Author: admin
Windows is a popular operating system. It is developed by Microsoft Corporation of USA. This is because it is referred to as Microsoft Windows. Nowadays it is most commonly used in personal computers.
Windows is a graphical user interface (GUI) operating system. It is very easy to learn and to operate and is a user-friendly operating system. It provides the commands and application programs in the form of small pictures called icons. The user gives the commands to the computer by simply clicking the icons with mouse.
Like other operating systems, Windows is also a collection of programs that manage and co-ordinate the overall operations of a computer system. The user interacts with the computer by using input pointing devices such as mouse, trackball, light pen etc. in addition to the keyboard, but the mouse is commonly used as input device.
The application program, in Windows operating system, is opened with rectangular area on the desktop. This rectangular area is known as window. In Windows operating system multiple programs can be simultaneously opened in multiple windows. It is because this operating system is referred to as Windows. The user can switch between programs very easily. You can also transfer information from one program to another through copy & paste commands.
Windows has different versions such as Windows 3.0, 3.1, to 3.11 and 95, 97, 98 to Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional. The Windows products 3.0, 3.1, 3.11 are operated under DOS operating system. The Windows 95, 97, 98 to 2000 Professional and Windows XP professional are independent operating systems.
Now-a-days Windows XP Professional version is one of the most popular operating systems used, on PCs. Windows 2000 Professional looks like Windows 98 but has advanced features than Windows 98. For example, Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional includes Windows NT technology etc. The main difference between the Windows operating system and DOS is that: Windows is a graphical user interface while DOS is a command line interface.