Operating Systems Overview - CompTIA A+ 220-1002 - 1.1

Summary

This script discusses the role of operating systems (OS) in managing computer hardware and running applications. It covers the user interface, file management, and application execution capabilities of OS. The script also compares popular OS like Windows, macOS, and Linux, highlighting their features, advantages, and limitations. It touches on processor types, mobile OS, and the importance of compatibility and support, concluding with the interoperability of data across different OS.

Takeaways

• 🖥️ The operating system (OS) is crucial for managing computer hardware such as hard drives, memory, and CPU.
• 📂 File management is a common feature in all operating systems, allowing users to store, delete, and rename files.
• 🛠️ Operating systems facilitate the execution of applications and manage the interaction between applications and system memory.
• 🔄 Swap file management is used for efficient memory usage, where data is temporarily moved to disk and then back into memory.
• 🔒 Microsoft Windows is a widely used OS with extensive industry support but is also a significant target for security threats.
• 🍎 macOS is designed for ease of use and compatibility with Apple hardware but has less industry support for applications compared to Windows.
• 🐧 Linux is a free and open-source OS that can run on a variety of hardware and has a large, supportive user community.
• 🔢 The choice between 32-bit and 64-bit processors affects the amount of information that can be processed and the maximum memory that can be installed.
• 📱 Mobile operating systems like Android, iOS, and Chrome OS offer different approaches to application development and user experience.
• 🌐 Web-based applications are popular because they can run on any operating system and within any web browser.
• 🔄 Different operating systems have different support periods and upgrade philosophies, impacting long-term software maintenance.

Q & A

What is the primary function of an operating system?

An operating system primarily functions as an interface that allows users to control and manage computer hardware such as hard drives, memory, and CPU, and it also facilitates the execution of applications.

How does an operating system enable human-computer interaction?

Operating systems enable human-computer interaction through graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with icons and a mouse, or through command-line interfaces where users type commands using a keyboard.

What common features are found in operating systems?

Common features in operating systems include file management, application execution, memory management, and providing a way for users to monitor and manage the OS through various utilities and programs.

What is the role of file management in an operating system?

File management in an operating system allows users to store, delete, rename, and manage the location of data files on the system's storage capabilities.

Why is Microsoft Windows considered popular among operating systems?

Microsoft Windows is popular because it has extensive industry support, with most applications being written to run on it, and it offers various versions for different use cases, from home to large-scale data center applications.

What are the security challenges faced by Microsoft Windows due to its popularity?

The popularity of Microsoft Windows makes it a significant target for security threats because a vulnerability in Windows can potentially affect millions of desktops worldwide.

How does Apple's macOS differ from Microsoft Windows in terms of hardware compatibility?

macOS is designed primarily for Apple hardware, ensuring high compatibility between the operating system and the hardware. This contrasts with Windows, which supports a wide variety of hardware from different manufacturers.

What are the advantages of using a Linux operating system?

Linux offers the advantage of being free to use, it works on a wide variety of hardware, and has a large worldwide user community for support. Additionally, it allows for customization through various distributions.

What is the difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit processor in terms of the operating system?

A 32-bit processor can handle approximately 4GB of memory, while a 64-bit processor can theoretically handle much more, around 17 billion gigabytes, providing a significant advantage for running large applications and handling large amounts of data.

Why is it important for the operating system and the hardware to match in terms of bit architecture?

The bit architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) of the operating system must match the hardware because it determines the type of drivers that can be used, and whether 32-bit or 64-bit applications can run on the system.

How do mobile operating systems like Android and iOS differ from traditional desktop operating systems?

Mobile operating systems like Android and iOS are designed for smaller devices with touch interfaces and often rely on app stores for application distribution. They also tend to have a different approach to application development and management compared to desktop OS.

What is the significance of the end-of-life for an operating system?

The end-of-life for an operating system signifies the end of support and updates, which can pose security risks and compatibility issues, prompting users to upgrade to newer versions or switch to different operating systems.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Operating Systems: The Core of Computer Interaction

This paragraph introduces the concept of operating systems, emphasizing their role in managing computer hardware such as hard drives, memory, and CPU. It discusses how operating systems facilitate communication between hardware components and run applications like spreadsheets and browsers. The paragraph also highlights the human-computer interaction aspect of operating systems, which can be through command lines or graphical user interfaces. Key features of operating systems, such as file management and application execution, are explained. The importance of managing the operation of the OS itself, with utilities for monitoring and managing the system, is also touched upon. The paragraph concludes with a mention of Microsoft Windows as a popular operating system, its advantages in industry support and variety, and the challenges it faces in security and hardware support.

05:02

🖥️ Exploring Different Operating Systems

Paragraph 2 delves into the specifics of different operating systems, starting with Apple's macOS, which is designed for ease of use and compatibility with Apple hardware. It contrasts the industry support and customization options available for Windows with those of macOS. The paragraph then introduces Linux as a free, community-driven operating system with a wide range of hardware support but potential limitations in driver support and professional assistance. The discussion continues with the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit processors and their implications for memory capacity and application compatibility. The section concludes with insights into mobile operating systems, such as Windows Mobile's discontinuation and the rise of Android and iOS, which are tailored for mobile devices and have specific development and distribution channels.

10:02

📱 Mobile OS and the Future of Computing

The final paragraph focuses on the evolution of mobile operating systems, with Android's open-source Linux foundation and its widespread adoption by various manufacturers. It discusses the development and distribution process for Android apps through the Android SDK and platforms like Google Play. The paragraph also covers Apple's iOS, its closed-source nature, and the exclusivity to Apple devices, along with the app development process through the iOS SDK and the Apple App Store. Google's Chrome OS, with its browser-centric approach and reliance on cloud computing, is also mentioned. The section wraps up with considerations for choosing an operating system, such as support lifecycles and upgrade philosophies, and the interoperability of data across different systems, contrasting it with the platform-specific nature of applications.

Keywords

💡Operating System

An operating system (OS) is the software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between the user of a computer and the computer hardware. In the script, the OS is described as essential for controlling hardware like hard drives, memory, and the CPU, and for running applications, which aligns with its role as the core system software that facilitates the execution of other programs.

💡File Management

File management refers to the organization, manipulation, and retrieval of digital files stored in an operating system. It is a key feature of any OS, allowing users to store, delete, rename, and manage where data is saved. The script mentions file management as a common feature in operating systems, highlighting its importance for users to handle documents and spreadsheets.

💡Application

An application, or app, is a computer program designed to help users perform specific tasks, such as word processing or web browsing. The script explains that applications run within the operating system, interacting with the system's memory and potentially using disk space for temporary files, which illustrates how applications rely on the OS for execution and resource management.

💡Graphical User Interface (GUI)

A graphical user interface (GUI) is a visual way for users to interact with a computer system. It uses icons, graphical indicators, and a mouse to provide a more intuitive user experience compared to a command-line interface. The script describes GUI as an alternative to command-line interfaces, emphasizing the role of the OS in facilitating user interaction with technology.

💡Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a popular operating system developed by Microsoft. The script discusses Windows as an example of a widely used OS, with various versions for different purposes, such as home use and large-scale data center applications. It also touches on the industry support for Windows and the challenges of being a popular target for security threats.

💡macOS

macOS is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. for their Mac line of computers. The script highlights macOS as a user-friendly OS designed to work seamlessly with Apple hardware, offering a high level of compatibility but with less industry support compared to Windows, reflecting the trade-off between a closed ecosystem and broader compatibility.

💡Linux

Linux is a free and open-source operating system based on the Unix operating system. The script points out Linux's cost advantage and its flexibility to run on various hardware, as well as its reliance on community support. It also mentions the concept of distributions, which are different versions of Linux tailored to different user needs.

💡Processor Architecture

Processor architecture refers to the design and implementation of an instruction set, the native data types, and the organization of a central processing unit (CPU). The script discusses the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit processors in terms of the amount of information they can process and store, which directly impacts the capabilities of the operating system and the hardware it can support.

💡Drivers

Drivers are pieces of software that enable the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. The script explains that the type of driver (32-bit or 64-bit) must match the operating system's architecture, emphasizing the importance of compatibility between the OS and the hardware it interfaces with.

💡Mobile Operating Systems

Mobile operating systems are designed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The script mentions Windows Mobile, Android, and iOS as examples, highlighting the evolution from specialized mobile OS versions to full-blown versions of desktop OS on mobile devices, and the shift towards cloud-based applications due to the reliance on internet connectivity.

💡Chrome OS

Chrome OS is an operating system developed by Google that is based on the Linux kernel and focuses on the Chrome web browser. The script describes Chrome OS as a lightweight OS that runs apps primarily within the browser, which simplifies hardware requirements and lowers costs, but also emphasizes the need for a stable internet connection due to its cloud-centric approach.

Highlights

The operating system allows us to control the hardware of our computer, such as hard drives, memory, and CPU.

Operating systems enable users to run applications like spreadsheets, word processing, or web browsers.

Common features of any operating system include file management, allowing users to store, delete, and rename files.

Operating systems provide ways to run applications and manage hardware, such as keyboard, mouse, and storage devices.

Microsoft Windows is one of the most popular operating systems due to its wide industry support and range of applications.

Windows supports a wide variety of hardware but is also a big target for security exploits due to its large user base.

Apple’s macOS is designed for ease of use and offers strong compatibility between the OS and Apple hardware.

Linux, a free open-source operating system, allows users to customize distributions and run on a wide variety of hardware.

Linux may have limited driver support for proprietary hardware, and support relies heavily on the user community.

32-bit operating systems can address up to 4 GB of memory, while 64-bit systems can theoretically support 17 billion GB of memory.

Users running a 64-bit OS can run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, but 32-bit OS can only run 32-bit applications.

Android, an open-source operating system by Google, runs on a Linux-based platform and is widely used on mobile devices.

Apple's iOS is a closed-source operating system exclusively for Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad.

Chrome OS by Google focuses on cloud-based applications and runs most software directly from the Chrome browser.

Operating systems differ in how they handle updates, with some offering long-term support, while others prioritize frequent upgrades.

Transcripts

As you go through your A plus studies,

a lot of what you'll be learning revolves

around the operating system.

The operating system allows us to control

the hardware of our computer.

So our hard drives, and our memory, and our CPU you

can all communicate back and forth to each other

using this operating system.

The operating system is also where all of your applications

will run.

So anything that you're doing in a spreadsheet,

in a word processing document, or in a browser

is all going to execute inside of your operating system.

This operating system is also a way for us

as humans to be able to interoperate

with this technology.

The operating system may be at a command line

where you type everything in using your keyboard.

Or it may be a graphical user interface

where you use icons and a mouse to be

able to use this technology.

There's some common features that you'll

find in any operating system that you happen to use.

One of these features is file management.

You're able to store a document or a spreadsheet

onto the storage capabilities of that operating system.

And then you can delete that file, rename that file,

or manage where that data happens to go.

An operating system is also going

to provide a way to run applications.

This means not only is it going to display that application

on the screen, there's going to be

a lot of interaction between that application and the memory

that you're using.

Or there may be files that are spelled out to disk

using swap file management.

And then swap back in as you're using other parts

of that application.

As you're using this application,

you're storing information on hard drives.

Perhaps transferring information to a USB.

There's going to be a keyboard and mouse that you're using.

And all of this hardware and software

works together by using the interactions of that operating

system.

And there needs to be some way to manage the overall operation

of the OS.

The operating system will usually

include programs or utilities that allow you as the end user

to be able to monitor and manage any aspect of that OS.

One of the most popular operating systems

is Microsoft Windows.

Not only are there the traditional desktop operating

systems for Windows such as Windows 7 and Windows 10,

they're also server versions of Microsoft Windows that

are used to manage very large scale applications in the data

center.

The advantages of Microsoft Windows

is that it has a huge support from the industry.

Most applications are automatically

written to run in Microsoft Windows.

You also have many different options for the type of Windows

that you're using.

There's versions of Windows that are designed

to be use at home and other versions of Windows

that are designed to be used in the data center for large scale

applications.

Unfortunately, having such a popular operating system

with such a large number of installed systems

means that you're also a very big Target

for security exploitation.

The bad guys know that if they can find one way into Windows,

then they're able to take advantage of many millions

of desktops around the world.

Another challenge with Windows is

that it has to support a wide variety of hardware.

So many different monitors, many different video cards,

different storage devices, and different types of printers

all have to interoperate and work properly

in this single operating system.

Here's a screenshot of Windows 10.

You can see the menu along the left side.

You've got a search bar at the bottom, and other icons

that you can choose here to quickly access

the applications that you need.

Another popular operating system is Apple's macOS.

This is primarily designed as a desktop operating

system designed to run on Apple hardware.

Apple's macOS is designed for ease of use.

And because you're running on Apple's hardware,

you know that the operating system and the hardware

of that computer will be extremely

compatible with each other.

This also means you have less support

in the industry for applications running

on that operating system than something

like Microsoft Windows.

And with Microsoft Windows, you can choose the components

you'd like so that you can build a computer to fit

any particular price point.

With macOS the only hardware options

you have are those available from Apple.

So you may find that your initial hardware

cost is a little bit more than if you were

to build the system yourself.

And here's a macOS desktop.

And you can see there are a lot of similarities between Mac OS

and Windows.

There's icons at the bottom that can

be used to start applications.

You can see the storage devices are

listed as icons on the desktop.

And in many ways, the similarities

are the same between Windows, macOS, and the Linux operating

systems.

Another popular operating system is the free operating system

of Linux.

With Linux, there is no single Linux operating system.

Instead there is a combination of features put together

into what the Linux community calls distributions.

One of the obvious advantages of Linux is the cost.

There is no cost associated for using or running

any applications on a Linux operating system.

Linux also works on a wide variety of hardware

so you can build your own computer

and run the Linux operating system on top of it.

And the user community for Linux is very large and worldwide.

So if you have any questions about the Linux operating

system, there will always be someone willing to help.

Because Linux is an operating system that relies on this user

community though, there are some limitations

to the amount of hardware that can be supported.

You may find that there is limited driver

support for hardware that is not mainstream.

Especially for customized or proprietary hardware

that might be inside of laptop computers.

You might also find that support options for Linux

are also limited.

There's no single Linux company to go to for support.

So you have to make sure you have knowledgeable people

available to help you with any problems

that you might have with the Linux operating system here's

the desktop of an Ubuntu Linux distribution.

And as you can see, it has very similar functionality

to Microsoft Windows or macOS.

You have the standard icons on the screen that

allow you to run applications.

Or a search bar at the top so that you

can find your documents or other applications

all with a few keystrokes.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of an operating

system is the type of processor that is supported by that OS.

There are usually two options to choose from.

A 32-bit processor or a 64-bit processor.

One of the differences between these two

is the amount of information that can be processed or stored

by that processor.

For example, a 32-bit processor can

store values that are 2 to the 32nd power, which

means you get about four billion different values.

If you've ever seen the amount of available memory

that you can put in a 32-bit operating system,

you know that it's about 4 gigabytes of memory.

And so you can see that's exactly where that four

gigabyte value comes from.

A 64-bit processor can store information

that is 2 to the 64th power, which

is much larger than our 4 gigabit value

with a 32-bit operating system.

In fact, in a 64-bit operating system,

it's about 17 billion gigabytes of information

that can be accessed, which is very

different than the 4 gigabytes available in a 32-bit operating

system.

This means that theoretically, your operating system running

on a 64-bit processor could allow you to install

17 billion gigabytes of memory.

In reality though, the operating system

probably has a much smaller maximum value.

Although certainly much larger than the capabilities

you would have with a 32-bit operating system.

Another important consideration when

you're using 32-bit versus 64-bit operating systems

are the type of drivers that you're using

in the operating system itself.

The driver is special software that allows your operating

system to be able to communicate with the hardware

of your computer.

If you're running a 32-bit operating system,

you have to use 32-bit drivers.

If you're using a 64-bit operating system,

you have to use drivers that are specifically

written for that 64-bit OS.

You cannot use 32-bit drivers on a 64-bit operating system,

or vise versa.

You'll sometimes see the 32-bit architecture abbreviated

as x86.

If you see 64-bit architectures abbreviated,

it's often abbreviated as x64.

Another important consideration between a 32-bit operating

system and a 64-bit operating system

are the applications that you'll run on that OS.

You'll find that there are some applications that

have been written for 32-bit operating systems.

And other applications that have been written

for 64-bit operating systems.

If you're running a 32-bit operating system,

you will not be able to run 64-bit applications on it.

But if you're running a 64-bit operating system,

you can run either 32-bit apps or 64-bit apps.

For example, if you're running a 64-bit version of Windows,

you'll find that any installed 32-bit applications

will be stored in the Program Files x86 directory.

And any 64-bit applications will be installed

in the Program Files directory.

Our mobile computing devices are getting smaller and smaller

all the time.

But we want the same functionality

on our tablet devices as we have on our desktop

systems that we're using at work.

That's why you'll find that there

are tablet devices these days that

run a full blown version of Windows 10

on these mobile tablet devices.

These tablets are made by many different manufacturers.

But they tend to have the same type of hardware

with touch screens detachable keyboards

and perhaps a stylus that can be used in the Windows

10 operating system.

Early versions of these tablets used a type

of operating system that wasn't a full blown version of Windows

10.

In fact, it was called Windows Mobile.

Windows Mobile is no longer in development.

And after December 2019, it will no longer

be supported by Microsoft.

On the handset and mobile phone side,

one of the operating systems you'll commonly see

is the Android operating system from Google.

This is actually the Open Handset Alliance.

And it runs an open source Linux version of an operating system

on these small mobile devices.

There are many different manufacturers

that make Google Android compatible systems so

you're able to find a mobile phone with exactly

the features you want.

If you're an application developer,

you can create apps for the Android operating system

inside of Windows, macOS, and Linux

by using the Android Software Developers Kit.

If you're an end user and you want to install these apps,

you can get them from Google Play

or from third party sites such as the Amazon App Store.

Apple phones use their own operating system called iOS.

This is available on the Apple iPhone and the Apple iPad.

It's based on Unix, and it's an operating system

that is closed source.

You don't have access to any of the source code used in iOS.

You'll also only find iOS on Apple products.

You're not able to buy hardware from a third party

and run iOS on it.

You can only run iOS on Apple hardware.

If you're a software developer and you

want to create apps for an Apple device,

then you'll want to use macOS as your operating system.

And use the iOS Software Developers Kit.

To make that software available to the end user,

you submit it to Apple.

And they must approve your software

to be able to have that available for end users.

Once they approve it, it's added to the Apple App Store.

And users are able to download and use it on their iOS device.

Google also has their own operating system.

This is Chrome OS.

And it's based on the Linux kernel.

This operating system focuses around the Chrome web browser.

Most of the apps that you'll use on Chrome OS

will all run from inside of that browser.

This relatively simple approach to applications

means that many different manufacturers can now

create hardware that will run Chrome OS.

And since the operating system is less demanding,

you also will find that the hardware is less expensive.

Because many of the apps and Chrome OS run in this browser,

there's a strong reliance on the cloud.

So you have to make sure you have a good internet connection

to run many of the apps available in Chrome OS.

With so many different operating systems to choose from,

it's important to know where the limitations are

with each particular manufacturer's OS.

For example, you have to think about how

long a particular operating system will be supported.

Different manufacturers have different philosophies

around end of life.

Some manufacturers like to support an operating

system for a very long time.

Others support it for a shorter period.

And expect that you're going to upgrade to new hardware

when that software hits end of life.

Manufacturers also have a different philosophy

on how the operating system itself will be upgraded.

With Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux

you may be presented with an upgrade option.

And then you get to choose.

Although even those options are slowly

migrating into operating systems that will always keep

themselves upgraded such as the philosophy

found with Chrome OS.

Even though these are very different operating systems

there are certain types of data that

can be shared between the different OS.

For example, it's very common for movies and music

to use a common format that you can

watch or listen to regardless of what operating system

you may be using.

Where you start to run into problems

though is with the applications themselves.

If an application is designed for Windows,

it usually is only going to run in Windows.

In some cases you're able to take the data files that you've

saved from that application and move

the data file to a different application

on a different operating system.

And that may be a big reason why some web based applications

have such popularity since they'll run in any web browser

regardless of the underlying operating system.