Download Operating systems

Operating systems
Complete the text with words from the box
system software – software – application software
The set of program instructions that tell the computer what to do is the ? . It can be divided into two
categories: the ? which includes all the programs that manage and control the basic functions of a
computer and the ? which actually is the programs that the user creates or buys for his own needs, to
perform a specific task.
Underline the following terms which are related to software
motherboard – word processor – operating system – screen – RAM – video games, Linux, Microsoft
Windows, CPU, sound card ?
Make a list of software products that you use
It is the most important program that runs on a
computer. Every general-purpose computer must
have an operating system to run other programs.
Operating systems, in general, control the
functions of a computer and the running of
application programs. They perform basic tasks,
such as recognizing input from the keyboard,
sending output to the display screen, keeping
track of files and directories on the disk, and
controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives
and printers.
For large systems, the operating system has even
greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a
traffic cop – it makes sure that different
programs and users running at the same time do
not interfere with each other. The operating
system is also responsible for security, ensuring
that unauthorized users do not access the system.
Operating systems can be classified as follows:
 multi-user: Allows two or more users to
run programs at the same time. Some
operating systems permit hundreds or
even thousands of concurrent users.
 multiprocessing: supports running of a
program on more than one CPU.



multitasking: allows more than one
program to run concurrently.
multithreading: allows different parts of
a single program to run concurrently.
real time: responds to input instantly.
General purpose operating systems, such
as DOS and YNIX, are not real time.
Operating systems provide an operating platform
on top of which other programs, called
application programs, can run. The application
programs must be written to run on top of a
particular operating system. Your choice of
operating system, therefore, determines to a great
extend the applications you can run. For PCs, the
most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2
and Windows, but others are available too, such
as Linux etc.
Some software is designed to run under specific
operating system, it is therefore vital to assess
the operating system before buying it. An
operating system is stored on disk and has to be
booted into the internal memory (RAM).
Answer the following questions.
1. Why is it important to assess the operating system before buying it?
2. Which are the main functions of an operating system? ?
3. How are operating programs related to operating systems? ?
?
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb.
run – perform – boot – access – function
1. Some users are denied to ? the system until it is unlocked.
2. Operating systems ? basic tasks.
3. Many microcomputers ? under the control of DOS.
4. You have to ? an operating system into RAM.
5. Operating systems control the ? of the computer.
Fill in the blanks with the following words or phrases.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
the management and coordination
a number of services
between hardware and applications
applications
the operation of the hardware
An operating system is an interface ? it is responsible for ? of activities and the sharing of the
limited resources of the computer. The operating system acts as a host for ? that are run on the
machine. As a host, one of the purposes of the operating system is to handle the details of ? . This
relieves application programs from having to manage these details and makes it easier to write
applications. Almost all computers, including handheld computers, desktop computers, supercomputers
and even video games consoles, use an operating system of some type. Operating systems offer ? to
application programs and users.
Can you identify the following operating systems?
? : It was developed by Sun Microsystems in 1996 for use in embedded systems (i.e. combinations of
circuitry and software built into other products).
? : a high performance, yet completely free, Unix-like operating system launched by Linus Torvald in
1991, is suitable for use on a wide range of platforms. It is the most rapidly growing of any major
operating systems.
? : a single-user, single-tasking operating system that uses a command line (i.e. text only) user
interface. It was launched by Microsoft in 1981 and used on the first personal computers, which were
introduced by IBM in the same year. In spite of the very small size and relative simplicity, it is one of the
most successful operating systems that have been developed to date.
? : the successors to the very popular MS-DOS, it was announced in 1983, and the first version was
released in 1985.
? : it was released by Apple Computers, Inc, in 2001. The pioneering version was introduced with the
first Macintosh computers in 1984.