In the last lesson, we learned about the physical part, or hardware, of a computer. In this one, we'll learn about the digital part, or software.
The most important software of a computer is the operating system. It links together all of the computer's hardware, making all the different parts work in unison, and manages the different processes, which are digital tasks a computer carries out. It also converts all of the 1s and 0s of the computer's language into textual and visual components that you can understand. Without the operating system, a computer is just a pile of parts that have no interconnection.
Most of the time, a computer is running many different processes and tasks at once: hardware operations like running the CPU cooling fan (it would get very hot otherwise!), making all of the necessary software work together to generate what you see on your screen, and also responding to any input from the user. The operating system is what makes this possible.
There are two main brands of operating systems: OS X (made by Apple), and Windows (made by Microsoft). Let's discuss the basic differences.
The most important software of a computer is the operating system. It links together all of the computer's hardware, making all the different parts work in unison, and manages the different processes, which are digital tasks a computer carries out. It also converts all of the 1s and 0s of the computer's language into textual and visual components that you can understand. Without the operating system, a computer is just a pile of parts that have no interconnection.
Most of the time, a computer is running many different processes and tasks at once: hardware operations like running the CPU cooling fan (it would get very hot otherwise!), making all of the necessary software work together to generate what you see on your screen, and also responding to any input from the user. The operating system is what makes this possible.
There are two main brands of operating systems: OS X (made by Apple), and Windows (made by Microsoft). Let's discuss the basic differences.
Windows
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/8/5/81850832/113231391.png)
Windows is an operating system created by Microsoft in the mid 1980s. There have been many versions, but the three most recent are Windows 10 (Pictured above) (2015), Windows 8 (and 8.1) (2012), and Windows 7 (2009). In this course, we'll learn about how to use Windows 10. 52.02% of computers in the world run Windows. Its popularity may be attested to the fact that it comes pre-loaded on most new computers, regardless of manufacturer. Windows is preferred by many due to its higher level of customizability than OS X.
OS X
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/8/5/81850832/648608120.png)
Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by apple. It comes preloaded on all Apple computers, and cannot be installed on any other computers. The most recent in the line are known as OS X (Oh - Es - Ten), and their specific versions include El Capitan (Pictured above) (2015), Yosemite (2014), and Mavericks (2013). Notice a pattern? The latest few are named after natural features in California!
26.2% of users of computers run OS X, and this number is rapidly increasing, as more and more people are beginning to prefer the look and feel, usability, and less susceptibility to viruses, and are willing to sacrifice customizability.