Operating System as a Heart of the Computer - Essay Example

Intro to Computing: Operating Systems When John W. Mauchly first wrote about "pocket computers" in a 1962 New York Times article, few paid attentionor took it seriously. The concept of a computer being in every home and users utilizing their features daily was not one many people gave much thought. Today, the majority of people has computers in their homes and uses the internet, e-mail, and applications on a daily basis. This high level of interaction users enjoy with these complicated machines would not be possible without the help of an operating system. Operating systems are what most people use to interact with computers today. Desktop and laptop computers come with pre-loaded operating systems, and it is through these that the users interact with the software and applications. The operating system also takes care of all the processes so the user doesn't have to be a computer expert to use his machine. Operating systems are all about making computers available to the average person, with little technical knowledge required. Just as there are many types of computers, there are different types of operating systems. Most people know about single-user, multi-tasking operating systems, such as like Windows and Mac OS, which are on desktop and laptop personal computers. These systems are designed for one person to use to run many applications at once. (Coustan and Franklin) It is not just personal computers that have operating systems, however. Operating systems that have virtually no user interface capability and are running machines that are imbedded in various objects, like computers in cars, are known as real-time operating systems. Cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) use single-user, single task operating systems, as the equipment is designed to perform only one task at a time. There are also multi-user operating systems that allow many users to use the machine at the same time. A mainframe computer system is an example of this. (Coustan and Franklin) A single-user, multi-tasking operating system is in charge of all the functions of the computer. The tasks for which it is responsible can be broken down into six categories: processor management, memory management, device management, storage management, application interface, and user interface. (Coustan and Franklin) In managing the processor, the operating system has to make sure that the processor's power is being allocated around in the most efficient way possible. The operating system gives priority to background processes that need to run, such as virus checking and memory management. Applications are the programs with which the user is directly working, such as an internet browser, word processing program, or a video game. By managing the processor, the operating system will not allow the applications to take processor power away from the processes that need to run for the system to function properly. (Coustan and Franklin) Memory management goes hand in hand with processor management, as the operating system needs to allocate memory for the processes and applications to run efficiently. The operating system and drivers for hardware take up memory, and the operating system must allocate the remaining memory needed for applications. There are four different types of memory that all must be managed: Disk storage - The operating system allocates data to available spots on the hard disk, a practice known as virtual memory management High-speed cache - The operating system predicts which pieces of data the computer will need to access and stores them in this fast, temporary cache for quicker performance. Main memory - This is the RAM that specifies how much memory your machine has when you buy a new computer. Secondary memory - This is the memory that keeps the data from active applications available. (Coustan and Franklin) In device management, the operating system also talks to the hardware in the computer by way of programs called drivers. Drivers are used so that the operating system doesn't have to keep track of hundreds of possible hardware installations and updates to this software. The operating system gives high priority to running the drivers, as the user likely wants his keyboard, mouse, and other components to respond quickly. This process keeps the usability of the operating system at a high standard for the user. (Coustan and Franklin) Storage management is related to device management, as in this process, the operating system manages the input and output from the devices. It takes the information, stores it, and either inputs or outputs it at a rate that the CPU can handle. (Coustan and Franklin) In the application interface task, the operating system assists programmers in talking to the hardware. This process automates a lot of the communication between the program and the CPU, so the program can run on different machines. (Coustan and Franklin) Though not necessarily the most important task for the operating system, the management of the user interface is vital to the success of the operating system as it deals with what matters most - the end user. Most user interfaces today are called graphic user interfaces (GUI), as they are designed such that the user uses the mouse in a point-and-click fashion to click on icons on the screen to navigate through his machine. The user interface is the "face" of the operating system, its design and usability is what often makes or breaks an operating system's success. (Coustan and Franklin) Designers of these operating systems have to keep up with the new technology that can be used with personal computers, so they can design the systems with the ease of using these things in mind. Today's operating systems are aesthetically pleasing and facilitate the use of everything from digital cameras to PDAs, and the designers are always looking to open new door to give to user different ways in which to use his personal computer. The most popular operating systems are Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS. The newest versions of these systems are a far cry from the early command line systems like DOS. The Microsoft Corporation released the first version of its Windows operating system in 1985. Windows 1.0 was a revolutionary concept, in that it gave computer users a graphical interface with which to work and made understanding how to use the system a lot less complicated. It also was designed to allow for multi-tasking of applications, a practice that seems commonplace today, but was a novel idea at the time. ("Windows 1.0") The latest version of Microsoft Windows is called Vista, and it was released to the public on January 30, 2007. Five years in the making, it was expected to be a vast improvement over its predecessor Windows XP, as more time had passed between Vista and XP than between the releases of any other version of Windows. Vista, which features many upgrades over its predecessor, has been touted as showing the biggest steps forward in user interface design and security. The most notable change between Vista and XP is noticeable the minute the operating system is loaded. For the first time since Windows 95, Microsoft completely revamped the Windows user interface, including the placement of buttons, names of certain panels, and the overall look and feel of the operating system. In Windows Vista, the colors are sharper and the movements are smoother, courtesy of the new Aero interface. The implementation of Aero gives the user interface a visual quality never before seen in a Windows operating system. For example, the command that lets the user switch between open windows used to display application icons in Windows XP. Now in Vista, the command brings up thumbnail images of the current state of each window, a feature that is called Windows Flip. There is also the feature, Flip 3D, which displays the windows in a three-dimensional fashion. (Gralla) Another vast improvement is the security features. For starters, Vista offers a new feature called User Account Controls (UAC) that administers the users and what actions they do and do not have authorization to perform. In Windows XP, the first user created would be given full administrator rights by default, and most users would just continue to use the account for daily use, thus, there would be no defense against malware threats as the malware was given administrator access. In Vista, however, when a user logs on to the operating system, he is given basic authorization by default and must log in to access fuller privileges. The operating system will prompt the user for the administrator password as he tries to access certain areas or complete certain tasks. ("User Account Control") These security features, though implemented with the best of intentions, have been a source of dismay for some Windows Vista users. Jim Allchin wrote in his weblog about finding this fine line between security and usability. He wrote, "There is clearly a balance here because if we lock the system down too tightly, then we risk the majority of customers turning key features off, or even worse, staying on older versions of Windows and thus not realizing the great security benefits of the new system." (Allchin) Often times if users feel they are being too pestered by a system constantly asking for permission or authorization, they will disable the features that are getting in the way of their enjoyment of the system. Gina Trapani advocated disabling the UAC for advanced users, as she wrote in her weblog, "Vista's annoying 'Windows needs your permission to continue' dialogs are nothing short of a total nuisance during your PC's initial setup, especially since they appear every time you try to install software." (Trapani) Despite the controversy over the UAC, there are still other nice security features in Vista that don't impede the user's use of the system. For instance, XP's firewall only protected against inbound threats. The presence of Vista's outbound filtering system gives the user's system better protection without having to rely on a third-party firewall. (Gralla) Vista also includes a built-in anti-spyware program called Windows Defender (known as Microsoft Anti-Spyware in previous versions), which runs daily updates and with which the user can schedule daily system scans. It also features Real-Time Security Agents that monitor various Windows environments for changes that have been known to be possible spyware targets. Windows Defender also works hand in hand with Internet Explorer by scanning files as they are downloaded to ensure that the user does not unintentionally download spyware. ("Windows Defender") Vista also includes some advanced parental control features. Parents can set web browsing to block sites by keywords, such as "drugs" or "web mail." Parents can disable file downloading of any kind, and may also put time restrictions on the child's account. There is also a feature that can disable the use of certain programs, or only run games at or under a certain ERSB rating. Parents can also access activity reports to further monitor the child's computer usage. ("Security and safety") Besides the aesthetic and security improvements, Vista has advanced Windows in other usability areas as well. With the increase in people using networking capabilities, Microsoft has made this feature a lot more user-friendly in Vista. The Network Sharing Center makes setting up a network connection as easy as a couple clicks of the mouse. Users with no networking experience are more likely to be able to set up their own home networks with Vista. (Gralla) Windows Vista also includes two new features that are designed to make machines run more efficiently. One is called SuperFetch, which acts as somewhat of a 'brain' that keeps track of the programs the user tends to use frequently and when he uses them. SuperFetch preloads the applications to speed up the load times. Vista also includes ReadyBoost, which allows the user to use a USB flash drive to act as extra RAM. (Gralla) Users of classic Windows operating systems may find some of the features - especially those having to do with the look of the user interface - to be somewhat to be somewhat hard to get used to. It also requires a lot more machine power than previous Windows operating systems. The addition of Aero to enhance the look of the system and give the interface a 3D look has been known to suck the life out of laptop batteries, as it is using a lot of the CPU and graphics power. Users have also complained about the rearrangement and renaming of several of the customizable features, such as the display properties and the install and uninstall utilities. (Albro and Dahl) Aside from the problems based on individual preferences, however, there have been issues with upgrading from Windows XP to Vista. The biggest issue has been hardware and software compatibility. Many people reported that the operating system did not recognize their drivers or load their software. Even popular programs like Apple's iTunes and the game World of Warcraft have been trouble spots for Vista users. Microsoft developers have to continually write updates to the operating system to make sure it continues to recognize all types of hardware, peripherals, and software. (Fried, "Some Bumps on the Road to Vista") There are many Vista customers who have not even been able to get that far, however. Many have reported problems with activating their new operating system on install or upgrade, spending several frustrating hours in the process, trying to find a loophole. (Fried) Still, despite the negative press, 20 million copies of Vista sold globally in its first month, 3 million more than XP sold in its first month. (Galli) Microsoft plans to release Vista's first service pack, the first featuring major updates, by the end of 2007. (Fried, "Microsoft already planning Vista service pack") Competing with Microsoft's systems is Unix, a maker of not a single operating system, but of an environment on which hundreds of systems base their operating systems. These various systems are considered "flavors" of Unix. The system was first developed by AT&T employees Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories in 1969. Thompson and Ritchie developed Unix with flexibility in mind, as it could be installed and used on many different types of machines, and it was editable. ("Unix") It was originally designed as an operating system for programmers, but today many single-user, multi-tasking operating systems are Unix-based. One of the most popular Unix-based operating systems used today is the Mac OS X Tiger system. Apple first began using the Unix design with its Mac OS X, as a way of bringing better memory management to the operating system that had a history of not being able to multi-task as well as its Windows counterpart. The new design came with higher system requirements, but was still considered well worth the upgrade for the technological improvements it brought. ("Mac Os") The Mac OS X Tiger had a head start on Microsoft Vista, being released to the public in 2005. It also brought some upgrades to the Mac OS that can rival Vista's aesthetically-pleasing interface. Tiger brought some glitz and glamour to the Mac operating system famous for being extra user-friendly. But, it's not all looks with this operating system. Probably the biggest new feature in Tiger is the search tool called Spotlight. Spotlight is featured on the desktop and makes searching through files as easy as a couple mouse clicks, and the program sorts search results in an easy-to-read format. (Rebbapragada) Another handy tool is the Dashboard Widgets feature, which allows the user to run these miniature applications on the desktop so they have instant access to information from the internet, such as weather and stock reports. There is also an improved chat application called iChat AV that allows users to conduct 10-way audio chats and four-way video chats. The operating system's internet browser, Safari Web, also now supports Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. (Rebbapragada) The Mac OS X Tiger also includes a feature called VoiceOver, in which a user can interact with the computer by speech. This is designed to assist those with visual impairments, as the user can speak controls to the system and the operating system will audibly give information back to the user. This feature is also handy when multiple users are accessing the same machine, the users can speak commands to the computer instead of having to rely on a single mouse and keyboard. ("Mac OS X v10.4") Tiger quickly surpassed its Mac OS predecessors and became the fastest-selling Mac OS to date, logging two million sales in its first month. (Honan) This still pales in comparison to the sales figures Windows Vista boasted, but as Mac still has hold of the personal audio and video market with the success of iPods and now the new iPhones, so there is still no one running away with victory in this ongoing competition. What does the future hold for these operating systems The possibilities are truly endless. The Windows 1.0 user probably could not have imagined Windows Vista's 3D design or the Mac OS X Tiger's desktop compete with up-to-the-minute news and information. Glimpses into the future have brought strange phenomena like Microsoft Surface, the coffee table computer. It is a machine that can identify objects placed on it, and the user can literally point with his finger and drag files around a screen that doubles as a table. (Microsoft Surface) But is a world where something like this is commonplace a reality In looking to the future, we may be looking in the wrong direction. Stan Schroeder brought an interesting view to this question in his weblog. His assessment is that the differentiating between operating systems isn't as important as it was ten years ago, because "The casual user's operating system is the internet." (Schroeder) It is a truth you will find with most people who go shopping for a home computer these days, as the average home computer consumer wants the machine for e-mail and internet. They might not want a coffee table with countless capabilities that they will not use. Information and communication have proven to be of utmost important to the average computer user in this day and age. With online shopping, social networking, and more, the internet has become the place to be on a computer. There is far less to experience offline than online for the casual computer user. The operating system will never become obsolete, as it is the gateway to our personal computers. But the focus is shifting and the internet is king, and future operating systems need to shift with it. Works Cited Albro, Edward N. and Eric Dahl. "The Most Annoying Things About Windows Vista." PC World. February 20, 2007. August 3, 2007 Allchin, Jim. "Security Features vs. Convenience." Weblog Entry. Windows Vista Team Blog. January 23, 2007. August 3, 2007 Coustan, Dave and Curt Franklin. How Operating Systems Work. How Stuff Works. August 3, 2007 . Fried, Ina. "Microsoft already planning Vista service pack." News.com. CNET. August 3, 2007 ---. "Some Bumps on the Road to Vista." News.com. USA Today. August 3, 2007 Galli, Peter. "Microsoft Says Vista Sales Strong." eWeek.com. March 26, 2007. August 3, 2007 Gralla, Preston. "Everything You Need to Know About Windows Vista." PC World. November 22, 2006. August 3, 2007 < http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127629/article.html> Honan, Mathew. "WWDC: Apple delivers two millionth copy of Tiger." MacWorld: The Mac Experts. June 6, 2005. August 3, 2007 "Mac OS." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. July 25, 2007. August 3, 2007 "Mac OS X v10.4." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. August 1, 2007. August 3, 2007 Microsoft Surface. Microsoft Corporation. August 3, 2007 Rebapragada, Narasu. "First Look: Tiger Lives Up to the Hype." PC World. April 29, 2005. August 3, 2007 Schroeder, Stan. "The future of operating systems." Weblog Entry. Frantic Industries. February 9, 2007. August 3, 2007 "Security and safety features new to Windows Vista." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. July 30, 2007. August 3, 2007. Trapani, Gina. "Geek to Live: Windows Vista upgrade power tips." Weblog Entry. Lifehacker. January 31, 2007. August 3, 2007 "Unix." 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