Operating Systems: Still Relevant or Obsolete? - Prof. Jacques Chansavang, Study notes of Computer Science

Download Operating Systems: Still Relevant or Obsolete? - Prof. Jacques Chansavang and more Study notes Computer Science in PDF only on Docsity! 2007.01.30 Vista: Do operating systems matter anymore? When Microsoft (MSFT)unveiled its Windows 95 operating system more than a decade ago, there were hot air balloons and a ferris wheel to punctuate the news. And the OS itself was a big star in the technology world: It promised to change the PC experience in bold ways. But considering the less conspicuous spectacle this time around, one has to ask: Do operating systems really matter anymore? On the most basic level they do, in the same way water heaters and indoor plumbing matter. We rely on them constantly, we expect them to be there, and we mostly care about them when they break. Tim Bajarin, longtime Silicon Valley technology analyst, told me operating systems matter because they manage our connections to our e-mails, our iPods, our world. "Because the device itself has to manage memory, user interface, interconnectivity, various drivers of sorts, any device has to have a level of intelligence," Bajarin says. "Unfortunately that level of intelligence has to be run through an operating system."  Vista: Microsoft's last hurrah? On a more emotional level though, operating systems matter less than they ever have. If you have any doubt, consider that Apple's (AAPL) upcoming iPhone is generating more buzz in tech circles than Windows Vista. Sure, Windows Vista is the next generation of software powering 90-plus percent of the world's computers and nurturing a U.S. ecosystem that will sell $70 billion this year in related products and services, according to research firm IDC. Meanwhile, the iPhone remains an unproven object of gadget lust. We're most excited these days not by a PC's operating system, but by how quickly it can get out of our way and pull up that Web browser, or connect to that music player.  Why Apple needs the iPhone And there's another level on which operating systems no longer matter like they used to: Compatibility. A few short years ago, having a computer meant heavy use of a few key software programs for word processing, research, video viewing, online games and so forth. If your computer didn't have the right operating system, some programs were out of reach. If you wanted easily portable documents, information at your fingertips and networked first-person shooters with high-end graphics, you had to own a Windows PC.  AMD's brimming with quad-core confidence That's seldom the case anymore. The ultra-compatible Firefox Web browser, online word processors and portable flash drives have leveled the word processing playing field for users on every platform. Google (GOOG), Wikipedia and other online resources have expanded research options. Flash video on sites like YouTube are making viewing video as simple and universal as surfing the Web. And the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, new gaming consoles with the power of PCs, are making computer compatibility for games less of an issue. Since more than 220 million PCs are sold worldwide each year, as Bajarin points out, operating systems are far from irrelevant. They're they only cover a percentage of problems a user may encounter. Linux and Mac OSX provide a more secure infrastructure. But, only OSX has made the task of self administrating the OS easy. Yes, certain Linux distributions have closed the gap. But, they still require much more user knowledge than the general person should care about when using a computer. Posted by: Josh Katlof | Jan 30, 2007 2:19:40 PM No, operating systems don’t matter at all, they’re completely useless… they only run EVERY computer on the f’ing planet…… what a dumbass Posted by: Liquid_Mind | Jan 30, 2007 2:28:03 PM "No, operating systems don’t matter at all, they’re completely useless…they only run EVERY computer on the f’ing planet…… what a dumbass" Agree. The drivel that comes out of the media is simply amazing. Posted by: Bob | Jan 30, 2007 2:46:31 PM Vista doesnt' do anything. Its slower and bells and whistles. Nothing but viruses, spam, and hot Msft software created for a decade in India and China. What a waste. Msft is not in technology anymore, its a degrading commodity that will start getting worse and make users change to a worse platform. Bill Gates is like George Bush now: money first and to hell with everyone else in the world. Posted by: Bill Smith | Jan 30, 2007 3:29:13 PM It took years for Windows XP to become a stable and reliable OS. Now that it is, it does everything that I need an OS to do. It may take as long for Vista. I will jump on the Vista bandwagon, in a couple years. Posted by: Wayne | Jan 31, 2007 3:55:06 AM Operating systems matter as it is the most important software that required by a computer for any purpose and for all purpose. Without an operating system no computer can work. Therefore OS matters a lot. But Windows XP is a must for running newer versions of softwares like Adobe photoshop and the like stuff. But for Vista, there is no more need at present for any basic or advanced needs But it will be a must in future when the majority of the systems were running on Vista ( currently majority of systems running on XP). So OS matters a lot Posted by: Jackson Jose | Jan 31, 2007 4:15:56 AM It seems most read past Jon's point. I don't see where he's saying operating systems are no longer required to run a computer. He's discussing all the advances that have taken place on the Web, "universal" formats from PDF to RSS and other technologies that commoditize OSes, not eliminate the need for them. In the vast majority of cases, users (both home and business) are now able to run their applications or an acceptable replacement on any OS. And as Jon indicates, web-based document creation completely marginalizes the OS, so that a person can use the exact same (web) application in any compatible browser on any computer with any OS. Sure, you still need an OS of some kind, but these days it does indeed rarely matter which one. Posted by: Blake | Jan 31, 2007 1:28:28 PM Perhaps the tech heads are having a tough time with a non-literal meaning of "matters". A similar question to help those foks understand Jon's point would be "Does the engine matter" in regards to cars. Of course you need an engine but they are not what generates the buzz in the land of automobiles. OS's matter but they don't generate the interest they once did. Posted by: Andreas | Jan 31, 2007 5:28:24 PM Hmm, thats bad start with new windows? Nothing new. In 5 years we will play and work on vista and ofc buy new hardware Posted by: Ego | Feb 1, 2007 8:26:31 AM