Their list has increased greatly even over the past 5 years, especially due to the growth in the number mobile devices. What are their features, how do they differ, what are their advantages and disadvantages?

System classification

They differ from each other in various parameters, in particular, in the distribution of functions between computers. Classes operating systems and the networks themselves are:

• peer-to-peer;
• dual-rank (have dedicated servers).

There are computers that provide their resources to others. In this case, they act as a network server. The other one is their client. Computers can perform one or the other function, or combine them together. The operating system must meet the requirements of the buyer.

List of the most demanded systems

What are the most popular operating systems among users? The list looks like this:

• Windows.
• macOS.
• Android.
• Ubuntu.
• Linux and others.

There are also less popular ones. For example, Fedora or Back Track. But they are common in a rather narrow environment of specialists.

How to choose?

Users have different criteria. This is primarily the ease of use and the capabilities of operating systems. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. For one, the functionality is important, for the second - the interface, for the third - the guarantee of the safety of personal data. for PCs, the list of which is longer than those developed for mobile devices, differ from the latter in their requirements for the machine.

They offer their users a different level of comfort and innovative solutions, the choice is largely determined by the profession of a person.

Windows features

In recent years, new operating systems have appeared. The list of the most popular was supplemented by Android and IOS. However, it is the Windows operating system, as before, that remains the most popular in the world.

It is not only the most popular operating system, but also the most comfortable to use, great for beginners. Schoolchildren, office workers and people of all ages - almost all of them use Windows operating systems. Linux is traditionally used by specialized specialists.

pros

The key advantages of the popularly beloved Windows are the following factors:

• user-friendly interface;
• a large number of quality software, which can be installed free of charge;
• ease of installation and configuration;
• ease of server administration.

Cons

Most versions of Windows are paid operating systems. The list can be found in open sources. The high cost of software is a key disadvantage of Windows.

Another disadvantage is the instability and vulnerability of the entire OS family to various kinds of malware.

latest version

How much does Windows 10 cost? It all depends on what will be the version - home or professional. In the first case, the cost will be about 6 thousand rubles, and in the second - about 10 thousand rubles.

The last modification, like the previous one, can have a classic interface or the same as the G8, when you can switch icons on the desktop.

Answering with a natural answer to the question of how much Windows 10 costs, with the fact that the cost is considerable, we must warn you: do not rush to worry. After all, the license that is granted to the user does not have a final expiration date. But such software as online games, antiviruses or Office requires regular updates on a paid basis.

By tradition, if you have a previous licensed version of Windows installed on your computer, you can upgrade to the latest version for free.

Previous Windows OS

Despite the release of new software, there are those who are comfortable using the previous ones. Different versions of operating systems have their own advantages. Now, along with the "ten", many continue to use the "eights" and "sevens".

Windows 7 came out back in 2009. It included both developments from the previous Vista and completely new solutions that related to the interface and built-in programs. Some software was excluded - games, applications, a number of technologies and more.

"Seven" has several editions:

• initial;
• home basic;
• home extended;
• corporate;
• professional;
• maximum.

The next version of the operating system - Windows 8 was released in 2012. Its main innovation was the redesigned interface, which was more adapted to work on mobile devices. Today this product of the company is the most sold.

Legacy Versions

There are once popular, but now almost forgotten operating systems. You can start the list of them with Windows 95, it was from this version that many started working with a PC at one time. After it, the equally popular Windows 98 appeared. The next system, Windows 2000, came out at the turn of the millennium and was intended for use on devices with 32-bit processors.

However, Windows XP, which appeared in 2001, found real popularity. She only recently lost her championship to the seventh and eighth versions. For more than 10 years, it was XP that users preferred to install on their computers and laptops.

The next user version was Vista, but its functionality and features, according to experts, were extremely weak, which is why it did not gain popularity.

Other operating systems for computers

However, not everyone uses Windows. There are other operating systems for PCs. The list of them includes, in particular, MacOS, linux ubuntu and other modifications. They are mainly used by narrow-profile specialists.

Ubuntu was created from Linux. Its interface is very similar to Mac, but the overall style is similar to Windows. Users appreciated the ease of use, stability and the fact that the OS can be obtained for free. They also like the speed of the machine. But Ubuntu also has disadvantages - a small amount of software, games, as well as a complex administration scheme.

MacOS is an operating system developed by Apple for its computers. It's called a premium user product - it's different beautiful design, user-friendly interface and excellent multimedia features. But not everyone can afford this solution, because both the computers themselves and the Apple brand OS, compared to others, are incredibly expensive.

Also for PC, some use Linux. This system is free, stable, equipped with a large amount of built-in software. However, despite all these advantages, it requires high user skills. Therefore, Linux is most often installed by programmers, networkers and other specialists.

Work on mobile devices

As you know, more and more users prefer to use the Internet not from laptops and PCs, but from mobile devices - smartphones and tablets. There are operating systems that are designed specifically for them. The most common are Android and IOS. But Symbian has already lost its former popularity, since its capabilities can no longer cover the needs of users.

In the first place in quantitative terms, by a wide margin, is "Android". After all, if IOS is an OS created specifically for Apple devices, then the second one can work on smartphones and tablets of other brands, for example:

• Samsung.
• Sony.
• Lenovo and others.

"Android" has a user-friendly interface for its users, allows them to use high-quality software in in large numbers on a free basis. It is suitable not only for smartphones and tablets, but also for modern smart TVs. Devices based on this OS can be independently reflashed and make changes to their work.

But IOS, which is Apple's product, is considered more stable and much faster, providing customers with a good multimedia experience. But compared to Android, it is more expensive, since there is very little free software in it. And what is provided for money is very expensive.

Approximately 10 years ago and earlier, those who used the Internet on mobile phones, actively used the Symbian system, which was a joint development of the leading manufacturers at that time (Nokia, Motorola and others). It works even now, but, compared to IOS and Android, it is not able to cope with the tasks that the current owners of mobile devices set for themselves.

Other operating systems

In addition to common operating systems for computers and mobile devices, there are lesser known ones, many of which are based on Linux and require a high level of user skills. One such system is Fedora. It is highly stable, practically does not fall in terms of work. You can forever forget about freezes, sudden overloads and other problems.

There are also specific operating systems. For example, back track. This system is free and used by hackers all over the world. Most of the hacks were carried out thanks to Back Track. It was originally optimized to gain unauthorized access to download data from a particular computer.

People who are far from the computer sphere know little about the features of operating systems and their real number. On laptops or computers, they put "Windows", iPhones are equipped with their own software, and on other smartphones or tablets, "Android" is installed by default.

But there are other systems, they are basically not intended for a wide range due to their peculiarities. The choice of one OS or another depends primarily on the tasks that a person sets for himself.

Working with a computer every day, we often do not even think about the fact that with one keystroke we force millions of tiny elements to be activated, force the most complex logic to work, open and close many hidden programs and functions. We think about the operating system only when we lack functions, when new versions of already used “OSes” are released, or radically new systems are being developed. Then, chasing performance, novelty and convenience, we set new system, discovering new possibilities of the information world. But what is an operating system? How does it work and what does it actually do? What are the types of operating systems, how do they differ from each other? Which operating system is best for you? We will talk about all this.

Operating system

Let's start at the beginning and answer the first question. So, an operating system is a set software tools, realizing the processing and processing of user information to transfer it to the machine logic to perform the tasks. As a rule, the user imagines the operating system only as a visual shell. But he is mistaken ... though only half.
The structure of the operating system is a multi-layer cake, the bottom layer of which (like a cake) is the core. This is the basis, committed to keep everything under control, handle errors and commands. If you do not go into details of the structure of the PC hardware component, then this “cake” lies right on the “tray”, i.e. on machine logic. The top layer of the OS (like the creamy roses on a favorite sweet dish) is what the user sees: the images, the screensaver, the cursor, and so on.
This software cake includes:

• the cake (core) itself, consisting, as usual, of flour, butter, milk, etc. (that is, from auxiliary modules that together perform all the functions of the kernel);
• loader - impregnation for the cake, thanks to which the cream is kept on it;
• device drivers are butter, thanks to which our cake does not stick to one tray, but can be transferred to another, more beautiful or more convenient;
• the command processor is a layer of nuts between the cake and cream, thanks to which the cake is tastier and more interesting (and the operating system is faster and more functional);
• interface - those same cream roses.

In the general computing system of a computer, there is an “axis” between the built-in software of the computer (here it is, the BIOS and everything that makes the simplest commands work: addition, subtraction and register shift) and user software applications (here is the user area: applications, files, etc.).
What does the operating system do? In fact, she has a lot of work and she is always busy (because don't get mad at her when she makes you wait a few seconds, because she has a lot of things to do). She manages the input and output of data and distributes these and tasks to various devices, loads programs into the RAM and executes them, and generally manages the RAM, distributing it to the right and left of the various applications you run, depending on how it will be more rational to use her. The operating system also manages access to all data sources (removable and flash media, etc.), protects data and itself (from hackers, malware and user errors). All the same OS is also responsible for multitasking your PC, provides the ability to work on a computer for many users. If you think that without an operating system we would see only a black screen and white letters with numbers, you are wrong - we would not see this either, because the OS is already needed to display the letters.
What are the OS? This question is usually answered as follows: operating systems are Windows (this also includes DOS, as a rule), MacOS and its various versions and Unix-like ones. In fact, their difference is much more complicated and broader, however, this is a slightly different story (the history of the "Operating Systems" course taught to future network and system administrators). Well, we'll talk about those three that have already been named, having examined them a little closer.
And we will start by telling the reader the statistics on the use of operating systems. Studies have shown that as of October 2011, only 0.84% ​​of users preferred Unix-like systems, while Apple's operating systems (MacOS) use 7.18%. Most of the users of various Windows versions– 90.13% (the source of statistical data is the site statcounter.com). If we compare these results with those of 2010, we can see that users are moving from Windows to other systems in small steps.
And now that we have become information-savvy, let's return to the more familiar user assessment of the software offered to us today in the form of the latest versions of operating systems.

Operating system Windows 7

The newest operating system released by Microsoft is . Windows 8, announced this year, is not yet available to users, so we still can’t “feel” it, and we can only next summer, according to the developers.
The evolution of Windows. It all started, as we all understand, with DOS - with a simple blue screen and white letters. Probably, and until now this system has remained the fastest and most reliable, because it had a maximum connection with the hardware component and a minimum of visual effects. But it was not very functional, so various versions began to appear: the first Windows 1.01, then the "improved" Windows 2.03. On the first desktop PCs, we are more likely to remember Windows 95, then Windows 98, with which, for some reason, I still associate the nickname “stump” and the joke “about the old Pentium”. Windows Millenium made a lot of noise, from which a lot was expected, and then, which fell into the same position. Windows 7 today is considered a fairly stable and user-friendly system, and it's hard to disagree with this.
Installing Windows 7 does not take much time. Personal experience has shown that, if desired, a complete set of OS is located on the computer in 12-15 minutes, and if desired, less - in 25-30. During installation, the user receives fairly accurate indications of the ongoing processes and his actions, which is important for those who maintain their computer on their own, without deep knowledge in this area.


This version took a lot from the previous one - for example, demands on hardware resources. It does not promise, but still it will try to work if there is less than 1 GB random access memory for a 32-bit OS, a video adapter with a margin of less than 128 MB and supporting DirectX versions below 9. It will also require a reader and writer (here it will be up to you to decide whether it is a DVD adapter or a USB connector). It is also desirable to have 16 GB of free disk space in reserve, and preferably more.
System performance is high and this cannot but please the user who wants to do everything at once: to conduct network activity in 3 browsers, and to master the latest version, and something else. Compared to previous versions of Windows, performance has become stronger hard drive, slightly weakened graphics. But it is perfectly compensated by far advanced hardware. Considering the overall result, Windows 7 lost a couple of positions in favor of .
Interface"friendly" as the developers say. And the desktop is configured perfectly (in the figure below we can see the window for personalizing the virtual workplace).


Yes, and the whole system has significantly expanded the number of settings, which is why a more experienced user is only a plus, and a less “savvy” one is not a minus.


Now the sound, display, and much more are configurable. The operating system will certainly advise the user what needs to be done in order to increase productivity in a particular area of ​​​​its work, increase one or another of its indicators, or solve a sudden problem with the network or debugging the program.
stability and security. Those who always suffer from the inexperience of acquaintances and friends will be pleasantly amused by the fact that errors that occur due to incorrect input or other “oversights” of the user are much better worked out. This suggests that the system as a whole has become more stable. Again, I will give the readers of MirSovetov an example from personal experience: even left for 10 days without reboots and shutdowns, the system did not work slower or make mistakes more often.
In order to protect itself and the user, Windows 7 will try to check everything that can cause the slightest harm to the stability and security of the PC. From now on, all media, programs from unknown developers and files with activity unusual for this extension are subject to careful control. About each step, as before, the OS will report to the user. This will annoy many, but believe me, this is for your own safety.
Among the main advantages of the new "OS" should be noted:

• multi-level security (from the most sensitive, which will sound the alarm almost every time you launch a little bit of malicious software, to the most “calm”, notifying only that a certain program intends to make changes to the system);
• the presence of many new features, for example, the "Library" function, designed to replace the outdated "My Documents";
• extension of the main menu and "Toolbars".

Among the shortcomings was another new feature- "HomeGroups", which is designed to provide entire folders to users over the network. The feature is great, but it's not fully functional yet. Waiting, as they say! It is also unpleasant that Windows XP users will not be able to upgrade to Windows 7 in any way - they either have to reinstall the system altogether or use utilities that do not allow you to transfer already installed programs. Those. the desire for Windows 7 will somehow result in the installation of all software again. Also very frustrating is the fact that some device drivers just don't fit, even though they were promised to be inherited from Vista.
In general, the considered operating Windows system 7 Professional makes an extremely pleasant impression, although the jump from Windows XP directly to Windows 7 will be a shock for many.

Linux Mint 11

Most users of Unix-like operating systems are just some kind of “enemy camp” for Windows users. The former are not happy with Windows because of its “slowness, heaps of errors and generally eternal dampness”, while the latter consider Unix systems “something extremely incomprehensible and not user-friendly”. The points of view of both "opponents" are understandable, but whether they are wrong - judge for yourself.
History of Linux. The first Unix, however, were not too adapted for the average user, but then there were not so many ordinary users and they were all quite well “savvy” in terms of system administration. Therefore, you should not blame the developers for the lack of decent visualization, but you should praise them for their courage, because they continued to develop that branch of operating systems, which they did not really predict a good future for.
A distinctive feature of Unix systems has always been that they are not monolithic, like Windows: their kernel consists of many independent modules that can work independently. This allows you to "rebuild" the system right in the process of working with it, which, of course, is liked by those who are at least a little programming. Due to its atomicity, such an “axis” works better (read more stable and faster). The process of her work is somewhat similar to picking apples: who will pick up faster, a few gnomes or 1 tall and strong person? A person will simply climb one tree and collect the fruits in a basket, then on another. And the gnomes will divide the garden among themselves according to the principle “1 worker - 1 tree” and do all the work at once. At the same time, fallen apples will be collected (probably several gardeners will be thrown into "land" work), and those that have just ripened at the very top of the tree (the nimble and light gnome will easily reach the very top branch).
Most Unix systems do not have 1 manufacturer and developer, because its codes are open and can be rewritten by anyone and in any way - such a folk art. But some versions are still developed centrally.
The history of Linux itself began with an attempt to create a free operating system, as they say, "from scratch" as part of the GNU project. Linux took its kernel from Unix and came with a lot of bells and whistles. If the first versions of this OS were console and "incomprehensible" for most users, then the latter are already quite similar to Windows in appearance and functionality and even allow you to work with applications familiar to users of this OS.
The latest version has been reviewed. Linux Mint 11, released in May this year.
Installing Linux Mint is almost completely automated and will require user participation for only a few clicks: specifying the language, initial login password and network settings. Everything that happens during the installation, as well as what the user can or cannot do, the installation wizard notifies in "writing". The whole action will take no more than 10 minutes and will not require special knowledge and skills.


, like all Unix systems, Linux Mint has minimal. This OS will be enough for 512 MB of RAM, an integrated video adapter and 5 GB of hard drive memory. You will also need a DVD or USB. A 32-bit operating system will work fine on both 32-bit and 64-bit processors.
Performance, as always on top. You can only compare 64 and 32-bit versions of the system. Despite the fact that 64 bits is the initial adaptation to increase performance, and 32 is a guarantee of compatibility, the result will be quite ambiguous: with a 32-bit “version”, graphics are more productive, but in access to data (and hence to disks ) There is no equal to 64 bits. It's just a division of labor.
Interface more than friendly. A user who is confident in the “complexity and incomprehensibility” of Linux will simply amaze the number of different settings (starting with the background and screesaver and ending with setting up updates and installing software). Settings window " appearance» The OS is shown in the figure.


What does the user need from the operating system? Functionality, performance and completeness. From this point of view, Linux Mint will satisfy the requirements of any user. The fact is that the “axis” comes immediately with the minimum necessary set of drivers and software tools (by the way, the list of “built-in” programs has been changed, which we’ll talk about later). Access to all the richness of the operating system is carried out through the transformed menu, which personally reminded me of Windows 7.


Into the number already installed programs entered:

• browsers (especially Mozilla Firefox);
• an analogue of the MS Office software package, which, by the way, allows you to save documents in various formats (from txt to docx);
• programs for listening to music, viewing videos and images, as well as for editing the latter;
• programs for online communication (Jabber), etc.

In general, we can assume that the operating system is well equipped. It is useful for readers of MirSovetov to know that there are no problems with installing additional software, since most programs written for Windows successfully “become” and work perfectly with Linux Mint. By the way, as a rule, various “add-ons” are added to the programs that are familiar to us, designed to make life easier for the user and simplify information management, its search and processing (such as, for example, mint-search-addon, which is built into browsers for easier and convenient search data on different resources).
Linux Mint Security- this is, first of all, the security of all "non-Windows" systems, because most viruses are written specifically for Windows, but Linux and its brethren remain on the sidelines. But besides this, of course, there are many additional means designed to protect the user and his faithful informational friend. They work for this, configure network settings, etc.
System stability, as already mentioned, is ensured by its atomicity. The fact is that an error that occurred in one of the modules will not affect the others in any way. Therefore, the OS will quietly enter data about the error and its causes into the event log, reload this module and continue working, and the user will simply not notice anything at all. You will also not be able to observe constant error notifications ... Unix is ​​generally a very silent and balanced system.
The advantages to be noted are:

• in comparison with previous versions, the interface and customization have been significantly improved;
• the presence of a minimum set of software allows you to install the system and immediately start working with it;
• drivers and codecs supplied with the OS, as a rule, are suitable for any user's initial equipment;
• fixed OS incompatibility with Wi-Fi standard;
• Linux will perfectly become next to any other operating system and will not even think about starting to conflict with it, therefore it is not worth abandoning the already familiar “axis”.

Among the shortcomings, we note that we, the “generation fed on Windows”, will have to work hard to get used to Linux Mint, although not much. Installing Linux without constant access to the World Wide Web is not worth it, because the Internet for this OS is not only a source of information, but also a source of updates, additional software (which is extremely difficult to install from a flash drive, but from the Internet - nowhere is easier) and much more.
In general, the impression of Linux Mint is good, I will say even more: this operating system fully met my expectations.

macOS Lion 10.7.2

Let's start by saying that MacOS is not just an operating system, it's a lifestyle. Believe me, this phrase has a strong justification. The fact is that MacOS was originally adapted to “its own” hardware and works on the usual IBM for us, but it doesn’t matter very much.
History of macOS. Developed as a reliable and productive operating system, macOS initially surprised everyone by the fact that it worked exclusively on Apple computers. “It will be more reliable for her, and for you and me it will be calmer!”, the developers said, however, they nevertheless made a slight deviation from this rule and still allowed to put latest versions to any piece of hardware.
The first MacOS appeared in 1984, but something more or less similar to the beauty that we are used to seeing on Macs was invented only closer to 2000. At the same time, the first version was called very simply: System 1.0, but the pleasant ones are “Lion”, “Leopard”, etc. - this is the heritage of our times. In the process of its development, MacOS has gone from complete instability (yes, there were times when an error in the operation of 1 application simply turned off the entire system) to absolute reliability, multitasking and everything that we will talk about later.
Installing macOS Lion happens easily and naturally in the mode of dialogue between the user and his PC. In terms of time, we will regard it as 10-15 minutes, which is a good indicator. It's nice to see that already during installation, the operating system behaves extremely confidently and does everything in the promised time (she said that the files would be unpacked in 6 minutes and unpacked them in 6 minutes, so Windows users will understand me). MacOS Lion also shows its unique style already at this stage, as can be seen in the figure.


Hardware Requirements big, but justified. There is a strict requirement for the hardware manufacturer - only Apple. The OS will definitely ask you to put it on Intel processor i3 or even newer, and also remind you to make sure that she has in stock:

• at least 2 GB of RAM;
• 16 GB hard drive storage;
• a video card worthy of all its charms (I think at least 512 MB, although this is not indicated in the requirements).

macOS Lion Performance directly depends on what hardware stuffing you put at its disposal. But, in any case, readers of MirSovetov should not worry that resources will be used irrationally or that the processor supporting parallelism will suddenly be out of work. Multitasking is not just built in here - everything rests on it! In general, performance has improved compared to previous versions, but not much, because the user will not notice much difference.
macOS Lion Interface- this is what you can talk about for hours and days and write entire books. MacOS has always been beautiful. What is only the desktop.


"That's what a" friendly "interface is!" - said the developers and arranged everything that a user can urgently need in using a PC right at hand. It came out easy, fast and beautiful.
The user is allowed to set up everything that “his darling wants”, for which they implemented “ System settings”, not too large-scale, but very functional: all settings are categorized and clearly demarcated.


The operating system also comes with a set of software, so once you install it, you can get started right away. True, you will have to spend some more time getting used to all this luxury, speed and functionality, and most importantly, to the fact that there are no “familiar and beloved” (for Windows users) applications here and will not be, because with this OS most of them are simply incompatible. But there are their analogues, which are not inferior to them either in terms of convenience or quality (for example, the beloved Mozilla browser will easily replace the equally functional Safari).
macOS Lion Security is based on the fact that this OS was developed already in the era of the Internet, and therefore all possible problems are required here. Firewall and antivirus are also their own, and built-in, of course. Well, the rule “MacOS is a “non-Windows” system” also works successfully. Who will write a virus designed for only 6.5% of PC users worldwide? This is not to say that there are no viruses for MacOS, but there are few of them.
Stability provided by the Unix FreeBSD kernel, full system multitasking, hardware stability (do not forget about the requirement of the hardware platform from Apple) and many years of practice of the manufacturer and developers of the operating system. No matter how much I tried to drive this system out of myself, it only kindly informed me that such actions were beyond the boundaries of my capabilities and rights. You don't even have to worry about losing your data or your work - the autosave feature won't let that happen.
The advantages of MacOS Lion can be listed for a long time, but we will note only those that appeared in this version and are absolute innovations:

• control of visual components has become easier and more beautiful thanks to the Multi-Touch gesture system;
• now all windows can be full-screen, which greatly simplifies data management;
• many programs supplied with the OS have undergone qualitative changes, after which they have become more convenient, more functional and more beautiful;
• the cost of this version surprises everyone who knows the prices from Apple.

Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting that not all qualitative changes in applications turned out to be for the better. For example, the Dashboard (“widget”) has deteriorated, many users complain that the calendar has become inconvenient for them.
In general, the system is very pleasant: the unique style of MacOS has not been lost, great changes have been made, and the speed of work is impressive.

Comparing these operating systems would be inappropriate, and you can see it yourself, right? It is impossible to compare systems operating on different logics, produced and developed by different companies, and generally having practically nothing in common. The term "compare" from the point of view of operating systems is allowed within the same type of systems or in the case of choosing a system for oneself. If you're "comparing" them out of a desire to choose, my advice to you is to make a list of what's important to you in an operating system (such as reliability, lack of rigid hardware requirements, etc.) and consider all possible options.

Many of you may have heard that there are other operating systems for computers besides Windows.

In this article, we will make a brief overview of the most famous representatives of operating systems, and you may want to change your life by trying another OS.

Let's start with the most common.

Windows

Windows XP

This operating system appeared a long time ago, 3 Service Packs have already been released on it and there are a lot of pirated assemblies. There are so many of them that you can hardly find one that looks like XP released by Microsoft. One of the most famous such assemblies - ZverCD It is so famous that it is sold in stores, its main advantage is the ease of installation and the fact that the same disk contains many programs that will be useful to you, including K-Lite Codec Pack (a collection of codecs for viewing audio and video). It is also noteworthy in it that the drivers are installed themselves during installation. I digress a little from the main topic. So, the pros and cons of Windows XP.

Pros:

• The first and most important advantage of Windows XP is that you are used to it. You know how to use it, you almost never have problems with it, and if there are, then hackers, a weak computer, slow Internet are to blame - in general, everything except. Also, you are very used to its interface, which you will most likely be uncomfortable with others.
• The second, important plus - on release the majority of programs and games. Of course, they can be run on other operating systems, but it will be more difficult than on .

Minuses:

• Windows xp requires more resources than other operating systems, it does not have such an abundance of settings as on other systems.
• Programs for it are released mostly paid, that is, you will either have to pay or live knowing that you are using illegal software (of course, for many programs there are free alternatives that do not always differ greatly in functionality. They do not use them mainly from not knowing about them or because of the same habit).

Windows 7

Now let's stop thinking about the past and see what we have now. Windows 7 fixed a lot of the problems that Windows XP had, introduced a lot of new features that keep you happy all the time, and along with it came new problems.

Pros:

• There was improved visualization (ease of management, desktop widgets).
• Now, when you insert a device, Windows 7 will immediately install a driver for it from the Internet for you.

Minuses:

• Despite the changes, windows - it is windows. Therefore, the cons are the same as for XP.

linux

*nix is ​​a similar operating system created by student Linus Torvald. Significantly different from Windows, used mainly by programmers or for servers. But there are not only distributions for servers and programmers, but also for ordinary users, so why do most people use Windows, and not licensed? It's elementary, because, I'm not afraid to repeat myself, people are used to Windows, and some don't have time to relearn. We would really have to relearn if we lived, let's say in 2005. Now released a sufficient number of distributions to choose the right one. There is even one that has an interface identical to that of Windows. But we will focus on the most common and most suitable distribution for ordinary users - Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 10.04

I decided to take the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version, because it is significantly different from the previous ones - this is Ubuntu 10.04 lucid lynx. It solves the main problem of Linux "a - connecting to the Internet. Unlike previous versions, you don't need to configure anything in this one, you just install the Wicd program, click the "connect" button and you have Internet access. Internet access is very important on Ubuntu, updates are released almost weekly, also with each installation of an English-language program, you can check if there is a Russian language for it by going to the language settings and installing all updates there.Also, compared to previous versions, the number of problems has decreased. A new version Ubuntu comes out every six months, which is also important. Now let's move on to the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Ubuntu starts many times faster than Windows. The user can also be changed quite quickly.
• There is no need to install drivers manually, it is possible to connect different sources to update the system and applications.
• There will be almost no problems with downloading and installing applications; you don’t have to go to the browser to find and download the program, just go to one of the application management managers, find it there desired application and install it.
• Lots of settings. You can customize the system completely for yourself. The interface is customizable to the smallest detail. Also, there are many sites where all the configuration processes are described. One of them is Ubuntuology. It covers everything from installation.
• Some programs have been ported from Windows to Ubuntu. That is, you can safely use your favorite Opera / Mozilla Firefox / Google Chrome browser on Ubuntu, talk through your usual Skype and Mail.ru Agent.
• The absence of viruses. This means that you do not need to install an antivirus. There are dangerous terminal commands that you can accidentally run from the Internet, but it all depends on your care. Also, Ubuntu has a built-in Firewall.
• Codecs for audio and video Ubuntu offers to download as needed. That's why the Internet connection is so important.

Minuses:

• Setting up Ubuntu may seem complicated and time consuming, because most of the time it is. You can do without it, but to really enjoy Ubuntu, you will have to go through a setup process.
• In fact, there are few ported programs. In order for you to use the same programs as on Windows, you will have to install one of the programs designed for this (for example, Wine), configure libraries, fonts, install directx driver if needed. Or install Windows on virtual machine. In general, again setting.
• Not all programs can be installed from the app center. Some will have to be downloaded from the Internet manually, and some of them are not in deb format (Debian installation package, installation is similar to installing exe), but in tar.bz2 format, that is, in archives. You will have to unpack and install them manually.
• Fans of the game may have problems. Of course, there are a lot of games released on Ubuntu, but in order for you to get access to your Steam, for example, you will either have to install Windows in a virtual machine or configure Wine.

Also, after this version, versions of Ubntu 10.10 and 11.04 were released, but nothing new, except for the alternative graphical shell Unity, that could be added to the pros or cons did not appear.

MacOS

An operating system created by Apple Corporation. We will not analyze it in detail, we will describe it in general terms, without affecting individual distributions, since not everyone can afford it, only if it is a pirated copy, which is not so easy to install. The operating system itself is not sold separately, it is sold only with laptops and desktop computers Apple. One such laptop will cost you about 50,000 rubles, it is clear that there is an overpayment for the brand, but despite this price they are bought, so there is something remarkable in it.

Pros:

• Nice interface. Everything about it is designed to make it easy for you to use.
• The absence of viruses. Even if they are, there is a powerful protection system.
• Well-known programs that exist on Windows are usually released for Mac, because it is more profitable for developers than releasing them on Linux.

Minuses:

• Price. Due to the high price, it is less accessible than Windows and Linux.
• Not all games released for Windows are released for Mac.

Output

Ideally, of course, it would be to take a Mac, but because of its price, our target audience is unlikely to be able to afford it. As far as Linux is concerned, although Ubuntu is considered the friendliest for ordinary users, it is still Linux. There are enough cons. With Linux, there have always been and will be problems for ordinary users who are used to Windows. So if you don't want to say goodbye to your quiet life on Windows and move on to your hectic life on Ubuntu, then this system is for you. In other words, Ubuntu is an operating system that you will have to fiddle with if you use your computer for more than just surfing the Internet.

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Every day, working with a computer, we do not even suspect that with one keystroke, millions of the smallest elements are activated. Thus, we make the computer logic work. We make the opening and closing of various programs, listen to music and watch movies. But we don’t even think about what operating systems are?

Let's start with statistics. According to research, Unix (Linux) operating systems are used by about 1% of consumers. The Apple operating system (MacOS) is used by about 8%, and finally, the operating system of different versions of Windows is used by about 90% of users. But judging by earlier statistics, users are moving in short steps from the usual Windows to other operating systems.

Therefore, today we will look at what operating systems exist and analyze the 3 most popular ones.

Operating system Windows 7

Today, Windows 7 is quite stable and very easy to use, and it's easy to agree with this belief.

Hardware resources - 1 GB is enough for a 32-bit system. RAM, video card 128 MB. And versions of DirectX 9. You will also need a recording and reading device - a USB connector, or a DVD drive. A prerequisite is the presence of 16 GB. Hard disk space.

Performance is quite high, which is good news when using both browsers and Photoshop, or something else. Compared to previous versions of the operating system, the performance of the hard drive has become stronger, the graphics have slightly weakened. But the hardware makes up for it. In the overall result, it is believed that Windows 7 still lost a couple of positions in comparison with Windows XP.

The interface - as the developers say is quite friendly. The desktop lends itself quite well to settings, and the system, in general, has added a number of adjustments.

Security - errors that may occur during oversight are much better worked out. Added functions to protect the system from unauthorized entry, various firewalls and utilities, protection against the installation of third-party software. But, as before, there are a lot of viruses that can affect and harm the system.

linux

Most users of this OS are the enemy camp for Windows users. In many ways, they are not happy with the slowness and bunch of errors that occur in the Windows system.

Hardware Requirements - As with all such systems, Linux has fairly minimal requirements. For this system, 512 MB will do. RAM, integrated video card and five GB. Free hard disk space. You will also need the same USB or DVD input and output. A 32 bit system will work fine on both 64 and 32 bit processors.

Performance is top notch as usual. 32 bit system is a guarantee of software compatibility and good graphics, and 64 bit system is an improved work with data access.

The interface is more than excellent. It's amazing how many different settings there are. From this OS, the user needs performance, functionality and staffing, which Linux can easily cope with.

Security and stability - there are practically no viruses on this OS, but anyway, the system provides various means protection. As for errors, if they occur, the system will simply reload the module in which the error occurred and will continue to work, the user will not even know about it.

The disadvantages include a small amount of software compared to other operating systems, and it also requires a constant stay on the network so that OS updates can be installed normally.

macOS

The hardware requirements are quite high, but they are justified. Make sure you have in stock:

• Not less than 2GB. RAM.
• About 16 GB. hard drive.
• Video card at least 512 MB.

Performance - directly depends on the filling of computers, the more powerful it is, the better the performance will be.

The interface looks amazing. This OS has always been beautiful, what a desktop is worth. Everything that can be useful is always at hand, you can configure anything, the system settings are not so large-scale, but functional.

Security is well thought out. There are built-in antivirus and firewall. It cannot be said that there are no viruses on this OS, but there are quite a few of them.

Stability - strikes with its confidence. If you ask what is the best operating system, according to this indicator, then I will say MacOS with confidence.

Of course, there are a lot of operating systems, but the percentage compared to the above is so meager that they go out against the background of these giants.

So, let's sum up our topic - what operating systems exist. If you need stability and speed from an operating system, choose Linux or MacOC, if functionality, stop at Windows.