operating systems....?

Question

what are ALL the different OS's and what is the difference... i know about windows, mac, linux, ubuntu, and unix.... but whats the difference between linux, ubuntu and unix? and are there any other OS's and if so what is different about those? also, which is your favorite and why? the most descriptive and on topic response (answers ALL questions thoroughly) gets best answer.

Answer 1

Linux

Linux distros (different versions kind of like Home Basic vs. Ultimate for Vista, each has their strengths and weaknesses) all use the same building block called a kernel. A kernel drives the computer, and in Linux's case, is easily changeable by the user. The top three environments are GNOME, XFCE, and KDE. Kind of like if Vista could change between an OS X look, Vista look and Win 95 look without major reconfiguration. Linux doesn't get the support that Windows or Mac get from hardware, some manufacturers don't want to support Linux at all, but Linux users are some of the most resourceful people, so most everything works. Example distros include ubuntu(user friendly) , gentoo(confusing, but oh so fast), KNOPPIX(live cd/rescue cd), Fedora (more professional ubuntu), Slackware(been around for a long time), Puppy/Damn Small Linux(works on old computers with limited resources), iPodLinux(its linux on your iPod), PCLinuxOS(user friendly), Kubuntu/Xubuntu(KDE/XFCE instead of GNOME on an ubuntu base), Debian(ubuntu and Knoppix are based off of this)

BSD

FreeBSD, OpenBSD and PC-BSD are similar to Linux distros and use some of the same software, but are closer to Linux's kernel's inspiration than Linux itself. They are compatible with just about any Linux program, and can run just about anywhere.

Unix

Commercial professionally done OS's that run on large servers. Also Linux can be called *nix and Un*x, because the Linux movers and shakers don't want to get paid money just so it can be called a Unix OS.

Windows

Its the most common and most infuriating OS on the market. Avoid at all costs.

Classic Mac

Built by Apple, abandoned after OS X decided to use the BSD kernel instead of building a new version of Mac 9.

OS X

Based off of the same thing as the BSD and Linux OS's OS X is a new step for Apple Computers. All of their releases are named after members of the feline family. THe most current one is 10.5 Leopard. Hard (though not impossible) to run on anything but an official Apple computer.



My current favorites are: XP MCE, yeah its windows, but if you keep it simple it will let you watch movies with non'Linux compatible hardware; ubuntu 7.04 This is my primary OS currently and works very well on my laptop, round April I expect this to change to 8.04; Knoppix, it comes in handy when I have to go rescue Windows from itself; and finally, iPodLinux just for ridiculousness's sake

Answer 2

Ubuntu is a distribution, a "flavor" of Linux. It comes with artwork, graphical interfaces and a suite of programs as well as community support, an online database of compatible programs and regular security and usability updates.



Linux is a kernel, the core of an operating system. An easy, albeit very basic, way to think about it is that YOU use Ubuntu while your COMPUTER uses Linux.



Unix is a different kernel. It's not as popular as Linux and has no distribution flavors. Also, while Linux is open source and completely free, Unix is owned by a single company and the code is closed.



Aside from OSX, Windows and Linux, no other operating systems will be of use to you. You can try out Solaris, but it's a pain in the butt and not very useful for anyone outside of a specific sector of industry. Many others won't even run on your hardware.

Answer 3

It would be impossible to list all the operating systems out there. There are some operating systems designed for a specific computer only.



Linux is an operating system kernel (the most basic part of an operating system). It was written by Linux Torvalds. It is designed to be similar in structure and security to Unix.



Unix is an operating system from the late 60s onward designed to run servers and mainframes. It is considered to be very secure.



Ubuntu is an operating system using the Linux kernel and providing all the extra features necessary for desktop use. Ubuntu does not have to have Linux (see Nexenta) and Linux does not have to look or work like Ubuntu.

Answer 4

a mainframe is old iron



IBM turned out lots of mainframes that required their software and programmers



personal computers like atari, mac and dos machines took some of their (IBM) business because you did not need a room size computer [like in old movies]

Answer 5

i'd first of all advise that till you want to run more effective than one OS on a computer, do not take suggestion from every person who's doing that. those people are nerds and geeks and they stay for doing this stuff in basic terms because that is there to do, quite than any genuine international favor. I count number myself as one in all those geeks yet i have not run different OS's for some years now. i'm all about how a lot reveal genuine property i can get for in worry-free words one OS it really is set up nicely to artwork for me. i do not extremely see enormous difference between OS X and living house windows 7. they are both ideal high quality OS's. living house windows promises get entry to to larger video games and a much wider internet of professional software yet OS X is placing out to capture the builders for some gaming now and maximum obtrusive projects are dealt with in software determination. So it extremely comes all the way down to seem and sense. OS X looks about a similar as living house windows 7 in use yet even as it includes the application, OS X pulls ahead. coming up for Apple looks to rigidity programmers right into a stricter rule set for a way the application looks. gone are horribly gruesome icons you'll see everywhere in living house windows and gone too are the former-formed searching purposes that are not hip to the recent style regulations living house windows casually gadgets out. Apple also take an extremely lively position in making particular an incredible set of straightforward software purposes are all obtainable virtually with the OS or at little or no value more effective to address observe processing, image administration, video enhancing, music amassing and so on. living house windows has all that software too it in basic terms doesn't kit it as correct for brand spanking new purchasers to get at genuinely. case in point with living house windows you ought to flow and manually acquire the stay %. to get get entry to to some software which ought to extremely already be contained in the OS to commence with. And if it sounds like i'm choosing at Microsoft, i'm slightly yet straightforward it really continues to be my determination in OS's. living house windows 7 64bit receives my vote. So in short, OS X = quite and robust, living house windows = quite good