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An interface or graphical user interface (GUI) runs “on top” of an
operating system and you deal with pictures instead of typing in words.
Again, what does this mean? Well, to put it simply, most people prefer
working through graphics and clicking then having to remember commands that
they type in. The general populace is not too excited to look at a command
prompt and then having to know correct word (command) to type in to
accomplish what they want to get done. Whether they want to type a letter,
send an email or browse the web, the average user wants to be able to
accomplish the task-not to have a steep learning curve to get to this point.
Microsoft developed two branches of the Windows operating system toward
the end of the 1980s.
One branch was based on MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System or can be
called just DOS). This branch included DOS-based Windows 95-then Windows 98
–Windows 98 second edition and Windows Me (Windows Millenium). Of these,
actually Windows 95 and Windows 98, second edition are the best since they
are the most stable of this early group of Windows systems with the home
user as the target user. Even stretching into this new millennium, a lot of
people use Windows 98 second edition and, for an older computer, this is the
best choice for an operating system in Microsoft Windows arena. It is
relatively stable and very usable by average person with their personal
computer for word processing, networking, Internet, etc.
The second branch of Windows first became eventually Windows NT which
was developed around early 1992 This OS is different from Windows 98 second
edition and came out after an operating system called OS/2 which Microsoft
originally developed with IBM in late 1980s. Then, wanting to improve OS/2,
Microsoft hired Dave Cutler in 1988. Instead of improving OS/2, he developed
a new operating system and it became Windows NT 3.1 in 1992 At a conference
in 1992, Microsoft thought in terms of developing separately 2 lines of
operating systems, Windows NT and Windows 98.
Each line of Windows
operating systems had its own strengths and weaknesses which could lead to
frustration to some users (It did for me). The user at one point might need
to decide to have a Windows operating system that had more available drivers
and usually more popular programs as would be available for Windows 98 –but
Windows 98 was so crash prone especially over time, that this constant
crashing and freezing became a joke –but was no joke for the frustrated
user. Windows NT was more stable and good for advanced networking especially
but worked best and was most compatible with hardware of larger machines so
tended to be used my businesses. When Windows NT 4.0 came out is was
available as workstation and servers for businesses. Usually the employees
would use workstation version and network with NT servers. Individuals would
go to the more complicated Windows NT server machine for files,
applications, printing, and other needs or services. With servers, there
were needed organization and centralization of functions.
Windows NT developed into Windows 2000 (the name given instead of
NT5) on that year. This operating system was more geared like NT to business
use. There was one client (for the individual) and 3 server versions.
Windows 2000 did have restrictions on users even at workstation level-for
use and individual-and sever level is quite involved. Still the average user
could manage with Windows 2000 since the basic interface (the look of it)
was similar to Windows 98 second edition, but more complexity lay beneath.
Still, this operating system was not the best for the average home user
because of restrictions on user, unneeded complexity for most, not
compatible with many popular programs that would run on Windows 98, second
edition, and driver problems. It was more stable then Windows 98, second
edition.
The two lines of Windows, each with their strengths and weaknesses-and
the weaknesses in the DOS-based Windows like the freezing in Windows 98,
second edition --and Windows Me was worse and the limitations for average
user of Windows 2000-finally a better operating system came up for the home
user beginning in 2001, Windows XP with the two versions Windows XP Home and
Windows XP Professional (for business users). The Windows NT/2000 line and
the Windows 3.1/95/98/ME finally merged into a decent operating system.
Hooray!
With Windows XP, there was less of the frustrating freezing and being
forced to reboot of the DOS-based Windows line: i.e., more stability. Still
the look was not that different from basic Windows but it was more slick
looking and you had more choices to fine-tune the desktop to your liking.
With Service Pack 2 added to Windows XP, there was finally more
security-which was a major problem that also plagued Windows all along.
The current OS (2009) is Windows
Vista with 4 possible versions to buy (Home Basic, Business, Home Premium,
Ultimate). Windows Vista has a lot of useful programs built in like Windows
Movie maker and Windows DVD Maker, Windows Photo Gallery, a mail client
(Windows Mail) which is an upgraded Outlook Express and others. For the home
user Home Premium is the best.
Two very significant problems with Windows Vista is that it runs quite
slow and requires a lot of computer resources (fast processor and lots of
memory), and the security is severely overdone. Particularly annoying is
User Account Control which pops up to confirm if you want to do even some
small change.
Windows 7 is due out October 2009. It is supposed to run significantly
faster and not as much overkill on security.
Basically, as
any long time user of Windows will know, Windows is windows and once you’ve
obtained the basic skills, it’s easy to learn any new version.
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