Chapter 5

• Microsoft Windows

  is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft Corporation

  proprietary - need a license

  • user friendly interface (gui-based) - uses visual elements to interact with the environment, icons buttons etc.

  -broad compatibility with software and hardware
• Windows 1.0 to Windows 1.x -

  -provided a gui for ms-dos(cli based) enhance ux
• Windows 2.0

  introduced better graphics support and extended memory.

  keyboard shortcuts

  • control panel
• Windows 3.0

  introduced program manager and file manager

  more colors and better graphics

  • became the first commercially successful version of Windows
• Windows NT(New Technology) 3.x

  -diff win 3.x

  target user:

  win 3.x - home users and consumers

  win nt - workstations and servers

  architecture

  win 3.x - 16bit architecture/instruction set with limited memory addressing capabilities

  win nt - 32bit operating system/instruction set, allowing for better memory management and improved performance
• windows 95

  introduced iconic Start menu

  plug and play hardware support, preemptive multitasking and long filenames

  • internet explorer was bundled for the first time, but it required more manual configuration and offered a less sophisticated experience
• windows 98

  -built upon windows 95, offering internet integration, USB port/USB support better driver compatibility, and improved multimedia features
• Windows ME (Millennium Edition)

  built upon 98

  traget audience: home users, it brought features like system restrore

  • however, it was plagued by stability and performance issues. criticism
• Windows 2000

  for business use. merged consumer and business lines

  • improved stability, NTFS file system improvements, and active directory
• Windows XP

  highly successful version

  introduced Luna Visual Style (interface) and significantly improved networking capabilities

  • several service pack updates to resolve issues/bugs
• Windows Vista

  glass like visual style. Aero Visual Style and enhanced security features like UAC (User Account Control)(install prompt, permissions)

  • However, it faced criticism for its performance issues and hardware requirements
• Windows 7

  still has aero style

  improved performance

  addressed many of the criticism of vista and became very popular

  • introduced features like improved taskbar, libraries, and better performance
• Windows 8.0

  introduced a touch-centric interface(metro ui) with live tiles.

  a departure from the traditional start menu, change from start screen(tile)

  • designed to work across multiple devices, including pcs and tablets
• Windows 8.1

  an update to windows 8, bringing back some traditional features(such as start button)

  • improved multitasking and customization options
• Windows 10

  • aimed to bridge the gap between desktop and mobile experiences, offering a unified Start menu + tiles, Cortana voice assistant, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps (a software dev platform to simplify dev of applications)
• Windows 11

  introduces a redesigned Start menu and task bar (centered)

  emphasized a more centered task bar and rounded window corners for a modern look

  • improved multitasking features, and tighter integration with Microsoft teams and cloud services
• Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution
• Linus Benedict Torvalds

  creator and principal developer of Linux kernel, kernel of linux os and other os such as android and chrome os

  • goal is to create an open source of minix - based on unix
• Debian aka Debian GNU/Linux

  linux distros composed of free and open-source software

  developed by the community-supported Debian Project

  • established by Ian Murdock on Aug 16, 1993
• Ubuntu

  a free and open-source Linux distribution based on Debian.

  • developed by Canonical Ltd.
• Kali Linux

  • a Debian-derived Linuc distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security ltd.
• Elementary OS

  • a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It is the flagship distribution to showcase the Pantheon desktop environment. The distribution promotes itself as a "fast, open, and privacy-respecting" replacement to macOS and Windows. It focuses mainly on non-technical users, and has a pay-what-you-want model.

  -developed by elementary Inc
• Linux Mint

  a community-driven linux distribution based on Ubuntu that strived to be a "modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which both powerful and easy to use"

  • creadted by Clement Lefebvre and is being actively developed by the Linux Mint Team and community
• Kernel - core component of os that interact with hardware
• GNU - open source collection of software
• debian is root distros
• Tux - linux muscot
• linux is just a kernel + gnu = gnu/linux or aka linux