Describe and compare the features and the functions of two different operating systems. P2

Windows XP

What is Windows XP?

Windows XP is a family of 32bit and 64 bit operating system, which is produced by Microsoft.
This is for use on personal computers such as home or business desktops, notebooks and computers.

The common editions of the operating system of Windows XP is Home Edition, which is targeted at home users and Windows XP Professional which offers additional features such as support for two processors and is targeted for power users.
The image shows the skin for the Windows XP.

Purpose of Windows XP:

This operating system was created to provide an interface to the computers user to manipulate the software, controls the computer and so on.
Windows XP was designed to make these processes easy for any newcomers while still being flexible to satisfy power users.

Features of Windows XP:

The features for the Windows XP operating system is that it has an attractive visual style, this is very eye catching and can make the user pleased to use this.

Another feature for the operating system is that it has icons, which represents each program. This is very helpful as each program has a different icon; each icon has a different colour and a letter to represent the name for the program. Therefore, you do not need to search for the name, you can just see from the icon. Eg) Microsoft Word has W which represents the Word.

All of the program on the computer have been categorized, so that it is simpler to find related programs, the user does not need to search through all the program searching for one, all the user needs to do is go to the programs and find the name for it.

After all the programs have been categorized, they have been put in alphabetical order, which makes it easier to find what you are searching for.

The background can be changed to what the user prefers. The screen resolutions can be changed to make the screen larger or smaller, the colour quality can be changed from medium to higher; the user can change the background to what suits them.

The appearance for the operating system can be transformed to users wish, this includes the user to change the font size, as the user can have difficulty to seeing small font any may want larger font, and the colour schemes can be changed for each part such as the windows and buttons.

Functions of Windows XP:

A frequent used function for the XP operating system is Disk Defragmenter, which is a computer program, which is designed to increase access speed and sometimes increase the amount of usable space. This is done by rearranging files, which are stored on the disk and divert them to the nearby storage locations.

Another function for the operating system is a maintenance utility called Disk Cleanup.
This is designed to free up the disk on the computers hard drive. The cleanup process involves searching and analysing the hard drive for files, which are no longer of any use, it then processed to remove the unnecessary files, which frees up the disk space on the hard drive.

There are many different file categories that Disk Cleanup targets, when performing the disk analysis these files include:

Compressed old files
Temporary internet files
Temporary windows files
Recycle bin
Offline files

MS DOS

What is MS DOS?

MS DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.
Microsoft commercializes this operating system. This was the most common used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for computers back in the 1980s.

This operating system has no graphical user interface (GUI) and is strictly text based and performs functions using command lines. It has been gradually restored on customer’s desktops by operating systems offering a Graphical User Interface.
This image is of the MS-DOS screen.

What is Command Line?

A command line interface (CLI) is a device used for interacting with a computer’s operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks, asked by the user.

This method of instructing a computer to perform a given task is referrers to as ‘entering’ a command: the system will wait for the user to terminate the submitting of the text command by pressing the ‘enter’ key on the keyboard. Then the command-line interpreters receive the analyses and start on the requested command. Once completed the command usually returns output to the user in the form of text lines on the CLI.

This could be an answer if the command asked was a question or it can be a summary of the operation took place.

Purpose of MS-DOS:

MS-DOS was designed to be an operating system that could run on any 8086-family computer. Each computer was to have its own distinct hardware and its own version of MS-DOS. The greater speed possible by the direct control of hardware was of particular importance when it came to running computer games.

Function of the MS-DOS:

MS-DOS includes having to type in codes when the user needs to perform functions certain operations, some of these codes are listed.
The user needs to type this in the black MS-DOS screen.

COPY- copies a file (cp)
DIR- lists the directory contents such as files and folders
TREE- shows files and folder in tree diagram
FORMAT- formats a disk to accept DOS files

HELP – provides help about a command

MKDIR - creates a new directory

RD - removes a directory

REN - renames a file

Conclusion

Overall, between the two operating systems, I think that Windows XP is more efficient due to it having special features and functions, which can improve the quality of the computer, the programs are easy to search for and you do not need to remember any codes to change specific details for the files or folders. The programs are arranged by category and apathetical order.
The colours and background can be changed which helps the user if they have some problem or if they do not like it, this makes the operating friendly to the user.

Also, if any folders of files need to be changed they can be right clicked on and changed whereas on MS-DOS you will need to change it in the black screen without viewing the folder, the user may forget that they done this.

While, MS-DOS just has a black screen where the codes need to be entered, and from there the details or programs can be viewed. For this program, the user will need to remember all the codes for each specific function.