These groups have been waging an almost equal struggle for market monopolization for a long time, and this struggle is expected for a long time - it is difficult to single out a favorite in it. Let's try to figure out which product is of the highest quality.
Windows
At the moment, there are three current versions of the OS of this corporation - 7, 8, 10. Windows XP has already gone out of fashion - now it is installed mainly on old computers. The newest version is Windows 10, but not the most popular version from the company. Windows 7 is firmly in the ranking of the most used systems: 52% of personal computers in the world are serviced by it.
Windows operating systems are optimized and work stable on most computers, with XP and 7 being the most preferred on older versions. Windows is not the most secure product, so if you use Windows OS, you need to take care of installing licensed security software.
Many users compare operating systems based on their interface. Windows is not inferior to its competitors - a large selection of themes for data visualization, window animation and translucency create a pleasant contrast. Newer versions of Windows have retained elements of the very first systems from this manufacturer, which attracts the user.
One of the key advantages is the ability to install programs to perform a wide variety of tasks. This applies to office programs and gaming applications, as well as other applied areas.
Linux
Here, manufacturers decided to release many versions that have a special purpose. Ubuntu is the most widely recognized Linux product. It has become popular with Linux because it is the most optimal for home use.
The Linux product is unique in that you can change everything in the system settings in such a way that the system will be completely rebuilt taking into account the PC parameters. This fact ensures the highest performance, and in this component Linux is the undisputed leader among OS manufacturers. Linux also has the advantage of high reliability and security, since distribution kits provide many mechanisms for restricting access to user information.
As for the appearance, it can be customized in any way. Linux has many variations for choosing an interface - from simple and strict to complex and colorful, with a large number of effects. One of the most important details for Linux is that in order to manage it effectively, the user must learn to work on the command line.
Many professional programming applications are written on the Linux kernel. But as for the choice of applications for performing applied tasks, everything here is not as rich as that of competitors.
MacOS
MacOS desktop The “OS” itself occurred along with the appearance of the first products from Apple, and accordingly, it is used on these devices. Currently, the latest version of MacOS is version 10.
MacOS are oriented to a certain hardware standard, so their performance is the highest among all available operating systems. It is worth noting that the high performance of MacOS systems is a distinctive feature - all products from this manufacturer are characterized by very stable and productive operation. MacOS systems are very reliable, the total number of virus programs on this platform is not very large, and there is no need to worry about installing additional security software.
Most users believe that MacOS is the most convenient and attractive operating system, judging by the user interface. The manufacturer pays a lot of attention to this component, and it is not surprising that they are superior to their competitors in this component. Developers use a huge range of technologies that are aimed at harmonizing and improving the appearance of controls. Interestingly, the company regularly requires developers of third-party software to use a design style that is as similar as possible to the standard Mac application style, so that users work in the new program in the same way as in the familiar one.
DOS
FreeDOS desktop There are few users left who remember these operating system developers. It must be remembered that they became innovators in the field of OS development, inventing the entire operation of the operating system. Yes, competitors have moved on, improving all the developments of DOS, but the developers of the first OS have now begun to come up with innovations for previous developments. Since the beginning of the 2000s, DOS has released a couple of OS emulators for PCs, but they were not recognized by users due to low performance and the lack of most of the necessary characteristics for modern OSs.
However, DOS remains necessary for many users. DOS software is the best option for those users who want to use old computers with new applications. To do this, the developers launched FreeDOS and DJGPP, which included several programs that are popular today - a file manager, text editor, web browser, email client, etc. In other words, DOS products are still suitable for running on older PCs.
Safety and reliability
In general, Windows, Linux and MacOS are competing for the title of the best OS group - DOS has already stopped competing with more modern developments. In terms of reliability and safety, the most optimal are Linux and Apple products. The best Linux distribution for this component is Ubuntu. Experts believe that systems with a Linux kernel are preferably used as a keeper of particularly important information, since the protection against unauthorized access to information stored in the system is very strong. By the way, users themselves need to be very careful when assigning passwords and long paths to their necessary files - otherwise they may lose them.
Unlike Linux and MacOS distributions, Windows clearly loses in reliability and security. The Windows product still remains with the title of the most unreliable operating system. Third-party security software is released regularly, but system protection is at the lowest level, and if you value the security of your information, you should not choose Windows as the OS for your PC. As for MacOS, security here is also at the highest level.
The most gaming system
As mentioned above, in terms of the number of programs in different directions, Windows leads, and in the gaming component this developer is the undoubted leader. Quite a lot of gaming applications are also produced for Linux, since these “operating systems” are also quite popular in the world, for example, everyone’s favorite Steam can be found here. But in the end, in the total volume of gaming applications, Windows will outperform both Linux and MacOS combined. The system itself has good enough characteristics for the smooth and error-free operation of gaming applications on any computer, but, however, this rarely happens.
If you look at Windows distributions, then users are very cautious about calling Windows 7 the most preferable for games, despite the fact that three new versions of the system have already been released! Of course, the “seven” is a proven system, and therefore it is given greater preference by users. But this won’t last long - within a year and a half the whole world will be talking about the fact that the eighth and tenth versions of Windows are much better than the seventh in terms of gaming.
The simplest OS
If we take into account all the operating systems available in the world and choose the simplest one, the absolute champion here will be DOS systems. But if we talk specifically about the three giants of OS release at the present time, then Windows will again be ahead of everyone in simplicity. Simplicity can be different - banality of development, ease of use, etc. We are more interested in which systems are more convenient for users to work with. And most of them believe that Windows is the simplest operating system, starting from its very first versions.
Indeed, Windows is the simplest system to use, but very complex to develop. MacOS ranks second in ease of use, as noted by experts. Linux is the most complex system, but once you get used to it, you will never go back to, for example, the Windows family.
For weak PCs
Of course, here you should give preference to DOS! However, DOS is quite difficult to find now, therefore, Linux distributions with a lightweight desktop environment (LXDE, OpenBox, MATE, Xfce) are most suitable for weak PCs.
The most optimal distribution for use on weak PCs from the Microsoft family will be Windows XP. In fact, this OS is quite good in that it has good performance and an attractive interface. It is quite simple and quite suitable so that even on a weak PC you can play your favorite classic games.
The downside is that XP is no longer supported by the manufacturer, and by installing this system, you risk picking up a lot of viruses and Trojans.
This means that if you actively use the Internet, without additional security software, your PC will not be able to work for a long time. So, think carefully about choosing an operating system before installing it on your weak PC.
Availability of software installation
Once again, Windows is the undisputed leader here! After all, the products from this developer were the very first to appear on the market, and therefore they are sold instantly. Nowadays, only the lazy do not develop programs and applications for Windows, which means that the software will always be available for these operating systems. But it is important to remember: due to the low degree of security of the Windows OS, you must be extremely careful when installing software on your computer. Of course, you need to use licensed software, and if you don’t have one, then know: you are taking a risk by installing unwanted programs on your PC with a low level of protection.
Which system to choose in the end?
Recently, system developers have done a great job of improving OS versions. Of course, MacOS will have a minimal market share and popularity, since it is a relatively new product. In terms of characteristics, it is not inferior to Windows and Linux. If this product continues to be in great demand, MacOS could soon become a sales leader.
Linux is an excellent system for office PCs and for computers that are used for programming and administration. They have high performance, are extremely safe and reliable to use, but they are too narrow-profile, so these “OSes” are not widely used.
Windows is the clear winner in almost all respects among its competitors, and the popularity of the product is understandable. For modern computers, Windows will be the optimal OS; everyone chooses the version themselves. It depends on the user which OS to install - if the computer is needed for work, it is better to install Linux, if for games - Windows. It is necessary to determine all the parameters that you want to get more from the OS - and in this case you will be able to make the right and informed choice!
According to Roskomstat, Windows has 84% popularity among Russian personal computer users. Linux is ahead of MacOS by 3% - 9% versus 6%. The situation will change if there are serious reasons for attractiveness among users, and system developers are continuously working in this area.
So, what is an operating system on a computer? The OS is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages memory, processes, and all software and hardware. We can say that the OS is a bridge between a computer and a person. Because without an operating system, a computer is useless.
Apple Mac OS X
Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple. It comes pre-installed on all new Macintosh or Mac computers. The latest versions of this operating system are known as OS X. Namely Yosetime(released in 2014), Mavericks (2013), Mountain Lion (2012), Lion(2011), and Show Leopard(2009). There is also Mac OS X Server, which is designed to run on servers.
According to general statistics from StatCounter Global Stats, the percentage of Mac OS X users is 9.5% of the operating system market, as of September 2014. This is much lower than the percentage of Windows users (almost 90% ). One of the reasons for this is that Apple computers are very expensive.
Linux
Linux is a family of open source operating systems. This means they can be modified (changed) and distributed by anyone around the world. This makes this OS very different from others such as Windows, which can only be modified and distributed by the owner (Microsoft). The benefits of Linux are that it is free and there are many different versions to choose from. Each version has its own appearance, and the most popular ones are Ubuntu, Mint And Fedora.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who laid the foundation for Linux in 1991.
According to StatCounter Global Stats, the percentage of Linux users is less than 2% of the operating system market, as of September 2014. However, due to flexibility and ease of configuration, most servers run on Linux.
Operating systems for mobile devices
All the operating systems we talked about above are designed for desktop and laptop computers, such as a laptop. There are operating systems that are designed specifically for mobile devices, such as phones, and MP3 players, for example, Apple, iOS, Windows Phone And Google Android. In the picture below you can see Apple iOS running on an iPad.
Of course, they are not as functional as computer operating systems, but they are still capable of performing many basic tasks. For example, watching movies, browsing the Internet, running applications, games, etc.
That's all. Leave in the comments what operating system you use and why you like it
Personal computer users prefer specific versions of Windows. The versatility and accessibility of popular software has made Microsoft inventions widespread among home and corporate users. Performance is important for comfortable use and quick task resolution, so it’s worth asking which system is known as the fastest Windows.
Rating of Windows operating systems
Microsoft released a series of Windows products to the world. Depending on the release date, there are individual software variants that can demonstrate characteristic performance prospects. It's worth taking a look at each of the available options to learn the advantages and disadvantages.
- Windows 8 (8.1);
The fastest Windows is determined by technical parameters. You will need to install different versions of the software on computers with the same configuration in order to compare the performance of the software on the same hardware.
The basic participants in testing are special utilities that help determine the performance of individual aspects of work: images, calculations, loading and other operations. Research on this topic was carried out by different sources, which makes it possible to simply summarize the existing rating.
What determines how fast Windows works?
Each version of the software package is characterized by a thoughtful level of manufacturing. Work performance largely depends on the local resources of the computer - configuration and parameters. The power of the hardware can make every OS promising and productive. Optimization issues also remain open - clearing memory, deleting caches and other tricks. A clean ranking of fast operating systems is only possible when comparing system performance with the same hardware power.
The OS itself affects performance due to its own optimization. Hardware resources are important for performance, but software characteristics affect the correct and beneficial use of available resources. This causes discrepancies in the response speed of different systems on identical computers.
Windows Vista came out in 2007, much later than XP. Vista has not gained user preference. Vista has become known as slow and unstable, which is why it ranks last among the presented developments. Vista has a nice design and a well-thought-out concept, but for the modern user there are no significant advantages to installing Vista.
Windows XP appeared in 2001 and spread quickly. The predecessors to the popular XP were ME and 95. The earlier systems were quickly driven out of the market by subsequent innovations. The XP option is considered suitable for older computers with weak resources. Until today, XP is installed on devices with a small amount of RAM and a low processor clock speed.
XP's popularity lasted until 2012. Subsequently, the corporation stopped supporting the product, but the lack of updates does not affect the performance and prospects. The release of new software products moved XP to fourth position.
OS number 7 was developed in 2009. Users quickly liked the new option, so it gained popularity and was installed on computers. Version 7 was the first to supplant XP, providing an updated alternative.
The new system received significant software improvements, worked smoothly and featured an attractive design. The OS's competition with XP left no doubt - the fast and productive OS received no complaints. The corporation's new development has learned to independently work with networks, install drivers for external systems and protect against viruses.
The presence of updated functionality made Windows 7 popular. The use of Windows 7 is common even today. The realized advantages of the software product place the OS in third place in the ranking and give reason to recommend installing a productive Windows 7.
2: Windows 8 (8.1)
Windows 8 was released in 2012. The standard interface is organized for the use of movable tiles. The Start button has been replaced with the Start screen. Users liked the functionality of customizing and grouping launch buttons and expanded the prospects for personalization.
Windows 8 introduced an app store and Microsoft account support for merging device accounts. Windows 8 did not gain popularity from version 7, although it provided an interesting alternative. It is recommended to install OS 8 for computers with average resource reserves, since the needs for fast operation of Windows 8 are higher than for classic XP.
The variant left the first position in the ranking in 2015. The new OS combined the strengths of the latest versions - 7 and 8. 10 quickly gained popularity and was installed instead of the old versions. The prospect of a free upgrade to 10 has become an additional trump card for the corporation.
Windows 10 is supported on devices: computers, netbooks, laptops, tablets and phones. The OS 8 interface, desktop and controls seem familiar and comfortable. The novelty of the solutions ensured the instantaneous operation of everyday processes, programs and games. The developers have introduced functionality for connecting devices on Windows 10 and Xbox One.
Improved security features make Windows 10 resistant to virus attacks and malware. The function of using biometric information and other specific functions has been added. The combination of the listed characteristics becomes the basis for a confident first position in the ranking.
Hello friends. Which operating system is better to install on an old or new, but low-power computer? On our website there are reviews of specific Windows builds that can more or less revive a weak PC or laptop; they are posted in the “” section. In it you will also find links to articles that provide various methods of software optimization in order to more efficiently use hardware resources. This article will add to the existing knowledge base of this section; in it we will conduct a comprehensive review of operating systems that can be considered as an option for installation on a weak PC or laptop. And the review will involve not only Windows builds, but also other operating systems.
I suggest starting with other operating systems.
1. Linux Mint
Linux Mint is a popular Linux distribution, a lightweight operating system, positioned as one of the best alternatives to Windows XP. But, unlike the latter, Linux Mint is a living, supported system with regular security updates. Moreover, this distribution is convenient for switching from Windows. Linux Mint, unlike Ubuntu, is a system with a Windows-like interface: with the same window organization, with a taskbar at the bottom, and an analogue of the Start menu.
Linux Mint comes in builds with three types of interface:
Xfce – the simplest interface, lightweight, suitable for devices with less than 1 GB of RAM;
Mate – classic GNOME 2 interface;
Cinnamon is a modern, attractive interface with visual effects, with the ability to install desktops (like Windows 7 gadgets). Cinnamon can be installed if you have at least 2 GB of RAM.
Linux Mint with the Cinnamon interface comes with a standard package of utilities such as a calculator, notes, image viewer, screenshot, etc., Mozilla Firefox browser, Thunderbird mailer, Transmission torrent downloader, disk analyzer, LibreOffice office suite, two graphic editors, three media player, etc.
Pros of Linux Mint:
Working with a more advanced Ext4 file system than NTFS,
Lack of telemetry
There is no need for an antivirus.
Cons of Linux Mint:
Small selection of third-party software,
Possible problems with specific computer devices for which drivers for Linux are not written,
The difficulty of mastering and working with the console to solve those problems that are solved extremely simply in Windows.
Installing Linux Mint is simple; the distribution is downloaded from the official website of the project:
2.Chrome OS
Chrome OS is an operating system from Google, specially created for weak netbooks, tailored for web surfing and the use of Google services. Based on Linux, actively stuffed with Google services, supports both ARM and x86 processors. It is very minimalistic, provides only basic system capabilities, and is essentially a familiar environment with a desktop and the Chrome browser tightly integrated into it. Supported system content includes extensions and applications from the Chrome store, as well as optimized applications from Google Play (which are for Android).
Chrome OS is just the thing for very old laptops, but, of course, provided that the system has their hardware installed. But it may not all start up. The fact is that Chrome OS is designed for specific devices - Chromebooks. It is not, like Windows or Linux, a system for mass use on desktops. Chrome OS only comes pre-installed on Chromebooks. Google is not preventing the installation of its system on non-Chromebooks, as, for example, Apple does by prohibiting the installation of Mac OS on non-Mac devices. Google simply does not officially ship its operating system because it cannot guarantee its versatility. Unofficially, there are Chromium OS projects on the network supported by enthusiasts - open source systems, i.e. an open-to-modify analogue of Chrome OS. Chromium OS builds also do not guarantee massive hardware support, depending on your luck in each individual case.
Where to get and how to install Chromium OS? On the websites of her various projects. For example, modified builds of Chromium OS are offered on the website:
It is also written there how this matter is established.
How to download the system distribution, how to install it - all this is described on the CloudReady website:
Both projects are English-language, for those who are not familiar with this language, I remind you that we live in the 21st century, there are such things as Google or Yandex translator.
Pros of Chromium OS:
Free operating system
Minimum hardware load,
Native support for many file systems, including NTFS and Ext4.
Cons of Chromium OS:
Limited, the system is only for web surfing and simple everyday operations,
3.Android
I don’t think anyone needs to explain what the Android operating system is. But few people know that there are projects on the Internet by enthusiasts involved in adapting Android to work with x86 processors, i.e. for running the system on PCs and laptops. Such a project, for example, is here:
Here, as Google updates Android for mobile devices, 32- and 64-bit releases of this system adapted for desktops are posted. As of the date of this writing, there are already Android 8.1 distributions, but I was unable to install this version on my PC. But I installed earlier releases of Android 7.1. What is desktop Android 7.1?
Android-x86 7.1-r2 is the second (modified) release of pure desktop Android 7.1, an operating system with a windowed interface adapted for mouse control.
With Snap, a split-screen feature borrowed from Windows.
And even with a pre-installed Launcher3 launcher, similar to the usual desktop with an analogue of the Start menu.
But if we wish, we can choose another launcher - Taskbar - and work in a typical Android tablet environment.
The system comes with superuser rights, an embedded console and a minimum set of standard applications. Everything you need can be downloaded from Google Play.
The release of CM-x86-14.1-r2 is the second release of LineageOS (formerly known as CyanogenMod), a custom build based on Android 7.1. This is also a rooted operating system, tailored for working with a console, with a windowed mode, but with a slightly different package of pre-installed applications and with a different launcher instead of Launcher3 - the Trebuchet launcher.
Desktop Android distributions are laid out in ISO images, installing the system is complicated in terms of choosing the installation location, but the network is full of manuals.
Pros of desktop Android:
Free operating system
Native support for file systems and NTFS, and the more advanced Ext4,
Minimum hardware load,
Huge selection of content from Google Play.
Disadvantages of desktop Android:
It is not a fact that all computer components will work,
Stability is not guaranteed.
Well, now let’s look at three stripped-down Windows distributions that can be used on weak computers.
4.Windows 7 Embedded
Windows 7 Embedded is Microsoft's official stripped-down build of regular Windows 7, designed for production equipment. Very fast, noticeably faster than Linux Mint Cinnamon, can even work on devices with 512 MB of RAM. And while for Linux Mint the processor minimum is 1.3 GHz, for Windows 7 Embedded this minimum is 1 GHz. This is the best option to replace Windows XP. However, Microsoft will provide security updates for the Seven only until January 2020. All the details for this assembly.
Pros of Windows 7 Embedded:
Fast,
Cons of Windows 7 Embedded:
5.Windows 8.1 Embedded
Windows 8.1 Embedded is another stripped-down Embedded build for production equipment, only in the release of the Windows 8.1 version. Like Windows 7 Embedded, the required minimum processor for it is only 1 GHz. But the RAM must be at least 1 GB. Windows 8.1Embedded is also a fast system, with the bare minimum of Modern UI applications pre-installed.
But you can clear them from the system along with the store, install some third-party program to implement the Start menu and get, in fact, an evolved Windows 7 - a current operating system, updated in terms of security, with classic Eight functions, stable and predictable computer environment. All the details for this assembly.
Pros of Windows 8.1 Embedded:
Fast,
Environment familiar to Windows users
Microsoft has not yet announced the timing of the end of its security support,
A complete, stable, universal desktop operating system.
Cons of Windows 8.1 Embedded:
The disadvantages are the same as all Windows, and volumes of books can be written about this.
6.Windows 10 LTSC
But the stripped-down corporate build of Windows 10 LTSC can be considered a system for weak devices very conditionally. It comes with missing UWP functionality and only receives security updates. It disables some common components, but, in fact, in terms of classic functionality, it is regular Windows 10, and even a functional Enterprise edition.
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services to computer programs. All computer programs, with the exception of firmware, require work.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software to allocate CPU time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.
The dominant desktop operating system is Microsoft Windows with a market share of about 83.3%. MacOS from Apple Inc. ranks second (11.2%), and Linux flavors are in third position (1.55%).
In the mobile (smartphones and tablets) sector, as of the third quarter of 2016, Google's Android dominates with 87.5% and a growth rate of 10.3% per year, followed by Apple's iOS with 12.1% and a decline in the market per year A share of 5.2 percent, while other operating systems account for only 0.3 percent.
Linux distributions dominate the server and supercomputing sectors. Other specialized classes of operating systems, such as embedded systems and real-time systems, exist for many applications.
Let's look at the OS usage statistics according to the data. Attention, the statistics show the aggregate data of all Platforms:
- Desktop
- Mobile
- Tablet
- Console
TOP operating systems in Ukraine:
In Ukraine, the leading operating system in use is, of course, Windows - 73.33% of all devices, from desktop to pocket-sized. And since mobile technologies are taking their toll, Android also took 13.19% in Ukraine. The operating system produced by Apple OS X ranks third - 5.38%, and even if we add the iOS figure - 4.46% - this will not allow it to overtake Android in popularity in Ukraine.
Belarus has the following OS statistics:
The first is Windows - 71.27%, the second is Android - 17.74% and the same situation with OS X - 4.2% and iOS - 3.55%.
OS rating in Kazakhstan:
Kazakhstan is more mobile. And although Windows is still first - 63.85%, Android has 23.08%, that is, almost 1/4. The iOS rating is also higher here - 7.83%.
Popularity of operating systems in Russia:
Windows first place - 68.58%. Second and third place Android - 15.88% and iOS - 7.11%
Statistics of operating systems in the world:
Taking into account the aggregate statistics of desktop and mobile platforms, as of July 2017, Android OS is in the lead - 41.24% of all devices. Second and third respectively Windows - 35.24% and iOS - 13.2%.
A little history
In the 1940s, the earliest electronic digital systems did not have operating systems. Electronic systems of this time were programmed using rows of mechanical switches or via jumpers on circuit boards. These are special-purpose systems that, for example, generated ballistic tables for the military or controlled the printing of payroll checks from data on punch cards. After general-purpose programmable computers were invented, machine languages (consisting of strings of binary digits 0 and 1 on punched paper tape) were introduced to speed up the programming process.
In the early 1950s, a computer could only execute one program at a time. Each user used the computer exclusively for a limited period of time and received scheduled time with the program and data on punch cards or punched tape. The program will be downloaded to the machine and the machine will run until the program completes. Typically programs can be debugged from the front panel using toggle switches and panel lamps.
Later machines came with libraries of programs that would be linked to a user program to assist with operations such as input and output, and generating computer code from human-readable symbolic code. This was the genesis of the modern operating system. However, the machines still performed one task at a time. At the University of Cambridge in England, the work order was once a washing line (clothing line) from which ribbons were hung with different colored pins to indicate work priorities.
An improvement was the Atlas Supervisor, introduced with the Manchester Atlas, introduced in 1962, "considered by many to be the first recognizable modern operating system"
Macos
MacOS (formerly "Mac OS X" and later "OS X") is a line of open-kernel graphical operating systems developed, marketed and marketed by Apple Inc., the latter of which comes pre-loaded on all Macintosh computers currently shipping. MacOS has been Apple's main operating system since 1984. It is a UNIX operating system built on technology developed at NeXT in the second half of the 1980s until Apple bought the company in early 1997. The operating system was first released in 1999 as Mac OS X Server 1.0, and in March 2001 as a client version (Mac OS X v10.0 "Cheetah"). Since then, there have been six more different "client" and "server" editions of macOS until they were combined into OS X 10.7 "Lion".
Before its merger with macOS, the server version—macOS Server—was architecturally identical to its desktop counterpart and typically ran on Apple's line of Macintosh hardware. macOS Server included workgroup management and administration tools that provide simplified access to key network services, including Mail Transfer Agent, Samba Server, LDAP Server, Domain Name Server, and others. With Mac OS X v10.7 Lion, all server aspects of Mac OS X Server were integrated into the client version, and the product was renamed "OS X" (dropping the "Mac" from the name). Server tools are now offered as an app.
Linux
Ubuntu, a desktop Linux distribution. The Linux kernel began life in 1991 as a project by Linus Torvalds, then a university student in Finland. He posted information about his project on a newsgroup for computer students and programmers and received support and help from volunteers who were able to create a complete and functional kernel.
Linux is Unix-like, but was developed without any Unix code, unlike BSD and its variants. Because of its open-license model, the Linux kernel code is open to study and modification, which has led to its use on a wide range of computing devices from supercomputers to smartwatches. Although estimates suggest that Linux is used on only 1.82% of all "desktop" (or laptop) PCs, it is widely used for use on servers and embedded systems such as cell phones. Linux has replaced Unix on many platforms and is used on most supercomputers, including the top 385. Many of the same computers are also on Green500 (but in different orders), and Linux runs on top 10. Linux is also widely used on other small, energy-efficient computers, such as smartphones. The Linux kernel is used in some popular distributions such as Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Google's Android, Chrome OS and Chromium OS.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a family of operating systems developed by the Microsoft Corporation and designed primarily for computers based on Intel architecture, with an overall overall usage of 88.9% on Internet-connected computers.
Microsoft Windows was first released in 1985 as an operating environment running on top of MS-DOS, which was the standard operating system shipped on most Intel personal computers at the time. In 1995, Windows 95 was released, which only used MS-DOS as the boot system. For backward compatibility, Win9x can run real-time MS-DOS and 16-bit Windows 3.x drivers. Windows ME, released in 2000, was the last version of the Win9x family. Later versions were based on the Windows NT kernel. Current Windows client versions run on IA-32, x86-64, and 32-bit ARM microprocessors. Additionally, Itanium is still supported on the older version of Windows Server 2008 R2. In the past, Windows NT supported additional architectures.
Server editions of Windows are widely used. Microsoft has spent significant capital in recent years to promote the use of Windows as a server operating system. However, the use of Windows on servers is not as widespread as on personal computers because Windows competes with Linux and BSD for server market share.
ReactOS is an alternative Windows operating system that is developed on Windows principles - without using any Microsoft code.
Other
There have been many operating systems that were significant in their time but are no longer there, such as AmigaOS; OS/2 from IBM and Microsoft; Classic Mac OS, the non-Unix predecessor to Apple's MacOS; BeOS; XTS-300; RISCOS; MorphOS; Haiku; BareMetal and FreeMint. Some of them are still used in niche markets and continue to develop as minority platforms for enthusiast communities and specialized applications. OpenVMS, formerly from DEC, is still actively developed by Hewlett-Packard. However, other operating systems are used almost exclusively in academia, for teaching about operating systems, or for researching operating system concepts. A typical example of a system that performs both roles is MINIX, while, for example, Singularity is used exclusively for research.
Other operating systems failed to gain significant market share, but introduced innovations that influenced major operating systems.
