Logout

6.3.1 Define operating system.

Teaching Note:
Knowledge of any specific operating system is not required.

JSR Notes:

Ok, here’s a definition for you:

Operating System: A certain kind of system software that is required to run and operate your computer.  In fact, it is the interface between the hardware and the applications software or computers.  The most common operating systems on personal computers today are Windows XP, Vista, the Mac OS X, and all versions of UNIX. 

But an operating system is defined collectively, in fact by all of the various jobs that it does. 

But do keep in mind that there’s more to Window than Windows Explorer, and more to the Mac OS than the Finder application.  Both the Windows Explorer and Finder are application software that act as an interface between the user and the OS, rather than the OS which is an interface between the user’s applications and the hardware.  So the Windows Explorer and Finder are simply a very visible part of the whole Operating System.

So to get a more global understanding of what the OS is responsible for, go on to 6.3.2.