Common Operating Systems

Chrome OS

An operating system that is designed around the Chrome web browser by Google. Chrome OS was released in 2011 on the hardware platform known as the Chromebook, which is considered one of the first Ultrabooks. Chrome OS is a true cloud-based operating system, since all its data is stored in the Google Drive cloud-based storage system. Since the release of the Chromebook, workstation-type devices called Chromeboxes have been released to market. Applications, which are really just web plug-ins, can be installed from the Chrome Web Store. The applications are written in HTML, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, which allow cross-platform support between Chrome OS and the Chrome web browser installed on a PC or Mac.

Android

Google created the Android operating system as a tile-based mobile operating system. Android was originally released in 2008 with HTC phones; the release of Android tablets followed in 2011. Android-based phones and tablets have become quite popular in the mobile operating system market. The popularity of Android is attributed to the application ecosystem that the Google Play store creates. The Google Play store enables users to purchase, download, and install applications, books, music, and video for the Android operating system

Microsoft Windows Tablet

In 2012, with the release of the tile-based Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft released the Surface tablet. The Surface tablet was originally released with an ARM-based processor, but today it is sold mainly with Intel-based processors to compete on the market with Ultrabooks (subnotebook computers). The operating system today is a full version of Windows 11 and is considered a mobile operating system.

Microsoft Windows Phone

Microsoft purchased Nokia in 2013 to produce a platform for the Windows Phone furnishing the tile-based Windows 8 operating system. After several years on the market, Microsoft ended the sales of Windows-based phones, and support for the Windows-based phones ended in 2019. The current Microsoft phone is called the Surface Duo and uses a native Android operating system to power the Microsoft 365 suite of applications. Both the original Microsoft Windows phone and the new Surface Duo are considered mobile operating system-based platforms.

Microsoft Windows

The Microsoft Windows operating system is one of the most popular operating systems adopted by business and personal users. Windows 11, the current version, is considered a workstation operating system.

iPadOS

iPadOS version 13.1 was released in the fall of 2019 for the Apple iPad. iPadOS is a variant of the popular Apple iOS with better multitasking features and a better home screen. This allows the Apple iPad to behave more like a lightweight laptop than a tablet.

Apple Macintosh OS

macOS is a Unix-based graphical operating system that provides a user-friendly interface for Macintosh computers. It incorporates a variety of features, including a sleek graphical user interface, a robust security architecture, and compatibility with a wide range of software applications. The operating system has gone through several major updates and revisions over the years, with each version introducing new features, improvements, and design changes.