Hardware vs. SoftwareHardware vs. Software

Computer systems consist of both hardware and Computer systems consist of both hardware and software.software.

HardwareHardware refers to anything you can physically touch. refers to anything you can physically touch.– Keyboards, mice, monitors, and motherboards are all Keyboards, mice, monitors, and motherboards are all

hardware.hardware.

SoftwareSoftware consists of the instructions issued to the consists of the instructions issued to the computer to perform specific tasks.computer to perform specific tasks.– The software on a computer system refers to the The software on a computer system refers to the

programs that make the computer run.programs that make the computer run.

Types of SoftwareTypes of Software

Although there are literally thousands of Although there are literally thousands of software programs you can buy, there are really software programs you can buy, there are really only two types of software: application and only two types of software: application and systems.systems.– Application softwareApplication software computer software created to computer software created to

allow the user to perform specific a job or taskallow the user to perform specific a job or task..– Systems softwareSystems software is computer software responsible is computer software responsible

for the general operation of a computer system, for the general operation of a computer system, including the operation of hardware, running including the operation of hardware, running application software, and file management.application software, and file management.

Application SoftwareApplication Software

Application software is also called productivity Application software is also called productivity software.software.It allows an end user to perform some task.It allows an end user to perform some task.The most commonly used categories of The most commonly used categories of application software areapplication software are– Word-processing programsWord-processing programs– Spreadsheet softwareSpreadsheet software– Database softwareDatabase software– Presentation softwarePresentation software– Desktop publishing programsDesktop publishing programs– GamesGames– Graphics SoftwareGraphics Software

Application SoftwareApplication Software

Most application software is defined by the Most application software is defined by the file type.file type.

File type – an extension at the end of a file File type – an extension at the end of a file name, indicating which application was name, indicating which application was used to create a documentused to create a document

File Extensions for Microsoft OfficeFile Extensions for Microsoft Office– .docx is Microsoft Word.docx is Microsoft Word– .xlsx is Microsoft Excel.xlsx is Microsoft Excel– .pptx is Microsoft PowerPoint.pptx is Microsoft PowerPoint

Systems SoftwareSystems Software

Systems software consists of programs that Systems software consists of programs that coordinate and control the resources and coordinate and control the resources and operations of the computer itself.operations of the computer itself.

The three categories of systems software areThe three categories of systems software are– Operating systemsOperating systems– Utility programsUtility programs– Language translatorsLanguage translators

Systems Software – Operating Systems Software – Operating SystemsSystems

Operating systemsOperating systems system software that acts as system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and other software to communicate with each other.other software to communicate with each other.

There are many brands and versions of operating There are many brands and versions of operating systems.systems.

An operating system is designed to work with a An operating system is designed to work with a specific processor chip.specific processor chip.– For example, Windows operating systems are For example, Windows operating systems are

designed to work with an Intel processor (or clone) designed to work with an Intel processor (or clone) and will not usually work on a Macintosh computer.and will not usually work on a Macintosh computer.

Illustration of an Operating Illustration of an Operating SystemSystem

This figure shows how an operating system acts as an interface between the user, the application programs, and the computer.

Systems Software - UtilitiesSystems Software - Utilities

Utility programsUtility programs are designed to help are designed to help perform housekeeping chores for the perform housekeeping chores for the computer.computer.

They can be designed toThey can be designed to– Manage the computer’s resources.Manage the computer’s resources.– Do file management.Do file management.– Format disks.Format disks.– Copy files from one disk to another.Copy files from one disk to another.– Back up data to disk or tape.Back up data to disk or tape.

Common Utility ProgramsCommon Utility Programs

Disk FormattingDisk Formatting prepares disk to have prepares disk to have files stored on it.files stored on it.

File ManagementFile Management is a program on a is a program on a computer that allows the user to create, computer that allows the user to create, edit, view, print, rename, copy, or delete edit, view, print, rename, copy, or delete files, folders, or an entire file systemfiles, folders, or an entire file system

File RecoveryFile Recovery attempts to recover a file attempts to recover a file that has been erased.that has been erased.

Common Utility ProgramsCommon Utility Programs

UninstallUninstall removes an application program removes an application program no longer needed.no longer needed.

Diagnostic Diagnostic provides detailed information provides detailed information about the computer system and attempts about the computer system and attempts to locate problems.to locate problems.

File ConversionFile Conversion converts a file from one converts a file from one format to another.format to another.

Common Utility ProgramsCommon Utility Programs

Disk CompressionDisk Compression frees up storage space on a frees up storage space on a disk by compressing existing files.disk by compressing existing files.

BackupBackup makes a duplicate copy of the contents makes a duplicate copy of the contents of a secondary storage device.of a secondary storage device.

AntivirusAntivirus protects the computer system from protects the computer system from viruses.viruses.

Disk DefragmentationDisk Defragmentation attempts to place attempts to place segments of each file on the hard disk as close segments of each file on the hard disk as close to one another as possible.to one another as possible.

Systems Software – Language Systems Software – Language TranslatorsTranslators

Computers cannot read program statements in Computers cannot read program statements in programming language format, such as Visual programming language format, such as Visual Basic or Java program statements.Basic or Java program statements.Language translator programsLanguage translator programs convert convert English-like software programs into machine English-like software programs into machine code that can be understood by the computer.code that can be understood by the computer.Each converted English-like instruction may be Each converted English-like instruction may be translated into many machine code instructions.translated into many machine code instructions.Once converted to machine code, the program Once converted to machine code, the program can be run and executed by the computer.can be run and executed by the computer.

Microcomputer Operating Microcomputer Operating System InterfacesSystem Interfaces

The user interface of an operating system is The user interface of an operating system is what we are all familiar with.what we are all familiar with.The The User InterfaceUser Interface is the part of the is the part of the operating system that you interact with when operating system that you interact with when using your computer.using your computer.

Microcomputer Operating System Microcomputer Operating System InterfacesInterfaces

There are two commonly used types of There are two commonly used types of operating system interfaces:operating system interfaces:– Command-line interfaceCommand-line interface: With this interface, : With this interface,

you must type exact commands into the you must type exact commands into the computer from a command prompt.computer from a command prompt.

This is not a user-friendly interface, and you must This is not a user-friendly interface, and you must memorize many commands and keywords.memorize many commands and keywords.

– Graphical user interfaceGraphical user interface: Users manipulate : Users manipulate on-screen icons to perform functions, usually on-screen icons to perform functions, usually with a mouse or other pointing device.with a mouse or other pointing device.

User Interface ComparisonUser Interface Comparison

The figure on the left shows a command-line interface, where commands are typed in at the prompt. The figure on the right is a graphical user interface (GUI) where users perform actions by clicking and manipulating icons.

Microcomputer Operating Microcomputer Operating SystemsSystems

If your computer is a Macintosh, you are If your computer is a Macintosh, you are probably using a Mac OS.probably using a Mac OS.– Macintosh computers used one of the first GUI Macintosh computers used one of the first GUI

operating systems ever developed.operating systems ever developed.

If your computer is a PC or is PC-compatible, If your computer is a PC or is PC-compatible, you are most likely using one of these operating you are most likely using one of these operating systems:systems:– DOSDOS

– A combination of DOS and WindowsA combination of DOS and Windows

– A stand-alone version of WindowsA stand-alone version of Windows

The Mac OSThe Mac OS

Macintosh computers were developed by Macintosh computers were developed by Apple Computer.Apple Computer.

Macintosh had one of the first GUI operating Macintosh had one of the first GUI operating systems where icons were used to represent systems where icons were used to represent programs and files.programs and files.

To activate an icon, the user clicked it with the To activate an icon, the user clicked it with the mouse.mouse.

This was also the first operating system to This was also the first operating system to provide an on-screen help system.provide an on-screen help system.

The The DOS Operating SystemDOS Operating System

IBM introduced its first PC in 1981. Its operating system IBM introduced its first PC in 1981. Its operating system was called DOS, which stands for Disk Operating was called DOS, which stands for Disk Operating System.System.– IBM called it PC-DOS. The operating system was IBM called it PC-DOS. The operating system was

licensed from its creator, Microsoft, who sold it under the licensed from its creator, Microsoft, who sold it under the name MS-DOS.name MS-DOS.

DOS was a command-line interface operating system DOS was a command-line interface operating system where the user had to enter commands at a screen where the user had to enter commands at a screen prompt.prompt.It was a It was a single-tasking operating systemsingle-tasking operating system, which meant , which meant that only one program at a time could be executed.that only one program at a time could be executed.

The The Windows Operating Windows Operating SystemSystem

Windows was Microsoft’s first GUI operating Windows was Microsoft’s first GUI operating system, released in 1987.system, released in 1987.

The first versions were called operating The first versions were called operating environments because they acted as a shell environments because they acted as a shell around the DOS operating system and worked in around the DOS operating system and worked in combination with DOS.combination with DOS.

Applications installed on a Windows system Applications installed on a Windows system appeared as icons.appeared as icons.– As with the Mac OS, the user activated a As with the Mac OS, the user activated a

Windows program by clicking the icon.Windows program by clicking the icon.

Windows VersionsWindows Versions

The earliest versions of Windows were The earliest versions of Windows were labeled Windows 3.0, 3.1, etc.labeled Windows 3.0, 3.1, etc.The first true multitasking version of The first true multitasking version of Windows was Windows 95.Windows was Windows 95.– This version also included support for This version also included support for

networking computers.networking computers.MultitaskingMultitasking is the ability to run more than is the ability to run more than one program at a time.one program at a time.

Windows VersionsWindows Versions

Windows 98 improved on Windows 95 and Windows 98 improved on Windows 95 and offered Internet integration and support for the offered Internet integration and support for the USB bus.USB bus.Windows 2000 was an update to Windows 98 Windows 2000 was an update to Windows 98 and Windows NT and included tools for Web site and Windows NT and included tools for Web site creation.creation.We use Windows XP, which provides increased We use Windows XP, which provides increased stability and device recognition over earlier stability and device recognition over earlier Windows versions.Windows versions.Windows 7Windows 7 is the latest version of Windows is the latest version of Windows Operating System.Operating System.

Macintosh vs. Windows User Macintosh vs. Windows User InterfaceInterface

The image on the left is an example of a Macintosh interface window. On the right is the Windows 2000 interface.

The The Unix Operating SystemUnix Operating System

Unix is another early operating system that is still widely Unix is another early operating system that is still widely used today.used today.

It was developed by AT&T as part of their phone-It was developed by AT&T as part of their phone-switching system.switching system.

It was developed to be a portable operating system.It was developed to be a portable operating system.– That means that it was meant to run on any hardware That means that it was meant to run on any hardware

platform.platform.

It is a command-line interface system, although there are It is a command-line interface system, although there are now several GUI interface products available for Unix now several GUI interface products available for Unix and Linux.and Linux.

Example of a Unix SystemExample of a Unix System

Linux and IBM’s AIX offer a graphical user interface shell for a Unix operating system, as shown here. This provides greater ease of use while taking full advantage of Unix’s speed and reliability.

Network Operating SystemsNetwork Operating Systems

A A network operating systemnetwork operating system (NOS) is (NOS) is designed to allow multiple computers to be designed to allow multiple computers to be connected and talk to each other.connected and talk to each other.

NetworksNetworks are computers that are connected are computers that are connected to each other.to each other.

Network Operating SystemsNetwork Operating Systems

While there are many network operating While there are many network operating systems available, the most popular aresystems available, the most popular are– Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000

– Novell’s NetwareNovell’s Netware

– IBM’s Warp ServerIBM’s Warp Server

Most network operating systems makes uses Most network operating systems makes uses logon to use them.logon to use them.– Logon is the action of gaining access to a computer or Logon is the action of gaining access to a computer or

a network by entering a username and password; a network by entering a username and password; also called Login/Sign Inalso called Login/Sign In