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II gimnazija Sarajevo

IB Middle Years Programme


Sarajevo, April 2012.



Computer Technology
Project
Title: Operating systems










Name: Selma Halilbegovic
Date: 14.04.2012.
Class: I
2
MYP

II gimnazija Sarajevo
IB Middle Years Programme
Sarajevo, April 2012.
My assignment is to make already given scheme of folders and files by our
teacher in one of operating systems we choose. We have to collect information about three
(or more) different OS, to tell the most important things about it, what is it able to do more
about its abilities, less about history. Also, when I present those information, I have to
choose one OS which is the most appropriate for us and to make certain number of folders
and files in it, to rename files, copy them and delete those. I will choose one technique in
designing part and present tips for making the scheme in that technique. In designing part I
will present three different techniques and compare them, while in planning part I am going
to describe step by step my creation and steps to make given scheme.
Many people have problems using computers. One reason may be that they do not
know how to use it, but the other one, and the most probable one is that they have fear of
them. People soon realize that it is not worth being afraid of those machines, and that you
can learn it easily. It is just the way how to communicate with computer. Computer is
machine made out of wires and electronic components; that is why it is called hardware.
But, computer cannot work without programs installed in it. The mail program which makes
it all work is operating system. Without operating system computer would be just wire and
other electronic things, waiting for something. It is operating system that starts that
something.
Operating system is program designed to run other programs on computer. In other
words, it is the program that controls all the applications and software. Other programs are
called application programs. Operating system is the most important program on computer,
and is responsible for control memory, recognizing input from external devices. It is in
charge to make sure that everything goes smoothly, without interruptments. Very
important assignment of operating system is security. They have to prevent unauthorized
users from accessing the computer system. Users can interact directly with the operating
system through a user interface (e.g. command language) or graphical user interface (GUI).
We have couple of types of operating systems: multiuser, multiprocessing, multitasking,
multithreading and real-time.
Multiuser OS is when multiple users run programs simultaneously. It is used usually
used and very important in mainframes, because when system fails, it can affect hundreds of
people. For example, operating system may need to handle numerous people attempting to
use a single printer simultaneously. The system collect requests and keeps print jobs
organized. Without multiuser OS, jobs would be all messed up, as well as printed pages.
Multiprocessing is when simultaneous processing of programs takes place. This OS is
common in large companies, that deal with multiple locations and lot of employees. This OS
can help you to manage to transmit data without worrying about location or number of
users. Creation of multiprocessing OS may be difficult and complex, but saves money for
bigger companies.
II gimnazija Sarajevo
IB Middle Years Programme
Sarajevo, April 2012.
Multitasking OS is system that is capable of running more than one program
simultaneously. Most of today's operating systems can handle running of many programs at
the same time. Multithreading operating system is when application can be run, even
though part of it is blocked. E.g. in certain web browser, there might be a photo loading in
one thread, but another one may work very well. Real-time operating system is system
which completes tasks very reliably. There are two types of real-time operating systems:
hard and soft. Hard OS is OS in which any output submitted after deadline is treated as
useless, while is soft OS late answer can be tolerated. E.g. ABS in the car is example of hard
OS. It is useless if providing deceleration is much late after pressing the pedal. We have
many types of operating systems, but the ones that I will take further look at are: Windows
XP, MS DOS, and Linux.
Today, there are many versions of DOS (Disk Operating System): DOS versions 5 and
6, DOS Shell... MS DOS provides us to communicate with computer, by giving us large
number of operating programs. Each of those programs has a task it has to do. We activate
that program by using DOS command. Some things that we can "tell" our computer to do
are: how and where to store information, how to display information on the screen, how to
handle information etc. In general, MS DOS is nothing but giving your commands to
computer by writing. The problem is that you have to know many commands in order to give
computer good instructions. Some of the commands may be simple, but there are more
complex ones as well. MS DOS is relatively old OS (released in 1981), but there are some
good things about it. It does not require much memory (entire OS can be placed on one
modern ROM chip), it starts up very quickly and uses little memory; also, it is easily available.
Also, the thing which may be good is that you can delete everything in MS DOS. Bad things
about MS DOS are that some of the programs are not available, so you have to be able to
write them, it does not support graphics nor Internet. This OS is not like Windows, which
people mostly use today. As it is already said, you have to write commands; therefore, you
need much time.
Linux is free software (free source code). You can download it for free, or buy it on a
low-priced CD. It was created in 1990 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is multiuser (more than one
user can be logged in to one computer) and multiprocessing (it allows several programs to
run at once) OS. Good thing about Linux is that it is little chance that it will get infected with
virus. It is because every Linux OS is unique, and people who create viruses create it for one
certain computer. No-matter that, this does not mean that Linux is immune to viruses. It is
not, but it has less chance to get affected. Last year, 48 000 new virus signatures were
documented for Windows, while only 40 for Linux. Linux is hard to learn, to install, use and
configure. Almost all applications written for it are free. However, it is stable and very
secure. As well as Windows, it comes with office suite called OpenOffice. Also, Linux updates
your software online including all application programs.
II gimnazija Sarajevo
IB Middle Years Programme
Sarajevo, April 2012.
Windows XP is the most frequently used operating system. Personal Computers run
Windows, while Machintosh computers run other operating system. Windows XP is
multiuser operating system, which means that you can create several accounts on it. Each
account has its own My Documents folder, where you can save your documents. Also, you
can customize your own workspace, without affecting other user's. In this operating system,
unlike DOS, multimedia and graphics have built great operating system, and are not treated
as afterthought anymore. Interface is very rich as well as support for graphics and
multimedia, so you can easily change some settings in operating system itself. This OS
supports most of hardware, without need for external drivers. Huge amount of software is
available for Windows XP, especially when it comes to computer games. Almost every
computer game is designed to work with Windows XP. Even though no computer is safe,
Windows has a high level of protection from defective software and virus attacks. It is
determined that this OS is the most reliable OS. And what is very important - availability of it
is very high.
From information about each operating system, we can deduce that Windows XP is
the best to do the project in it. Why? Because it is available on almost every computer we
use. It is easy to use as well. But, for me, as Windows user, it would not be interesting to do
the assignment in it. It would be much more interesting to do it in Linux or MS DOS, as those
are my other two choices. Linux is appropriate as I have never used it, but I have no
opportunity to have it on my computer. Also, Linux is virus-free, while programs on it update
automatically. What is with MS DOS? It is really old operating system, in contrast to Linux.
But why is it good? It is good because I can use it when my Windows get infected with virus
or so, so I can repair it with MS DOS. Also, the teacher explained us some basic commands
which are used in MS DOS. One thing which is very important is that you can simultaneously
work in MS DOS and in Windows, so you can see in Windows what you do in MS DOS. This is
why I will choose MS DOS to work in for my assignment.
Areas of Interaction connected to this project are Approaches to Learning, Human
Ingenuity, Community and Service. ATL because each topic is way of learning. Through
writing this essay we learn about operating systems. Human Ingenuity is in my opinion
obvious choice. Humans needed ingenuity to come up with operating systems, they had to
be reasonable to understand that they need those. Also, some commands such in MS DOS,
people logically invented and combined, and finally came up to more complicated ones and
got programs. Also, Community and Service is very much related to this topic, because every
operating system serves the community by helping them in finishing daily assignments,
some business and school reports, but those also run other aspects of finishing obligations
and researches using computer. Thanks to operating system, you have opportunity to search
the internet, listen to music, etc.
Wordcount: 1626.
References:
II gimnazija Sarajevo
IB Middle Years Programme
Sarajevo, April 2012.

1. WiseGeek. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-multithreading.htm April 15th, 2012.
2. Ubuntu Forum http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10610568 April 15
th
2012.
3. Tripod. http://lateblt.tripod.com/dosvslnx.htm April 15th, 2012.
4. Bukisa http://www.bukisa.com/articles/125029_advantages-and-features-of-windows-xp
April 16th, 2012.
5. Search Enterprise Desktop http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/MS-
DOS April 16th, 2012.
6. Linux Foundation http://www.linuxfoundation.org/ April 16
th
, 2012.

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