Types of Operating Systems
There are a vast number of OS's out
there. Let's briefly go over few of the more common ones:
Windows 95/98 - This
is what you will find on most new PC's today. It is a very popular OS, and there are many
applications that run on it. It has an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Windows NT - Windows
NT is another Microsoft operating system that is beginning to really catch on because of
it's networking capabilities. Microsoft is trying to slowly phase out Windows 95/98 and
replace it with some form of NT.
Macintosh System 7/8 -
This is the operating system found on the Macintosh brand of computers. This was one of
the first GUI's to become popular. Macs have the history of being easy to use, and coming
equipped with all the hardware you'll need.
*NIX - This includes
the OS's like UNIX, LINUX, etc. These are commonly called "workstations". UNIX
is a command prompt OS, much like the now defunct Microsoft DOS operating system. Unix is
by far the oldest of the operating systems, having been in existence for a good 20 years.
*NIX systems are now becoming a little more popular as desktops with the invention of
programs like X Windows, which allows *NIX systems to have a GUI. *NIX systems are still
the kings of the networking world, and many of the world's servers run *NIX.
 
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