OPERATING SYSTEMS
Every computer uses an operating system.
The operating system nowadays usually presents the user with an "interface" through which he or she can start programs.
This interface is called "gui" - it stands for "graphic user interface".
Most people nowadays use a version of Windows from Microsoft.
The most recent version of this system is Windows 10.
In the past, the best known versions of Windows have been Windows 3.1, Windows
95, Windows 98 and XP and Windows 7.
Windows has plenty of software written for it, and that most people use it, because
it is preinstalled on the computers they buy. That means that when you run intoproblems,
you can probably find someone who can help you, often at a cost.
There are drawbacks.
In recent years, Windows systems have been the victim of many virus attacks. The system has proved quite insecure. Over 70,000 viruses have grown up and these can damage the installation.
Many use Apple computers - also called McIntosh.
These computers are virtually virus free, and have a reputation for being very stable.
The latest version uses Unix in order to run. Apple now also runs on intel chips,
and it is possible to run Apple and Windows on the same computer.
Apple computers are especially suitable for those who work with advanced graphics and design, but their reliability have also attracted many users.
Apple were among the first to use a "gui"; an idea which was then used in Windows systems.
Increasingly popular is Linux.
Linux is also very reliable. Software choice is more limited than for Windows, but there is probably a wider range of free software available for Linux. Linux is often open source software. That means that the "code" is open, and that volunteers can help improve. This has led to the system being very stable indeed. More information can be obtained here.
Linux is based on Unix, a commercial operating system developed in the 1970s.
Linux is not just one system. You can get many different "distributions" and unfortunately, software is not always compatible across the board. But it is safer than Windows, and often easier to use.
The best known "distributions" are Red Hat/Fedora,
Mint, Ubuntu,
Debian and SUSE,
and Manjaro.
There are other systems to choose from, including BEOS, Ricsos, and Solaris.