36.2 Software: Operating systems

Operating systems

The operating system of a computer system is what allows the computer to function. This is because the operating system manages the CPU, operations, hardware components, storage and software. Also, the OS is there to make it user-friendly this is because without an OS, the computer system would function in its own language which is binary (0s and 1s) this would be hard to understand so it goes both ways, the OS transmits what actions the user does on the system in a way the PC can understand and vice versa. Depending on what branded computer system you get, it comes with an OS. I will be discussing two main operating systems which are Mac OS and Windows.

Mac OS

Mac OS is an operating system which is used for Apple computers and laptops. This operating system is also user friendly as it uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based system as well as having a Command Line Interface (CLI). Mac OS is considered as one of the best operating systems due to the lack of viruses and protection flaws it has.

The benefits of the Mac OS are that its security is good because it utilises the UNIX core which is known as the best security in all operating systems. This means that hackers have less to no chance of infecting the computer system with viruses etc. Another benefit is that the system has pre-installed firewall which means if the user hasn’t installed an anti-virus program, the pre-installed firewall will stop hackers from methods e.g. brute force their way to enter the system. As well as this, the Mac OS is very stable and is simple to use as it uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to navigate around the system. It also has a Command Line Interface (CLI) so its beginners and experts can use the OS. Another advantage is that you can use most peripherals on the OS without the driver necessarily being installed.

The drawbacks of the Mac OS are that it can only be run on Apple macs. This means that if you want to use the OS you would have to buy a mac, or you would have to get the OS through third party tools which you may have to pay extra money for. Another drawback is the price of the Mac, it is around £2000-7000 depending on what system you get so having a windows computer or a different operating system-based computer would be a lot cheaper. Also, another drawback would be that most applications on the Mac OS are good but due to their high price, its inconvenient for users and some applications are not suited to the user’s needs as much as they say they are.

Windows OS

Windows is an operating system which is created by Microsoft and is very well known as it is used and installed on many computer systems. It is a user-friendly OS as it has a customisable system with the use of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which allows the user to easily understand the software and to access it. There are many versions of Windows, this is because Microsoft releases an OS they feel is fit for purpose and ready. Then the users will use it and test it and whatever bugs, design flaws etc. they can fix and update in the next version. The current version of Windows is Windows 10.

The benefits of the Windows OS are that it is user friendly as it is simple to use because it uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Also, every time a new Windows OS or update is released, it has the same structure and format as the previous. Another benefit is that updates for hardware are added which means it is supported so users don’t have to worry about outdates software. Furthermore, another benefit is that Microsoft have the best customer service this means they provide effective support to the customer which helps them with their enquiry and they solve it mostly. This is good as they’re most likely to return as they got positive customer service.

The drawbacks of the Windows OS are that some operating systems have a minimum hardware requirement which means if you don’t meet a certain requirement, you can’t install the operating system and you would need to upgrade your computer system to do so. Another drawback is that Windows isn’t open source which means complete customisability is restricted and you won’t know the OS functions. Another drawback is that if there is a bug within the operating system, you can’t fix it yourself, you will have to report it Microsoft and it could take them time to receive your message and this could be problematic if it’s a security bug. Furthermore, another drawback is that the Windows operating system has the worst security this is because hackers can easily breach the system with methods such as brute-force. So, you would have to buy anti-virus software, so your computer system is safe from viruses, trojans etc and this would be a drawback as it could be costly.

In terms of gaming, out of Mac OS and Windows, Windows would be much better suited as it supports almost every peripheral and it came into the gaming scene very early whereas Mac came very late as it wasn’t intended for gaming however it is being updated and support is coming for it.

Android OS

Android is an operating system which is one of the most used operating systems. It is available for a variety of mobile, tablets and interface devices. The operating system is popular as it is opensource which means users can customise their device freely compared to other operating systems which restrict that. It is a Linux-based OS which means it can run most applications in Java.

A benefit of Android is that the operating system is open source which means the user can customise and install whatever they want to the device. Another benefit is that it has faster innovation cycles, this means that all the features which operating systems claim to be new, Android already has them implemented. E.g. iOS introduced third-party keyboards 3-4 years after it was already in Android. Another benefit is that you have more control over your device whereas in iOS, Apple have control of the battery on some devices where they make the battery weaker, so the device can perform better. Another benefit of Android is that it has multiple app stores and the ability to install applications from the internet without certificates.

A drawback of Android is that depending on which branded device you get, you always have pre-installed UI elements and their branded applications which you can’t get rid of. Another drawback is that for the device to be optimised, you will have to reset the device to keep good performance otherwise the device will slow down and be less responsive. Another drawback of Android is that because it is open source and you can install what you like, this can become a security issue as there isn’t many anti-virus applications, so you could accidentally install a fake application and it can steal your personal information etc.

Apple iOS

iOS is an operating system for Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod. It is like the Unix operating system however its purpose isn’t for the Unix.

A benefit of iOS is that it has good performance. If you compare the specifications of an e.g. iPhone which runs iOS to Android, iOS would perform better even though the iPhone has a lower RAM and a slower CPU. Another benefit is that iOS is fast and very responsive as there is no delay whilst loading applications and this is a long-term feature as it doesn’t degrade over a year. Another benefit is that the operating system is very user-friendly as anyone can use it. There isn’t a learning curve, so everyone will find it easy to use. Another benefit is that the operating system allows you to control your privacy and security. An example is that applications are limited on your device so they cant do anything they want, you get to choose such as access to location, access to photos etc.

A drawback of iOS is that it isn’t open source as you can’t install applications from anywhere unless it’s from the App Store or if you have a developer’s certificate which you pay for which is costly. Another drawback of the operating system is that it is only meant for apple devices which means it can’t be accessed by other devices. Another drawback is that the operating system requires the best hardware so e.g. if you have an iPhone 4 and the latest OS firmware is 12 then you will be required to upgrade your handset to a device which supports the latest software which is expensive as the price for a device ranges from £600-£1200.

For gaming, both Android and iOS operating systems are well suited for it. However, it is more dependant on the hardware than the software, depending on what device you have means you’ll get faster speeds, better RAM, CPU etc. For example, for iOS, if you own the latest device, the iPhone XS and for Android, you own the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, these devices will be able to run games at a high fps, good graphics and high processing speeds. An example of this would be the game Fortnite. Fortnite is compatible with both iOS and Android and requires a lot of processing power and only certain devices can run the game. The better components your device has, the better the game will run. With android, the possibilities are endless as you can get devices which have PC RAMs etc. whereas for iOS, you only get what Apple decides.