Bascuguin, John Jacob E.

IT22FB5

Make a research about different operating systems. Identify the advantages and disadvantages.
Windows
The Windows operating system (Windows OS) for desktop PCs are more formally called Microsoft
Windows and is actually a family of operating systems for personal computers. Windows dominates the
personal computer world, running, by some estimates, more than 90 percent of all personal computers – the
remainder running Linux and Mac operating systems.
Windows provides a graphical user interface (GUI), virtual memory management, multitasking, and support
for many peripheral devices. In addition to Windows operating systems for personal computers, Microsoft
also offers operating systems for servers and mobile devices.
The following image indicates the total market share of all desktop operating systems (November, 2017).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows OS

Advantages:
Support for all hardware: As windows OS is used by 95% of users so most of the hardware vendors make
drivers for windows.
Ease of use:
All versions of Microsoft Windows have something common in it which makes users easy to shift from one
version to another. Windows 7 users have no difficulty in migrating to Windows 10 because most of the
features of Windows 10 are the same as windows 7. The user interface of windows is also easy to use than
UNIX and MAC.
Software support:
Windows platform is best suited for game and software developers. Windows have large number audience
so developers prefer to make utilities, games and software for windows OS. Linux users cannot make
windows apps so it is better to use windows for developing apps.
Plug and play feature:
Most hardware can be detected automatically by plug and play feature. You do not need to manually install
the hardware but it is ready to use when attached e.g. webcam, keyboard, mouse, mobile device etc.
Desktop and touch screen:
Windows 10 is made for both touch screen devices and desktop computers. The user interface of Windows
10 is made in such a way that it works better for any type of windows device.
Disadvantages of Windows operating system
Virus attacks:
Windows have a high amount of hacker attacks. The hackers can easily break windows security, so windows
users are dependent on anti-virus software and have to pay monthly charges to companies to protect their
data. Also, windows users have to update OS to keep up-to-date with security patches.
Most of the software is paid:
Most windows programs are paid e.g. games, graphics software (Photoshop), download manager (IDM) and
other popular software are paid. You have to buy the software or pay a monthly fee to use them.
Rebooting a system:
If your system becomes slow in performance then you have to reboot it. If you load many programs at the
same time then your system slows down and hangs up. The only solution for this is to reboot.
High price:
Linux OS is open source and is free to use for everyone but windows OS has paid license and you cannot
use windows OS legally free. The cost of buying a copy of windows OS is high as well. You also need to buy
other Microsoft software e.g. MS Office to do regular office work on the computer.
High computer resources:
If you are installing windows OS then your computer should have high ram capacity, a lot of hard drive space
and good graphics card. This is because of features that are used in windows. If you want to install graphics
software i.e. Photoshop then 16 GB of ram is recommended.
Technical support:
Windows support is not good for most users. Only some large organizations can get good support from the
windows team. Common users have to search for forums to get their problem solved.
Linux
Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system, Linux is
software that sits underneath all of the other software on a computer, receiving requests from those programs
and relaying these requests to the computer’s hardware.
In many ways, Linux is similar to other operating systems you may have used before, such as Windows, OS
X, or iOS. Like other operating systems, Linux has a graphical interface, and types of software you are
accustomed to using on other operating systems, such as word processing applications, have Linux
equivalents. In many cases, the software’s creator may have made a Linux version of the same program you
use on other systems. If you can use a computer or other electronic device, you can use Linux.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Linux OS

Advantages
FREEDOM!
Most Linux distros are free, users do not need to pay for a copy, but this is only one aspect of freedom
enjoyed by Linux users! In addition, Linux distros can be freely downloaded and legally installed on as many
computers as you want and freely (and legally) given to other people. Because most distros are open source,
you have access to the source code and can customize Linux to be whatever you want it to be; you can even
create your own distro if you like. Linux is easy to install! In many instances, it is actually easier to install
Linux to your computer than Windows.
LINUX IS VERY STABLE!
Linux systems rarely crash, and when they do, the whole system normally does not go down. The “blue
screen of death” familiar to Windows users is not a worry for Linux users.
LINUX TYPICALLY DOES NOT SLOW DOWN OVER TIME!
Unlike Windows, Linux does not easily become bogged down with spyware, viruses, trojans, etc., which can
greatly reduce a computer’s performance. Also, because Linux does not have a registry like Windows, it is
not plagued with registry errors which can slow down a computer over time. Finally, the hard drives on
Windows (especially Windows XP and older) computers need to be defragmented on a regular basis in order
to maintain faster performance, due to being formatted in NTFS. On the other hand, because Linux is
normally formatted in a different way using ext4 among others, there is no need to defragment a Linux hard
drive.
Disadvantages of Linux:
MANY WINDOWS PROGRAMS WILL NOT RUN IN LINUX.
iTunes, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and many other Windows programs will not run natively in Linux.
The good news is that there are decent ways around most of these problems. For example, music libraries
can be managed with an iPod using programs such as Amarok, Banshee, or Rhythmbox in Linux. Mozilla
Firefox and Google Chrome are outstanding Internet browsers which can be used in the place of Internet
Explorer. It is also possible to run iTunes in Linux using Wine, VirtualBox, or Parallels, though it is difficult to
have good results. LibreOffice and OpenOffice are excellent office suites which can be used in the place of
Microsoft Office, but while overall compatibility in both suites is good with Microsoft Office formats, it is not
perfect. Click here to learn more about Linux equivalents to software commonly used in Windows.

THERE IS A SMALLER SELECTION OF PERIPHERAL HARDWARE DRIVERS FOR LINUX.

There is a smaller selection of peripheral hardware drivers (for printers, scanners, and other devices) in Linux
as compared to Windows, though many new Linux hardware drivers are constantly being added. Closely
related to this issue is the fact that not all Linux distros work with all sets of computer hardware, so a person
may need to try more than one distro to find one which works well with his/her computer. When it comes to
printers, some manufacturers offer better Linux support than others; for example, HP offers excellent printer
support for Linux. Click here to learn more about Linux hardware compatibility.

THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO LINUX.

Despite this, most Linux distros, especially the major ones, are very intuitive and user-friendly. Also, the
desktop environments in Linux are in many ways similar to Windows in their appearance. One thing which
should be emphasized is that there is also a learning curve for Windows XP users who switch to a newer
version of Windows. Click here to learn more about the major Linux desktop environments and to see pictures
of them.
Mac OS
Mac OS is the computer operating system for Apple Computer's Macintosh line of personal
computers and workstations. A popular feature of its latest version, Mac OS X, is a desktop
interface with some 3-D appearance characteristics. OS X has a modular design intended to make
it easier to add new features to the operating system in the future. It runs UNIX applications as
well as older Mac applications.
Mac OS comes with Apple Computer's iMac and Power Macintosh line of computers.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mac OS

ADVANTAGES OF MACOS:
Simple but powerful user interface:
Both macOS and Windows have easy-to-use graphical user interface or GUI. But OS X offers a
more straightforward approach to computing. Those who are accustomed with the GUI of iOS
found in iPhone and iPad will find macOS somewhat familiar.
Fewer viruses and other security issues:
Far fewer security issues exist for macOS nonetheless. Some Mac users get by just fine without
any antivirus apps. This means that this OS is less susceptible to viruses and malware than
Windows.
Seamless integration between OS and hardware:
Apple is both a software developer and a device manufacturer. This means that they have
optimized the macOS to work seamlessly with all of the hardware components of a Mac device.
It also ensures that all hardware components work hand-in-hand.
Comes preloaded with productivity apps:
Standard Windows OS usually does not come with Microsoft Office Suite. Both are sold
separately most of the time. In addition, new Windows-based laptop and desktop computers
come with random software or apps that merely bloat the entire system and external storage.
Effective and unparalleled multitasking feature:
Multitasking is another notable advantage of macOS. Mac computers have hardware
specifications designed for multitasking. And because macOS integrates seamlessly with Mac
hardware components, the overall operation is smooth and responsive.

Integration with other Apple products:

One of the strengths of Apple is that most of the products under the brand are completely
integrated. The iPhone or iPad works best with a Mac computer. This advantage of macOS is
exclusive for Apple users—or those individuals with several Apple devices.
DISADVANTAGES
Mac computers are considerably expensive:
Take note that the base model of a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina retails at $1,299.00 while
the 15-inch base model retails at $1,999.00. The base model of the low-spec Mac Mini sells at
$499.00 while the base model of the flagship Mac Pro sells at $2,999.00.
Inflexible when it comes to hardware upgrades:
A standard Mac computer cannot be upgraded easily because most of its hardware components
are integrated both at a design and engineering levels. This is a macOS disadvantage that is
unacceptable for hobbyists.
Lack of game titles and advanced gaming experience:
There are more game titles available for Windows than in macOS. This is another noteworthy
disadvantage of macOS. Some titles from independent producers that have gained large
following are unavailable for Mac computers.
App ecosystem is still lackluster:
Windows has more software or applications. Developers, especially small and independent
software companies, often consider building software for Windows first because of greater
reach.