows is the simplest operating system, starting from its very first versions.

Indeed, Windows is the most simple system in use, but very difficult to develop. MacOS ranks second in ease of use, as noted by experts. Linux is the most complex system, but once you get used to it, you will never go back to, for example, the Windows family.

For weak PCs

Of course, here you should give preference to DOS! However, DOS is quite difficult to find now, therefore, Linux distributions with a lightweight desktop environment (LXDE, OpenBox, MATE, Xfce) are most suitable for weak PCs.

The most optimal distribution for use on weak PCs from the Microsoft family will be Windows XP. In fact, this OS is quite good in that it has good performance and an attractive interface. It is quite simple and quite suitable so that even on a weak PC you can play your favorite classic games.

The downside is that XP is no longer supported by the manufacturer, and by installing this system, you risk picking up a lot of viruses and Trojans.

This means that if you actively use the Internet, without additional security software, your PC will not be able to work for a long time. So, think carefully about choosing an operating system before installing it on your weak PC.

Availability of software installation

Once again, Windows is the undisputed leader here! After all, the products from this developer were the very first to appear on the market, and therefore they are sold instantly. Nowadays, only the lazy do not develop programs and applications for Windows, which means that the software will always be available for these operating systems. But it is important to remember: due to the low degree of security of the Windows OS, you must be extremely careful when installing software on your computer. Of course, you need to use licensed software, and if you don’t have one, then know: you are taking a risk by installing unwanted programs to your PC, with a low level of protection.

Which system to choose in the end?

IN lately System developers have done a great job improving OS versions. Of course, MacOS will have a minimal market share and popularity, since it is a relatively new product. In terms of characteristics, it is not inferior to Windows and Linux. If this product continues to be in great demand, then MacOS may soon become a sales leader.

Linux great system for office PCs and for computers used for programming and administration. They have high performance, are extremely safe and reliable to use, but they are too narrow-profile, so these “OSes” are not widely used.

Windows is the clear winner in almost all respects among its competitors, and the popularity of the product is understandable. For modern computers Windows will be the optimal OS; everyone chooses the version themselves. It depends on the user which OS to install - if the computer is needed for work, it is better to install Linux, if for games - Windows. It is necessary to determine all the parameters that you want to get more from the OS - and in this case you will be able to make the right and informed choice!

According to Roskomstat, Windows has 84% ​​popularity among Russian personal computer users. Linux is ahead of MacOS by 3% - 9% versus 6%. The situation will change if there are serious reasons for attractiveness among users, and system developers are continuously working in this area.

Types of operating systems. We all constantly hear such phrases as “operating system” and “Windows”, but few people understand what we are talking about. When I am asked to help in some matter, and I ask a person what operating system they have on their computer, they answer me that they either do not understand what they are talking about, or they honestly say that they do not know. It is imperative to know what operating system is installed on your computer, because... They are all different and their settings are different. And if you want to learn something about computer topics, you must understand this and be able to identify your operating system. We will also consider this issue in our lesson.

First, we need to understand what an operating system is and what it is designed for.

Operating system, abbr. OS (English operating system, OS) is a set of interconnected programs designed to manage computer resources and organize user interaction. (Wikipedia)

Without an operating system (OS for short), not a single computer will even work. It is the operating system that controls all the programs, processes, memory and all the hardware on your computer.

As soon as you turn on the computer, the process of loading the operating system begins, during which the following occurs:

• Checking all equipment.
• Availability of drivers for them. A driver is a program for the operation of each equipment separately. Each operating system has its own driver written.
• After the first two checks are completed, the operating system starts.

Types of operating systems

Most often, when you buy a computer, the operating system is already installed. Most of you don't even care about what she is like. And knowing your system is very important, if only because different operating systems work differently, are configured differently, and even have a different desktop.

There are three main and most popular operating systems:

1. Microsoft Windows(Microsoft is the company that produces this system, and Windows (Windows), translated from English, means windows):

2. Apple Mac OS X(abbreviated as Mac, and Apple is a company (translated from English, it means apple);

Each operating system has its own appearance, the so-called graphical interface (from English - face).

The first operating systems, called MS-DOS, did not have a graphical interface. Work in them was only through command line using the keyboard. There were no mice then, and they weren’t needed. It was necessary to know and remember many commands on English. And on the monitor there were only numbers and letters, at best, graphs. For a simple user all this was not clear and not interesting.

In the mid-1980s, Microsoft created the Windows operating system, and a new era began, thanks to which you and I can now write letters, books, work with photographs, pictures, create our own films, websites, “walk” on the Internet and learn new sciences and crafts.

Here is the list of Windows OS:

1. Windows 1.0 (1985)
2. Windows 2.0 (1987)
3. Windows 3.0 (1990)
4. Windows 3.1 (1992)
5. Windows for Workgroups 1/3.11

The Windows 9x family, in which people like you and I could already work:

1. Windows 95 (1995)
2. Windows 98 (1998)
3. Windows ME (2000)

Windows NT family

1. Windows NT 3.1 (1993)
2. Windows NT 3.5 (1994)
3. Windows NT 3.51 (1995)
4. Windows NT 4.0 (1996)
5. Windows 2000 - Windows NT 5.0 (2000)
6. Windows XP - Windows NT 5.1 (2001)
7. Windows XP 64-bit Edition - Windows NT 5.2 (2003)
8. Windows Server 2003 - Windows NT 5.2 (2003)
9. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition - Windows NT 5.2 (2005)
10. Windows Vista - Windows NT 6.0 (2006)
11. Windows Home Server - Windows NT 5.2 (2007)
12. Windows Server 2008 - Windows NT 6.0 (2008)
13. Windows Small Business Server - Windows NT 6.0 (2008)
14. Windows 7 - Windows NT 6.1 (2009)
15. Windows Server 2008 R2 - Windows NT 6.1 (2009)
16. Windows Home Server 2011 - Windows NT 6.1 (2011)
17. Windows 8 - Windows NT 6.2 (2012)
18. Windows Server 2012 - Windows NT 6.2 (2012)
19. Windows 8.1 - Windows NT 6.3 (2013)
20. Windows Server 2012 R2 - Windows NT 6.3 (2013)
21. Windows 10 - Windows NT 10.0 (2015)

OS family for smartphones:

1. Windows CE
2. Windows Mobile
3. Windows Phone
4. Windows 10 Mobile

This is only the Windows family, and that's not all. The rest you will never meet, because... they are not intended for home use.

You are probably only familiar with these:

• Windows XP Professional
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 10

How to determine your operating system:

Watch this video, identify your operating system, and write in the comments what OS is on your computer.

To start a video, left-click on its picture or triangle icon.

Their list has increased greatly even over the past 5 years, especially due to the growing number mobile devices. What are their features, how do they differ, what are their advantages and disadvantages?

System classification

They differ from each other in various parameters, in particular, in the distribution of functions between computers. There are classes of operating systems and the networks themselves:

• peer-to-peer;
• two-tier (have dedicated servers).

There are computers that provide their resources to others. In this case they act as network server. The other one is their client. Computers can perform one or two functions, or combine them together. must at the same time meet the needs of the buyer.

List of the most popular systems

What are the most popular operating systems among users? The list looks like this:

• Windows.
• MacOS.
• Android.
• Ubuntu.
• Linux and others.

There are also less popular ones. For example, Fedora or Back Track. But they are common in a rather narrow circle of specialists.

How to choose?

There are different criteria for users. This is primarily the ease of use and capabilities of operating systems. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. For one, functionality is important, for the second - the interface, for the third - a guarantee of the safety of personal data. Operating systems for PCs, the list of which is longer than those developed for mobile devices, differ from the latter in their requirements for the machine.

They offer their users different level comfort and innovative solutions, the choice is largely determined by the person’s profession.

Windows Features

For recent years new operating systems appeared. The list of the most popular ones was supplemented by Android and IOS. However, it is Windows OS, as before, that remains the most popular in the world.

It is not only the most popular operating system, but also the most comfortable to use, perfect for beginners. Schoolchildren, office workers and people of different ages - almost all of them use Windows operating systems. Linux is traditionally used by specialized specialists.

Pros

The key advantages of the popularly beloved Windows are the following factors:

• user-friendly interface;
• a large number of high-quality software that can be installed free of charge;
• ease of installation and configuration;
• ease of server administration.

Cons of Windows

Most versions of Windows are paid operating systems. The list can be found in open sources. The high cost of software is a key disadvantage of Windows.

Another disadvantage is the instability and vulnerability of the entire OS family to various kinds malware.

Latest version

How much does Windows 10 cost? It all depends on what version it will be - home or professional. In the first case, the cost will be about 6 thousand rubles, and in the second - about 10 thousand.

The latest modification, like the previous one, can have a classic interface or one like the G8, where you can switch icons on the desktop.

Answering the logical answer to the question of how much Windows 10 costs is that the cost is considerable, we must warn you: do not rush to worry. After all, the license that is granted to the user does not have an expiration date. And here it is software, like online games, antiviruses or Office, requires regular updates on a paid basis.

Traditionally, if you have a previous licensed version of Windows installed on your computer, you can update it to the latest version for free.

Previous Windows OS

Despite the release of new software, there are those who are comfortable using the previous ones. Different versions operating systems have their advantages. Now, along with the “ten”, many continue to use the “eight” and “seven”.

Windows 7 came out back in 2009. It included both developments from the previous Vista and completely new solutions that related to the interface and built-in programs. Some software was excluded - games, applications, a number of technologies, and more.

"Seven" has several editions:

• initial;
• home basic;
• home extended;
• corporate;
• professional;
• maximum.

The next version of the operating system, Windows 8, was released in 2012. Its main innovation was a modified interface, which was more adapted to work on mobile devices. Today this product of the company is the best selling.

Outdated versions

There are also once popular, but now almost forgotten operating systems. The list can start with Windows 95; it was with this version that many people started working with a PC at one time. After it, the no less popular Windows 98 appeared. The next system, Windows 2000, was released at the turn of the millennium and was intended for use on devices with 32-bit processors.

However, Windows XP, which appeared in 2001, gained real popularity. It only recently lost its championship to the seventh and eighth versions. For more than 10 years, users preferred to install XP on their computers and laptops.

The next user version was Vista, but its functionality and features, according to experts, were extremely weak, which is why it did not gain popularity.

Other computer operating systems

However, not everyone uses Windows. There are other operating systems for PCs. The list includes, in particular, MacOS, Linux Ubuntu and its other modifications. They are mainly used by highly specialized specialists.

Ubuntu was created on. Its interface resembles a Mac in many ways, but the overall style is similar to Windows. Users appreciated the ease of use, stability and the fact that the OS can be obtained for free. They also like the speed of the machine. But Ubuntu also has disadvantages - a small amount of software, games, and a complex administration scheme.

MacOS is an operating system developed by Apple for its computers. It is called a premium user product - it has a beautiful design, user-friendly interface and excellent multimedia capabilities. But not everyone can afford this solution, because both the computers themselves and the Apple-branded OS, compared to others, are incredibly expensive.

Also for PC, some people use Linux. This system is free, stable, and equipped with a large amount of built-in software. However, despite all these advantages, it requires high user skills. Therefore, Linux is most often installed by programmers, networkers and other specialists.

Work on mobile devices

As you know, more and more users prefer to use the Internet not from laptops and PCs, but from mobile devices - smartphones and tablets. There are operating systems that are designed specifically for them. The most common are Android and IOS. But Symbian has already lost its former popularity, since its capabilities can no longer meet the needs of users.

In quantitative terms, Android is in first place by a large margin. After all, if IOS is an OS created specifically for Apple devices, then the second one can work on smartphones and tablets of other brands, for example:

• Samsung.
• Sony.
• Lenovo and others.

Android has a convenient interface for its users, allowing them to use high-quality software in large quantities free of charge. It is suitable not only for smartphones and tablets, but also for modern smart TVs. Devices based on this OS can be independently reflashed and changes made to their operation.

About 10 years ago or earlier, those who used the Internet on mobile phones, actively used the Symbian system, which was a joint development of the leading manufacturers at that time (Nokia, Motorola and others). It still works, but, compared to IOS and Android, it is not able to cope with the tasks that current owners of mobile devices set themselves.

Other operating systems

In addition to common operating systems for computers and mobile devices, there are also lesser known ones, many of them are created using Linux type and demand high level user skills. One such system is Fedora. It is highly stable and practically does not drop in terms of performance. You can forever forget about freezes, sudden overloads and other problems.

There are also specific operating systems. For example, Back Track. This system is free and is used by hackers all over the world. Most hacks were carried out thanks to Back Track. It was initially optimized for gaining unauthorized access to download data from a particular computer.

People who are far from the computer sphere know little about the features of operating systems and their real quantity. They install Windows on laptops or computers, iPhones are equipped with their own software, and Android is installed by default on other smartphones or tablets.

But there are other systems, they are mainly not intended for wide range due to its characteristics. The choice of a particular OS depends primarily on the tasks that a person sets for himself.

Selecting an operating system– this is the most important choice for any user. If you find out what an operating system is and what types there are operating system types. And find out what systems offer best ratio prices and quality, which system is right for you.

What is an operating system? Operating system type. Best Operating Systems

What is an operating system?

This is a program that loads when you turn on your computer and allows you to launch programs such as a web browser for surfing the Internet, or office suite for writing letters. For example Microsoft Windows XP.

Operating system type

List of major operating systems you may encounter:

Microsoft Windows is the most widely used operating system. These days, the versions you are most likely to encounter are Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

Linux

There are hundreds various types and Linux versions. The most popular version in use today is probably Ubuntu Linux.

operating room Ubuntu system has approximately 20 million users, making it the most popular Linux distribution for desktops. It is the 4th most popular OS for web servers and its popularity is growing rapidly. Ubuntu is focused on convenience and ease of use. It includes the widespread use of the sudo utility, which allows users to perform administrative tasks without running a potentially dangerous root session. Ubuntu, in addition, has developed internationalization, ensuring maximum accessibility for representatives of different language groups.

Ubuntu requires at least 512 megabytes of RAM to work and, when installed on hard drive, from five gigabytes of free space, and the maximum minimum requirements much lower. Ubuntu was based on the GNOME desktop system, which is designed to provide a free, simple and intuitive interface, offering a full range of modern desktop applications. In addition to the applications included with GNOME, Ubuntu comes with additional software, including OpenOffice.org, LibreOffice, and the Mozilla Firefox web browser.

MacOS and iOS

Mac OS is the operating system that you find on Apple's Mac computers. iOS is a type of operating system from Apple that runs on iPhones, tablet computers, and iPads. MacOS is sometimes considered one of the easiest operating systems to use.

Early Mac versions The OS was compatible only with Macintoshes based on Motorola 68k processors, subsequent versions were compatible with the PowerPC (PPC) architecture. Recently, Mac OS X has become compatible with x86 architecture. But politics Apple is that it allows installation of Mac OS only on Apple computers.

Google Chrome OS

Chrome is an operating system invented by Google. It can also be found on types of computers known as Chromebooks. The operating system consists only of the Chrome web browser. A Chromebook with Chrome OS is necessary to provide the user with the right to connect from their computer to cloud technologies as quickly as possible.

Android is an operating system made by Google. Android is an operating system for smartphones, tablet computers, e-readers, digital players, watches, netbooks and smartbooks, Google glasses and other devices, based on the Linux kernel and Google's own implementation of Java.

Despite the initial ban on installing programs from “unverified sources” (for example, from a memory card), this restriction is disabled regular means in the device settings, which allows you to install programs on phones and tablets without an Internet connection (for example, users who do not have Wi-Fi points access and those who do not want to spend money on mobile internet, which is usually expensive), and also allows everyone to write Android applications for free and test them on their device.

Without operating system

Sometimes a computer comes without a pre-installed operating system. You can save money by purchasing such a computer. But in this case, you will have to select and install the operating system yourself.

Best Operating Systems

There's no such thing as " best operating system", which everyone likes so much. Apple Mac computers have long been considered the most simple computers easy to use thanks to the ease of operation Mac systems. Thus, for PC users, choosing an operating system essentially occurs between Linux and Windows. Linux is often seen as a system that is used only by geeks. In fact, this is simply not true.

With each new release, both Windows and Linux, the system becomes more reliable, has more capabilities, and is easier to use. And if you're a complete newbie to using a computer, then Linux is probably as easy to learn as Windows. Thus, " best operating system" is a personal choice. It's whatever you like best.

If you have quite old computer (before 2005) or you are going to buy one, then the best operating system for such devices is Windows XP or Linux such as Ubuntu. These systems give better performance on older hardware.

Choosing an operating system for new computers

If you buy new computer, and you want it to be as easy to use as possible and ready to go from the first time you turn it on, you should look at computers that come with a pre-installed operating system.

It's important to know that new PCs that come with Microsoft Windows pre-installed cost more than computers that come without it.

So if you want to save money, choose a computer that comes with either Linux or no operating system.

This means that when you buy a new computer, you have two main decisions to make when choosing an operating system:

1. Buy ready computer to work with an already installed operating system. In other words, the one that comes with Windows or Linux OS.
2. Roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

Computers that come with pre-installed Windows, much more expensive. But if money isn't the main factor and you've used the system before, look at computers that come with established. And if you don't care about how your computer's system works, you can do whatever you want for free (like surfing the web), then you'll be happy with a Linux computer. This is a good option if money is a factor but you don't want install operating system on one's own.

If you have read above and you don't know what to do, I I recommend buying a computer, which comes pre-installed Microsoft Windows.

Selecting the Windows 7 operating system

Windows 7 - custom operating system Windows family NT, next in time to Windows Vista and before Windows 8. The reason is that most people - regardless of how new computers they used them - sooner or later with Microsoft Windows on at a certain stage. Thus, for most people, Windows 7 is a more familiar environment. Another reason is the level support Windows users . There are plenty of help sites and support forums for Linux, and there are many more dedicated for Windows.

An additional advantage of Windows 7 is closer integration with driver manufacturers. Most drivers are detected automatically, but are saved in 90% of cases backward compatibility with drivers for Windows Vista.

Windows 7, although it contains an extensive database of drivers for many devices, supports fewer of them compared to Windows XP. In particular, the database does not contain drivers for many devices released before 2005. On the one hand, this is due to Windows Aero technology, which requires a video adapter with at least 128 MB of memory and support for DirectX 9.0 (Shader Model 2.0), on the other hand, drivers for Geforce video cards The FX series (5200-5900) are also not included in the package, despite the fact that this generation already supports DirectX 9.0. Also, the delivery package does not include drivers for many outdated models. sound cards and most built-in AC97 audio codecs.

Despite the fact that officially for Windows installations 7 requires at least 1 GB of RAM, this system is successfully installed on computers with a smaller volume, for example, 512 MB (but for stable operation you need to turn off graphic effects), since Windows 7 was created on the basis of the previous OS Windows Vista, which is officially required exactly 512 MB of RAM.

Windows 7 also improved compatibility with older applications, some of which were unable to run on Windows Vista. This is especially true for older games developed for Windows XP. Also appeared in Windows 7 Windows mode XP Mode, which allows you to run older applications in virtual machine Windows XP, which provides almost complete support for older applications. Novaya, 11th DirectX version, first released as part of this OS, has the following improvements: added support for new computational shaders, the ability to multi-threaded rendering, improved tessellation, new texture compression algorithms, etc. Player Windows Media Player 12 received new interface and became truly “omnivorous”, unlike its predecessor, which required a large number of codecs for playback. However, it cannot play licensed Blu-Ray discs with video, but it has the ability to read and write data to them.

When should you choose Windows 8?

Unlike its predecessors, Windows 7 and Windows XP, it uses a new interface called Metro. This interface appears first after system startup. Metro is similar in functionality to the desktop - start screen has application tiles (akin to shortcuts and icons), upon clicking on which the application is launched, a website or folder is opened, depending on which element or application the tile is attached to.

Compared to previous versions Windows Microsoft reduced the number of editions to four: Windows RT, Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise. But since Windows RT is designed for tablets ARM architecture and is sold only pre-installed on new computers, and the Windows 8 Enterprise edition can only be purchased by purchasing Software Assurance, then home users have only two editions to choose from: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. U regular user PC selection is limited to these two editions. Therefore, first of all, it is worth answering the question - do you need Windows features 8 Pro. If you want to use encryption, virtualization, and also connect your computer to a domain and manage it using group policies- then choose Windows 8 Pro. For everything else, regular Windows 8 is fine.

Nowadays, choosing and is a great option for tablets and touch-enabled devices.

Today, a huge part of the world's population interacts with computers on a regular basis, some are obliged to work, some look for information on the Internet, and some simply spend time playing games. Everyone has their own needs, which means the computer must meet them. And if we are talking about “hardware” (the technical component of a computer), then everything is more or less clear: the newer, the better. But the “software” part requires special attention.

Each computer runs a specific operating system, of which there are a great many, each of which is suitable for certain tasks, available equipment, and so on. Therefore, an important factor is the choice of this operating system.

There is a fairly massive list of operating systems, but this material We will talk about three pillars that have greatly influenced the industry and occupy the largest share among all operating systems: Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Proprietary operating systems

To begin with, it’s worth clarifying that there are proprietary operating systems, those that are distributed under a manufacturer’s license. These include Windows, the list of which is given below, and MacOS. Despite the fact that both systems can be downloaded on the Internet (stolen), the correct thing to do is to purchase a license from the distribution company and activate it.

The advantage of such systems is their development, a huge amount of high-quality software and competent technical support that will help in case of problems.

“Free” operating systems

These include almost the entire Linux family, with the exception of some developments with accounting or other professional software. These OSes can be downloaded absolutely free and installed on any computer without a twinge of conscience.

Such systems are created by independent developers together with the community, so in most cases the quality of the programs leaves much to be desired, but such systems are much more secure and work more stable than their proprietary competitors.

Windows

Absolutely everyone who has ever dealt with a computer knows about this product. Microsoft. In particular, this applies to the super-successful release of Windows 7. List of operating systems Microsoft systems goes back ten generations. They are extremely popular all over the world and occupy almost 90% of the market. Which speaks to unprecedented leadership.

• Windows XP;
• Windows Vista;
• Windows 7;
• Windows 8;
• Windows 10;

The list deliberately starts with Windows XP, since it is the most old version, which remains in use to this day.

Chrome OS

An underdeveloped product from Google, which is limited only to web applications and the browser of the same name. This system is not competitive with Windows and Mac, but is made with an eye to the future when web interfaces can replace “real” software. Installed by default on all Chromebooks.

Installing multiple systems and using virtual machines

Since each platform has its own pros and cons, it often becomes necessary to work with several at once. Computer developers know this, so they offer users the opportunity to install two or three systems on a disk at once.

This is done simply. All you need is a system distribution kit (a disk or flash drive with the installation material) and free space on your hard drive. All modern operating systems offer to allocate space during installation and create a boot mechanism that will show a list of operating systems when the computer boots. Everything is done semi-automatically and can be done by any user.

On Apple computers available special utility- BootCamp, which is designed for easy and seamless installation of Windows next to MacOS.

There is another way - installation virtual system inside the real one. For this purpose, the following programs are used: VmWare and VirtualBox, which can emulate the work full-fledged computer and launch operating systems.

Instead of a conclusion

The list of operating systems for a computer is not limited to the above. There are a lot of products from different companies, but they are all quite specific and do not deserve the attention of the average user. The choice is worth making between Windows, MacOS and Linux, as they can cover most of the needs and are quite easy to learn.