Computing and IT - Assignment Example

Computing and IT Question Operating Systems An operating system is essentially a computer program which handles the hardware and software parts of a computer. Application software is installed over the operating system and is dependent on the type of OS being used. As to its functions, the operating systems processes information received from the user through hardware implements and responds by performing actions and program defined tasks. The operating system also allocates memory to different programs, handles the priority of system interrupts, controls output and negotiates with other computers in a network situation (Dahl, 2005). The interface which is used to give commands to the operating system can be based on a command line interface such as the one used by older operating systems such as DOS or it can be a modern graphics based user interface such as the one used in Mac OS X. These differences also create a platform for application development which means that computer programs can be written by keeping a certain target operating system in mind such as Linux programs, Windows programs or Symbian programs (Dahl, 2005). Operating systems define the computer technology world more than anything since the basic hardware for any desktop computer have become similar to such an extent that it is difficult to differentiate between them in any significant way. For example, both Linux machines and IBM PC compatible machines use a monitor, a CPU, a mouse and a keyboard for interaction between the machine and the human operator but the interaction experience between the two operating systems can be significantly different. Question 2: Vista improvements on XP Windows Vista is the latest version of the Windows operating system and it contains some significant improvements over the previous operating system launched by Microsoft i.e. Windows XP. Since it took Microsoft more than five years to develop this new operating system after the launch of XP, there are significant changes that have been made to the Windows environment and there are quite a few different versions of Vista that make a direct comparison between them slightly difficult. For example, windows vista starter edition may actually have fewer features than a basic version of Windows XP (Wikipedia, 2007). However, when comparing the two directly it is perhaps a better idea to compare the top version of Windows XP i.e. Professional with the top version of Windows Vista i.e. Ultimate. In that comparison it becomes clear that Vista has hundreds of new features of which many become obvious to the user as soon as the windows interface comes up. Microsoft has come up with a new visual style called Aero and different variations of the same interface make using the windows environment a more pleasurable experience. Vista also has considerably improved its search tools, media creation application software, networking support, printer management and display controls (Wikipedia, 2007). This means that the interface is easier to use and common tasks which may be needed by home or office users are easier to perform. Perhaps the most important feature set improvements for Windows Vista over Windows XP is the development of the idea of security which seems to be a very important concern for Microsoft given the exploits and security vulnerabilities in the previous versions of windows. The security improvements to windows Vista mean that the operating system is less vulnerable to malware, computer viruses and other exploits such as worms which have caused huge losses to business as well as home users in the past. Question 3: Integrating Vista Vista is certainly the most talked about operating system available but it does not seem like there is any real need for business users to upgrade to the new system. In fact, Windows XP seems to be a perfectly stable operating system for home and business use until all the kinks in Vista have been sorted out (LaGesse, 2007). These kinks appear to come from the various issues that IT managers as well as home users can face while trying to upgrade their machines from Windows XP to Vista such as the issue of high hardware requirements, compatibility problems and the cost of upgrading computer systems. There are also other questions which may require good answers before Vista can be integrated into present systems. For instance, although Vista may make everyday tasks easier for most users, specialised tasks may require some training to be conducted since a lot has changed in the new system. The licensing of Vista is also restrictive and comes across as draconian in terms of how it restricts usage if the copy of windows is seen to be pirated or non-genuine by Microsoft. There is also a number of copy protection tools installed with Vista that dictate how content created or brought to the machine may be used by the person handling the material. Vista focuses on security but that security may become restrictive for most users that may not be allowed to do what they want without clearing it with the OS first. Hardware requirements of Windows Vista are another issue which have caused difficulties in installing some version of Vista on older and even present day basic machines. The near absolute requirement of having a dedicated video card for running the full version of the Aero Glass, the high memory requirements and the lack of support for older, less powerful CPU means that integrating Vista into present systems (LaGesse, 2007). Corporate clients have also shown hesitation towards upgrading since Windows XP is proving to be good enough for the business requirements and an upgrade may not be necessary before there are killer businesses related features which require the use of Vista (LaGesse, 2007). The overall price factor for upgrading a single old machine to Vista may make it more logical for a company to discard the older machine and move to a new system altogether. However, since many businesses are not looking to spend more on IT than they have to, it is unlikely that companies or even consumers will jump on Vista in large numbers in the near future. Question 4: UNIX and OS X Tiger The Mac OS X is an operating system created, managed and marketed by Apple Inc. and it comes preinstalled on all desktop and laptop machines sold by Apple. Mac OS is a UNIX based operating system since the basic kernel of the OS is derived from the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) version of UNIX. Mac OS X certainly benefits from the aura of security, stability and strength which is given by computer gurus to UNIX. However, the open source community as well as the supporters of UNIX also benefit from the increases in the installed base of OS X users since it shows that UNIX and its derivative operating systems can certainly compete with the Windows monopoly (Beckman and Hirsch, 2001). Dahl (2005) suggests that UNIX was built from the ground up to be a multi-user operating system which means that security consideration have to go into every aspect of the software. Apple certainly touts security as an advantage of using its operating system. Historically, Linux users and administrators as well as programmers have been more focused on computer networks and information security related issues than Windows which has had to look at compatibility and ease of communication as a primary concern. Even the most basic version of Linux come with a password protector for internet websites which functions much better than the one included in Windows because it uses more powerful encryption and password management controls. While OS X does have a command line interface like similar to some variations of UNIX, it must be noted that the architecture has been heavily modified and the interface itself is under copyright by Apple (Beckman and Hirsch, 2001). It is different from other versions of Unix based distributions such as Ubuntu or RedHat but applications written for Unix work on the OS X. The operating system has also been translated in a smaller form to the newly launched mobile device from Apple, i.e. the iPhone. As the underlying architecture for OS X is based on UNIX new developments on all platforms could help Apple push UNIX into the limelight as an operating system for both mobile devices and other computers. The development of OS X has continued with the same base of UNIX and the newer versions of OS X that are coming to market remain faithful to the UNIX core. However, as time passes and additional features of the OS make it more attractive to computer users, it is possible that the Mac OS could become the most widely distributed and used version of UNIX in personal computers. Of course Apple also offers servers which are based on the OS X platform but the success and sales of Apple servers and server software has not met the success that has been seen by Apple’s desktop and laptop machines. Word Count: 1,557 Works Cited Beckman, D. and Hirsch, D. 2001, ‘Mac Is Back in Town’, ABA Journal, vol. 87, no. 8, pp. 70-72. Dahl, E. 2005, ‘The Truth About Windows Alternatives’, PC World, vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 75-82. LaGesse, D. 2007, ‘Tech to Ride an Upgrade Cycle’, US News and World Report, vol. 142, no. 2, p. 9-10. Wikipedia. 2007, ‘Windows Vista’ [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista Read More