What is an operating system?

An operating system is the most important software that runs on a

computer. It manages the computer's memory, processes, controlling input
output devices and all of its software and hardware. It also allows you
to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the
computer's language. Without an operating system, a computer is
useless.
Modern operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI). A GUI is
a type of user interface which allow people to interact with a computer and
help to use your mouse to click icons, buttons, and menus, and
everything is clearly displayed on the screen using a combination of
graphics and text.
Each operating system's GUI has a different look and feel, so if you switch
to a different operating system it may seem unfamiliar at first. However,
modern operating systems are designed to be easy to use, and most of
the basic principles are the same.
Before GUIs, computers had a command-line interface, which meant
users had to type every single command to the computer and the computer
would only display text. Ms dos is a command line interpreter.
The operating system's job
Your computer's operating system (OS) manages all of
the software and hardware on the computer. Most of the time, there are
many different computer programs running at the same time, and they all
need to access your computer's central processing unit (CPU), memory,
and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each
program gets what it needs.
Types of operating systems
The three most common operating systems for personal
computers are Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and
Linux.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft created the first Windows operating system that is MS-DOS in the mid-
1980s.Windows NT (1993) , Windows 95 ,Window 98,windows 2000 Over the years,
there have been many different versions of Windows, but the most recent ones
are Windows 8 (released in 2012), Windows 7 (2009), and Windows Vista (2007).
Windows comes preloaded on most new PCs, which helps to make it the most
popular operating system in the world.
In Windows 7 there are different editions of Windows, such as Home
Premium, Professional, and Ultimate.
1. MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)
MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system derived from 86-DOS that was
created for IBM compatible computers. MS-DOS originally written by Tim Paterson and
originally introduced by Microsoft in August 1981 and was last updated in 1994.
Today, MS-DOS is no longer used; however, the command shell, more commonly known as
the Windows command line is still used by many users. 
Windows, MS-DOS is a command-line and is navigated by using MS-DOS commands. For
example, if you wanted to see all the files in a folder in Windows you would double-click the
folder to open the folder in Windows Explorer. In MS-DOS, to view that same folder you would
navigate to the folder using the 
cd command and then list the files in that folder using the command. and there are over 100
different commands that have been used in MS-DOS and the Windows command line. 
2. Windows xp
Windows XP Home and Professional System Requirements
October 25, 2001
Computer: 100% IBM Compatible
Processor: 233 MHz or faster processor
Memory: 64MB RAM
Recommend 128MB
Drives: 1.5GB hard drive space
CD-ROM or DVD Drive
Sound: Sound Card recommended
Video: SVGA Video Card
Controls: Keyboard and Mouse
operating system: Upgrade requires Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME.
DirectX: DirectX 8.1 Included.
Other: - DVD requires DVD decoder with 8MB video RAM.
- Video capture feature requires 400 MHz or faster processor.

3. Windows vista
 MS Windows vista is a line of graphical system used on personal computers, including home and
business desktops, notebook computer, tablet PCs ,and media centers Development was
completed on 8 November 2006.
This OS offers more security options than any other preceding release, includes the entire Media
Center OS, is ready for flash drives, has parental controls, supports tablet PC functions and has
many new features never available before.
It also supports inexperienced users with wizards, a backup and restore center, as well as
Security Control Guidance. In addition, it has a super powerful search that can help people find
folders or files, even if they don’t know where or by what name they originally stored them.
You can also search for help topics from the same search bar.
System requirement :
 800-megahertz (MHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 800-MHz 64-bit (x64) processor.
 512 megabytes (MB) of system memory. ...
 DirectX 9-class graphics card.
 32 MB of graphics memory.
 20-gigabyte (GB) hard disk that has 15 GB of free hard disk space.
 Internal or external DVD drive.
 Internet access capability.
 Audio output capability.
4. Windows 7
Windows 7 is an operating system and the successor toWindows Vista. It was
officially released by Microsoft to the public on October 22, 2009.
Windows 7 is powerful software and it requires equal power from the PC it runs on. If
the PC doesn't meet requirements for Windows 7, it won't run the software very well.
Part Requirement

Processor (CPU) 1 GHz or faster CPU

Memory (RAM) 1 GB RAM

Hard drive free 16 GB

space

Disc drive DVD drive

Graphics memory 128 MB or more

Windows  8 & 8.1

If you want to run Windows 8.1 on your PC, here's what it takes:

 Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and
SSE2 (more info)
  RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
 Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
 Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
If you're running Windows 8 you can get a free update to Windows 8.1. Just tap
or click the Windows Store tile on your Start screen. Once you've moved up
to Windows 8.1you should get the update automatically. If you don't,
follow these steps to get it manually using Windows Update.

Mac OS X
Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple. It comes preloaded on all
new Macintosh computers, or Macs. All of the recent versions are known as OS
X (pronounced O-S Ten), and the specific versions include Yosemite (released in
2014), Mavericks (2013), Mountain Lion (2012), Lion (2011),
and Snow Leopard(2009). Apple also offers a version called Mac OS X Server, which
is designed to be run on servers.
Linux
Linux (pronounced LINN-ux) is a family of open-source operating systems, which
means they can be modified and distributed by anyone around the world. This is
different from proprietary software like Windows, which can only be modified by
the company that owns it (Microsoft). The advantages of Linux are that it is free,
and there are many different distributions—or versions—you can choose from.
Each distribution has a different look and feel, and the most popular ones
include Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel in 1991.
The kernel is the computer code that is the central part of an operating system.

Operating systems for mobile devices

The operating systems we've been talking about were designed to run
on desktop or laptop computers. Mobile devices such as phones, tablet
computers, and MP3 players are different from desktop and laptop computers, so
they run operating systems that are designed specifically for mobile devices.
Examples of mobile operating systems include Apple iOS, Windows Phone,
and Google Android. In the screenshot below, you can see Apple iOS running on an
iPod.
Operating systems for mobile devices generally aren't as fully featured as
those made for desktop and laptop computers, and they aren't able to run
all of the same software. However, you can still do a lot of things with
them, like watch movies, browse the Web, manage your calendar, and play
games.
Mac OS X
 Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple. It
comes preloaded on all new Macintosh computers, or Macs.
All of the recent versions are known as OS X (pronounced
O-S Ten), and the specific versions
include Yosemite (released in
2014), Mavericks (2013), Mountain
Lion (2012), Lion (2011), and Snow Leopard(2009). Apple
also offers a version called Mac OS X Server, which is
designed to be run on servers.

According to StatCounter Global Stats, Mac OS X users

account for 9.5% of the operating systems market as of
September 2014—much lower than the percentage of
Windows users (almost 90%). One reason for this is that
Apple computers tend to be more expensive. However,
many people prefer the look and feel of Mac OS X.

Linux
Linux (pronounced LINN-ux) is a family of open-
source operating systems, which means they can be
modified and distributed by anyone around the world. This is
different from proprietary software like Windows, which
can only be modified by the company that owns it
(Microsoft). The advantages of Linux are that it is free, and
there are many different distributions—or versions—you
can choose from. Each distribution has a different look and
feel, and the most popular ones include Ubuntu, Mint,
and Fedora.
 Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who created
the Linux kernel in 1991. The kernel is the computer
code that is the central part of an operating system.

According to StatCounter Global Stats, Linux users account

for less than 2% of the operating systems market as of
September 2014. However, most servers run Linux
because it's relatively easy to customize.

Operating systems for mobile

devices
 The operating systems we've been talking about were
designed to run on desktop or laptop computers. Mobile
devices such as phones, tablet computers, and MP3
players are different from desktop and laptop computers, so
they run operating systems that are designed specifically for
mobile devices. Examples of mobile operating systems
include Apple iOS, Windows Phone, and Google
Android. In the screenshot below, you can see Apple iOS
running on an iPad.

Operating systems for mobile devices generally aren't as

fully featured as those made for desktop and laptop
computers, and they aren't able to run all of the same
software. However, you can still do a lot of things with them,
like watch movies, browse the Web, manage your calendar,
and play games.

commands, see our page on MS-DOS and command line.

Topic Command line (CLI) GUI

Ease Due to a higher degree of memorization and Because a GUI is much more visually intuitive,
familiarity needed for operation and navigation, new new users almost always pick up this interface
users find operating a command line interface more faster than a CLI.
difficult than a GUI.

Control Users have more control over both the file and Although a GUI offers ample access to the file
operating systems in a command line interface. For and operating systems, advanced tasks may still
example, users can copy a specific file from one need to utilize the command line.
location to another with a one-line command.

Multitasking Although many command line environments are GUI users have windows that enable a user to
capable of multitasking, they do not offer the same view, control, manipulate, and toggle through
ease and ability to view multiple things at once on multiple programs and folders at same time.
one screen.

Speed Command line users only need to utilize their Using both a mouse and keyboard to navigate
keyboards to navigate a the interface. Additionally, and control your operating or file system is
 they often only need to execute a few lines to going to be much slower than someone who is
perform a task. working in a command line.

Resources A computer that is only using the command line A GUI requires more system resources because
takes a lot less of the computer's system of the elements that require loading, such as
resourcesthan a GUI. icons and fonts. Video, mouse, and
other drivers need to be loaded, taking up
additional system resources.

Scripting A command line interface enables a user to script a Although A GUI enables a user to create
sequence of commands to perform a task or execute shortcuts, tasks, or other similar actions, it
a program. doesn't even come close in comparison to what
is available through a command line.

Remote When accessing another computer or device over a Although remote graphical access is possible.
access network, a user can only manipulate the device or its Not all computers and network equipment has
files with a command line interface. this ability.

Diversity After you've learned how to navigate and use a Each GUI has a different design and structure
command line, it's not going to change as much as a when it comes to performing different tasks.
new GUI. Although new commands may be Even different iterations of the same GUI, such
introduced, the original commands always remain as Windows, can have hundreds of different
the same. changes between each version.

Strain The command line allows the user to keep their Although shortcut keys can help reduce the
hands on the keyboard, almost never touching the amount of times you have move from the
mouse. Moving back and forth between a keyboard keyboard to the mouse, you will still be moving
and mouse can cause additional strain and may help much more between devices in a GUI.
contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.