India Broadband Forum

Preeti_20

Ok, i dont know too much about the different variety of OS systems, I've only used once since ive been using computers and that's Windows!

Can anyone please explain what is the difference in all the OS Systems, their advantages and disadvantages!

cool_techie_tvm

Please checkout Operating system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia particularly Operating system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Its a pretty long and exhaustive read.

smoothvibes

ya preeti you can check that otherwise if you want to know the basic difference then you can check some threads in linux OS section or post here, will try our best to explain

if you want to know about linux then please check this guide http://www.indiabroadband.net/linux/...ted-linux.html (Guide: Getting started with Linux)

Preeti_20

Thanks Cool Techie, but i was hoping something from the members, so that first hand opinion is given and it doesnt have to be so long, short and simple will do, as just need basics, and the fact that the info is in the forum, so for others to see aswell!

Thanks smoothy!

cool_techie_tvm

Ahh i admit, it was a bit shabby of my part to post the wikipedia links. Must have searched for something from the forum just like the one added by India Broadband Forum - View Profile: smoothvibes

nilact

Hi,

There are different type of Operating Systems:

1. For Servers and For Desktop
2. GUI O/S and GUI less O/S
3. O/S for Mobile, PDA etc.

For Servers and For Desktop

Server O/S are having capabilities of handling requests from multiple clients (What we do here at IBB ) and many other functions for performing certain operations like managing traffic, memory etc.

Desktop O/S are what we use at our home, offices etc. Though it provides much of the functionality but not that much capable of performing server operations. Though one can make his own PC server but it requires to change configuration (Hardware and Software).

GUI O/S and GUI less O/S

Best Example of GUI O/S is what everyone uses Windows XP. It can be both server and Desktop O/S.

Best Example of GUI less O/S is Linux, though it's having GUI now ( Ubuntu, Open Suse, Rad Hat, Fedora) but mostly uses for Unix server, Mainframes, SuperComputer. This kind of O/S are more powerful than GUI Base O/Ss in terms of maintainability, configuration, System Recovery etc.

O/S for Mobile, PDA

This allows you Desktop Experience, you carry the world in your hand.
Recently Google revelaed their O/S for mobiles and PDA called Android which is considered to be as powerful as their Search Engine. Windows already have their O/S Windows CE or Windows Mobile (available with HTC and all microsoft PDA) for Mobile and PDAs (which is also called Symbian O/S).

you all are aware of Iphone which is Apple product...

That's it, leaving rest of the thing for others..and let me know if i made any mistake..

DM111PUSP

No mistake Nil.. very nice and informative post..
rep+

nilact

Thank you so much..

Again you can differentiate b/w O/S according their bit requirement like We've Windows XP of 32-bit edition and 64-bit also. Both provides the same functionality but there is performance difference..

Others can also share their view..would love to know your views..

DM111PUSP

Is the 32-bit and 64-bit represent the word size of the processor?
do you really gain noticable increase in speed with the 64-bit edition.

ag_prasun

i had the 64-bit vista in my laptop first,as the microsoft site suggested it would be best.i did not find any difference in performance.since then, i am using the 32-bit edition as many drivers were not compatible with the 64-bit edition..

powerdoc

To appreciate the better performance of the 64-bit editions,
I read somewhere that it is recommended to have at least 4 gb RAM.
Otherwise the change will not be worth it, considering application & driver compatibility.

cool_techie_tvm

If u have 4GB RAM and run on Windows Vista 32bit, the 4GB will be listed as 2GB-3.5GB. This limitation is removed by the 64bit Vista. It recognises 4GB and above of installed RAM.

ag_prasun

i ran the 64-bit version on 2gb ram.but i never felt any difference.in fact,the site checked my system and recommended that 64-bit os may improve my performance.

nilact

Computer (Processor) stores data in binary format, in 1s and 0s such as this random sequence 0101001110. Obviously 64-bit processor can store more data than 32-bit processor, as it requires Single Cycle to fetch some data rather than 2.

Now the question is how it can affect you, the average pc owner?
The largest benefit will go to academic institutions and private companies, where large calculations are being performed, huge databases are being accessed, and complex problems are being solved.

The true benefits of this set up don’t come from the amount of bits, but by the improved structure of the 64 bit vs 32 bit processor's older structure. A 64-bit processor is made with more advanced silicon processes, have more transistors, and faster speeds. This is currently where the true benefit of switching to a 64-bit processor lays.

But problem is that most of the softwares are developed for 32-bit operating systems and are not compatible with 64-bit operating system. But market is changing..so let's hope that we can take it's full benifit..

ShAdOwCoN

I ll try to explain it in very simple non-technical terms

There are many operating systems for computers offered by many different companies .... some of them are free and some of them cost money ..... Uptill now Windows is the most popular OS .... But Linux is slowely gaining a majority stake in the market mainly because its free ! and its almost as good/better than Windows ....opinions vary

The difference in Linux and windows is that windows is almost fully GUI based and open source ....GUI stands for Graphical User interface ... Like the name suggests The User Interface is Graphical[images/pictures like] ......I mean in GUI u can open a file by pointing and clicking on the picture of that file[icon] while in command line u ll have to use text commands .....

Linux uses both GUI and command line interface ....

Mac OSX is an OS released by Apple ...... pretty much similar to windows [GUI]... but u need a Mac PC/Notebook for installing Mac OSX , so its not very popular ....But it does have a small dedicated fanbase [MacBoys]

Microsoft Windows
Linux
MacOS-X
Sun Microsystem's Solaris
others



This is how a Command Line interface looks .... u have to perform all functions using commands

Disadvantage
have to remember the commands
can be difficult for Newbies
Advantage
Gives you a lot more control over ur PC

nilact

It was before and now Apple has announced support to Intel so that you can install Mac O/S on your normal PC also but you require it's driver and need some configuration and installation.. I think latest one was Leopard.

ShAdOwCoN

i heard that news ... Thats quiet a recent devolopment

Mac OSx has nt still released any OS that r compatible with Intel yet

ag_prasun

there is a version of osX that can be installed with vista.i tried it and it worked perfectly,except that networking did not work with it.when i turned the wifi switch on,it opened the keyboard settings everytime.
there was an option of choosing os at boot..
care to throw some light..

ShAdOwCoN

i know theres an illegal mod version that can install with Intel mobos .... But legally there isnt any yet ....

@ag_p
CAn u tell us the exact version u r referring to ?

ag_prasun

since you are enquiring, i hope its not goin 2 b another "general discussion"??

its called iatkos