7.1.2 Types of Operating Systems

7.1.2 Types of Operating Systems Operating systems (OSs) serve many different functions. Just like software programs that specialize in certain types of work, operating systems can be customized to specific tasks. Some OSs are designed to support different hardware types, like mobile devices or servers. Others target different types of users, matching the resources and expertise available in an organization. There are too many OSs for this course to describe them all in detail, but here are some of the overall types of operating systems. Embedded Operating Systems An embedded operating system is a low-cost operating system that uses few system resources and is made for a single purpose. These special computers and their OS are often optimized for real-time processing. Examples include those used in cars and medical devices. Many consumer electronics, like video game consoles, also have an embedded OS. Open-Source Operating Systems Directions: Read each question carefully. For each question, choose the best answer from the options provided and circle or mark your choice. What is a key characteristic of open-source software? It is always free to use The source code is available for anyone to view and modify It can only be used by developers It is exclusive to operating systems Who created the Linux operating system? Steve Jobs Bill Gates Linus Torvalds Richard Stallman Which of the following is an example of an open-source operating system? Windows macOS Linux iOS What must developers do when they modify open-source software? Sell their modifications Keep the modifications private Destroy the original code Make the modifications available to others What does the "UNIX" part in the name "Linux" signify? The operating system is unchangeable The system Linux was built upon The year it was created The name of the creator's pet Commercial Operating Systems Directions: Read each question carefully. For each question, choose the best answer from the options provided and circle or mark your choice. What is a characteristic of a commercial operating system? It is available for free download. Its source code is openly shared. A license must be purchased for use. It is only used on smartphones. Which of the following operating systems is considered the most popular for desktop computers? Linux ChromeOS Apple macOS Microsoft Windows Why might newer versions of operating systems require more resources? They are meant to run on older hardware. They include upgraded features and functionality. They are designed to work with less technology. They have fewer features than previous versions. What is the special type of iOS created for iPads called? iOS Pro iPadOS MacOS AndroidOS Which operating system is NOT primarily used on smartphones? iOS Android Windows iPadOS Windows Microsoft does not update its Windows operating system on a regular basis. For example, there were almost six years between Windows XP and Windows Vista, but only two years between Vista and Windows 7. The main reason for the quicker update was that many people didn't like Vista. After Windows 7, Microsoft released Windows 8, then Windows 10, and now Windows 11. Each new version of Windows comes with new features and better security. Many of the behind-the-scenes tools in Windows look and work the same, while the main desktop always gets a new look with the new version.Windows may look different from other operating systems, with a unique interface, but they all function very similarly. Almost any adjustment or tweak you can make in Windows can also be done on a Mac. For example, if you want to set your favorite photo as the wallpaper, it's easy to do on both systems. In Windows, you just right-click on the picture and select "Set as desktop background." If you want to make your mouse pointer bigger or your icons smaller, you can do that with just a few steps on both systems. Apple macOS In comparison to Microsoft, Apple is very consistent with their macOS updates—you can expect a new version every autumn. For many years, they named their OS versions after big cats, like Cheetah, Mountain Lion, and Snow Leopard. When they ran out of cat names, they started naming them after famous places in the western United States, like Sonoma, Ventura, and Catalina.One important thing to know is that macOS only works on Apple computers. The other three operating systems (Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS) can run on many different brands of PCs.macOS is built on the same general design as UNIX, a mainframe operating system created in the 1960s. Because Apple designs both the hardware and the software, they can make macOS very secure and very stable. It's much less likely that you would get a virus on a Mac, though not impossible.macOS has always had a dock at the bottom of the screen, with icons for common functions and your favorite programs. You can easily add or remove items from the dock based on what you use. The dock can also be moved to the left or right side of the screen, but not to the top because the macOS menu bar is there. The small Apple logo in the upper left corner is the closest thing to the Start menu in Windows. In addition to the menu, there are system settings and icons for running programs in the upper right corner.