Understanding Operating Systems - Computer Basics - GCF LearnFree.org

Linux users account for less than ____ of the operating systems market as of January 2013.

1%

Examples of mobile operating systems include ___________________.

Apple iOS, Windows Phone, and Google Android.

The process that occurs when you press the power button to turn your computer on. During this process (which may take a minute or two), the computer does several things: •It runs tests to make sure everything is working correctly. •It checks for new hardware. •It then starts up the operating system.

Booting

Modern operating systems use a , _________ or GUI (pronounced "gooey"). A GUI lets you use your mouse to click on icons, buttons, and menus, and everything is clearly displayed on the screen using a combination of graphics and text.

Graphical User Interface

If you're buying a new computer or upgrading to a newer version of Windows, you can choose from several different editions of Windows, such as ________________________.

Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate

Linux is named after _____________, who created the Linux kernel in 1991. The kernel is the computer code that is the central part of an operating system.

Linus Torvalds

______________ is a family of open-source operating systems, which means they can be modified and distributed by anyone around the world. This is different from proprietary software like Windows, which can only be modified by the company that owns it (Microsoft). The advantages of Linux are that it is free, and there are many different distributions (or versions) you can choose from.

Linux (pronounced LINN-ux)

________ is a line of operating systems created by Apple Inc. It comes preloaded on all new Macintosh computers, or Macs. All of the recent versions are known as OS X (pronounced O-S Ten), and the specific versions include Mavericks (released in 2013), Mountain Lion (2012), Lion (2011), and Snow Leopard (2009)

Mac OS

Apple also offers a version called _______________, which is designed to be run on servers.

Mac OS X Server

___________ such as phones, tablet computers, and mp3 players are different from desktop and laptop computers, so they run operating systems that are designed specifically for _____________. Examples of these operating systems include Apple iOS, Windows Phone, and Google Android. Operating systems for ___________ generally aren't as fully featured as those made for desktop or laptop computers, and they aren't able to run all of the same software. However, you can still do a lot of things with them, like watch movies, browse the Web, manage your calendar, and play games.

Mobile devices

An operating system which can be modified and distributed by anyone around the world.

Open-source operating systems

The most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer's memory, processes, and all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's "language." Without it, a computer is useless.

Operating System

An operating system which can only be modified by the company that owns it. Windows own by Microsoft is an example of this type of operating system.

Proprietary operating system

Versions of the Linux operating system.

Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora

Microsoft created the _____________ operating system in the mid-1980s. Over the years, there have been many different versions of Windows, but the most recent ones are Windows 8 (released in 2012), Windows 7 (2009), and Windows Vista (2007). Windows comes preloaded on most new PCs, which helps to make it the most popular operating system in the world.

Windows

Before GUIs, computers had a ____________, which meant the user had to type every single command, and the computer would only display text.

command-line interface

Once the operating system has started up, it manages all of the software and hardware on the computer. Most of the time, there are many different programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your ______________________. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each program gets what it needs. Without the operating system, the software wouldn't even be able to talk to the hardware, and the computer would be useless. In the image below, you can see how Windows 7 appears after starting up.

computer's central processing unit (CPU), memory, and storage

Most servers run Linux because it's relatively easy to __________.

customize

Operating systems usually come __________ on any computer you buy. Most people use the operating system that comes with their computer, but it is possible to upgrade or even change operating systems.

preloaded

The latest version of Microsoft's operating system for PCs and tablets.

Windows 8