WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM, TYPES OF OPERATING ENVIRONMENT and WINDOW'S FEATURES

WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

• Windows operating system is software that supervises and controls the hardware.
• Enables the users to communicate with the computer.
• Control input/output operations: Receive commands from input devices and display information to output devices
• Operating Systems are programs that allow computers to operate.
• They help control the flow of information from one part of the computer to another.
• It is the link or interface between application programs and hardware.
• Both hardware and application programs use the operating system as their base
• Some of the most widely used operating system are:
• DOS
• WINDOWS
• LINUX
• UNIX
• It manages the resources of computer namely the CPU, memory and Input/output devices.
• Windows is an operating environment created by Microsoft. It provides users of PC with GUI (Graphical User Interface).
• GUI is an environment based on pictures, buttons, and menu options on the screen rather than on typed commands such as old DOS. For example, if the user has to open the Microsoft Word for writing, then he/she just has to double click the icon on the desktop and the program will start.
• In GUI environment, you have to click pictures on the screen or making selection from menus. Whereas in case of DOS environment, the command is to be typed.
• Windows application programs are populated with entities such as icons (pictures that represent data files, programs or folders), dialog boxes (frames that display information and/or ask you questions) and windows (frames in which programs and data are displayed).
• Any software programs the user run on the computer is carried out by the operating system.

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEM

•        Graphical User Interface (GUI): A GUI operating system provides a graphical user interface to establish user communication with the computer. The user does not require memorizing commands to perform various tasks such as copying a file, opening a document. A user uses graphical objects such as icons, windows, button etc. to perform different tasks. Example: Windows Operating System

•        Command Line Interface (CLI): A command line operating system provides a command prompt to the user for typing different commands to interact with the computer. The user needs to memorize commands to perform different tasks. Difficult as compared to GUI operating system. Example: DOS (Disk Operating System)

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF WINDOWS

•        Running several programs simultaneously: Windows allows you to run multiple   programs at once. e.g. If you are working on MS-Word, then u can also be able to run other application programs like MS- paint, MS- Excel, Windows Media Player etc. as well.

•        Switching between open applications: If you are using Windows, you can easily open you spreadsheet program and find the necessary information without leaving MS-Word document. When you are done, a single mouse click or keystroke will take you back to MS-Word document

•        Multitasking: The ability to work on two o more things at once is called multitasking. People perform multitask all the time, such as reading while watching TV, Talking on the phone while cooking etc.

•        Windows not only allows you to open two or more programs at once, it allows you to carry out work in both programs simultaneously

•        e.g. If u need to perform a time consuming task in one program such as, copying a large file from the Internet, you simply start the process and then switch to a different programs.

•        The windows Clipboard (Copy or Move data): Clipboard lets you easily copy or move data from one program to  another by using cut , copy and paste command.Windows also include the feature known as clipboard that lets you easily copy or move data from one program to another by using Cut, Copy and Paste Commands