Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Description of the different PC and Macintosh Operating Systems
PC stands for Personal Computer and refers to any IBM-compatible computer. The term PC comes from the first personal computer made by IBM. A computer that is IBM-compatible means that its architecture is based on the IBM microprocessor. A number of different operating systems are compatible with PCs, the most popular of which is Microsoft Windows. Some others are the unix variants, such as Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris.
Mac is short for Macintosh and refers to any computer produced by Apple Computer. Macs are traditionally classified separately from PCs because they are based on the PowerPC architecture from Apple/IBM/Motorola instead of the traditional Intel based microprocessors that have powered PCs for decades. A great deal of software is also compatible with either Mac or PC, but not both.
As time moves on the line between Mac and PC as begun to blur. Apple redesigned their operating system based on UNIX in 2000, and more software packages and file formats have become interoperable between PCs and Macs every day. In early 2006, Apple switched to an Intel architecture for their computer systems which now makes it possible to run Microsoft Windows on Mac hardware. Up until this point Apple hardware only support the Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS), and Mac OS itself was not compatible with any other hardware besides Apple’s.
PCs and Macs are still not 100% compatible, despite their now similar architectures. While many software vendors release their products for both platforms, not all do. Particularly, most of the popular computer games are PC-only.
The Relationship between an Application Program, the Operating System and Hardware
COmputer software can be divided into two main categories: application software and system software. According to Brookshear [1997], "application software consists of the programs for performing tasks particular to the machine's utilization. Examples of application software include spreadsheets, database systems, desktop publishing systems, program development software, and games." Application software is generally what we think of when someone speaks of computer programs. This software is designed to solve a particular problem for users.
On the other hand, system software is more transparent and less noticed by the typical computer user. This software "provides a general programming environment in which programmers can create specific applications to suit their needs. This environment provides new functions that are not available at the hardware level and performs tasks related to executing the application program" [Nutt 1997]. System software acts as an interface between the hardware of the computer and the application software that users need to run on the computer. The diagram below illustrates the relationship between application software and system software.
On the other hand, system software is more transparent and less noticed by the typical computer user. This software "provides a general programming environment in which programmers can create specific applications to suit their needs. This environment provides new functions that are not available at the hardware level and performs tasks related to executing the application program" [Nutt 1997]. System software acts as an interface between the hardware of the computer and the application software that users need to run on the computer. The diagram below illustrates the relationship between application software and system software.
The most important type of system software is the operating system. According to Webopedia [2000], an operating system has three main responsibilities:
Perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Ensure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other.
Provide a software platform on top of which other programs (i.e., application software) can run.
The first two responsibilities address the need for managing the computer hardware and the application programs that use the hardware. The third responsibility focuses on providing an interface between application software and hardware so that application software can be efficiently developed. Since the operating system is already responsible for managing the hardware, it should provide a programming interface for application developers.
Nutt [1997] identifies four common types of operating system strategies on which modern operating systems are built: batch, timesharing, personal computing, and dedicated. According to Nutt, "the favored strategy for any given computer depends on how the computer is to be used, the cost-effectiveness of the strategy implementation in the application environment, and the general state of the technology at the time the operating system is developed." The table below summarizes the characteristics of each operating system strategy as described by Nutt [1997].
Batch
This strategy involves reading a series of jobs (called a batch) into the machine and then executing the programs for each job in the batch. This approach does not allow users to interact with programs while they operate.
Timesharing
This strategy supports multiple interactive users. Rather than preparing a job for execution ahead of time, users establish an interactive session with the computer and then provide commands, programs and data as they are needed during the session.
PersonalComputing
This strategy supports a single user running multiple programs on a dedicated machine. Since only one person is using the machine, more attention is given to establishing predictable response times from the system. This strategy is quite common today because of the popularity of personal computers.
Dedicated
This strategy supports real-time and process control systems. These are the types of systems which control satellites, robots, and air-traffic control. The dedicated strategy must guarantee certain response times for particular computing tasks or the application is useless.
The System Boot Process Explained
The typical computer system boots over and over again with no problems, starting the computer's operating system (OS) and identifying its hardware and software components that all work together to provide the user with the complete computing experience. But what happens between the time that the user powers up the computer and when the GUI icons appear on the desktop?
In order for a computer to successfully boot, its BIOS, operating system and hardware components must all be working properly; failure of any one of these three elements will likely result in a failed boot sequence.
When the computer's power is first turned on, the CPU initializes itself, which is triggered by a series of clock ticks generated by the system clock. Part of the CPU's initialization is to look to the system's ROM BIOS for its first instruction in the startup program. The ROM BIOS stores the first instruction, which is the instruction to run the power-on self test (POST), in a predetermined memory address. POST begins by checking the BIOS chip and then tests CMOS RAM. If the POST does not detect a battery failure, it then continues to initialize the CPU, checking the inventoried hardware devices (such as the video card), secondary storage devices, such as hard drives and floppy drives, ports and other hardware devices, such as the keyboard and mouse, to ensure they are functioning properly.
Once the POST has determined that all components are functioning properly and the CPU has successfully initialized, the BIOS looks for an OS to load.
The BIOS typically looks to the CMOS chip to tell it where to find the OS, and in most PCs, the OS loads from the C drive on the hard drive even though the BIOS has the capability to load the OS from a floppy disk, CD or ZIP drive. The order of drives that the CMOS looks to in order to locate the OS is called the boot sequence, which can be changed by altering the CMOS setup. Looking to the appropriate boot drive, the BIOS will first encounter the boot record, which tells it where to find the beginning of the OS and the subsequent program file that will initialize the OS.
Once the OS initializes, the BIOS copies its files into memory and the OS basically takes over control of the boot process. Now in control, the OS performs another inventory of the system's memory and memory availability (which the BIOS already checked) and loads the device drivers that it needs to control the peripheral devices, such as a printer, scanner, optical drive, mouse and keyboard. This is the final stage in the boot process, after which the user can access the system’s applications to perform tasks.
In order for a computer to successfully boot, its BIOS, operating system and hardware components must all be working properly; failure of any one of these three elements will likely result in a failed boot sequence.
When the computer's power is first turned on, the CPU initializes itself, which is triggered by a series of clock ticks generated by the system clock. Part of the CPU's initialization is to look to the system's ROM BIOS for its first instruction in the startup program. The ROM BIOS stores the first instruction, which is the instruction to run the power-on self test (POST), in a predetermined memory address. POST begins by checking the BIOS chip and then tests CMOS RAM. If the POST does not detect a battery failure, it then continues to initialize the CPU, checking the inventoried hardware devices (such as the video card), secondary storage devices, such as hard drives and floppy drives, ports and other hardware devices, such as the keyboard and mouse, to ensure they are functioning properly.
Once the POST has determined that all components are functioning properly and the CPU has successfully initialized, the BIOS looks for an OS to load.
The BIOS typically looks to the CMOS chip to tell it where to find the OS, and in most PCs, the OS loads from the C drive on the hard drive even though the BIOS has the capability to load the OS from a floppy disk, CD or ZIP drive. The order of drives that the CMOS looks to in order to locate the OS is called the boot sequence, which can be changed by altering the CMOS setup. Looking to the appropriate boot drive, the BIOS will first encounter the boot record, which tells it where to find the beginning of the OS and the subsequent program file that will initialize the OS.
Once the OS initializes, the BIOS copies its files into memory and the OS basically takes over control of the boot process. Now in control, the OS performs another inventory of the system's memory and memory availability (which the BIOS already checked) and loads the device drivers that it needs to control the peripheral devices, such as a printer, scanner, optical drive, mouse and keyboard. This is the final stage in the boot process, after which the user can access the system’s applications to perform tasks.
Operating System Functions
What is an Operating System
The operating system is the core software component of your computer. It performs many functions and is, in very basic terms, an interface between your computer and the outside world. In the section about hardware, a computer is described as consisting of several component parts including your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other parts. The operating system provides an interface to these parts using what is referred to as "drivers". This is why sometimes when you install a new printer or other piece of hardware, your system will ask you to install more software called a driver.
What does a driver do?
A driver is a specially written program which understands the operation of the device it interfaces to, such as a printer, video card, sound card or CD ROM drive. It translates commands from the operating system or user into commands understood by the the component computer part it interfaces with. It also translates responses from the component computer part back to responses that can be understood by the operating system, application program, or user. The below diagram gives a graphical depiction of the interfaces between the operating system and the computer component.
What is an Operating System
The operating system is the core software component of your computer. It performs many functions and is, in very basic terms, an interface between your computer and the outside world. In the section about hardware, a computer is described as consisting of several component parts including your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other parts. The operating system provides an interface to these parts using what is referred to as "drivers". This is why sometimes when you install a new printer or other piece of hardware, your system will ask you to install more software called a driver.
What does a driver do?
A driver is a specially written program which understands the operation of the device it interfaces to, such as a printer, video card, sound card or CD ROM drive. It translates commands from the operating system or user into commands understood by the the component computer part it interfaces with. It also translates responses from the component computer part back to responses that can be understood by the operating system, application program, or user. The below diagram gives a graphical depiction of the interfaces between the operating system and the computer component.
The Environment Considerations in Disposal of Computer Hardware and OH+S Considerations in the Use of Computer Equipment
1800ewaste is Australia's leading ewaste collection and recycling service.
www.ewaste.com.au
Computer recycling is important to the environment as computers are kept out of landfill and recycled. 1800ewaste will collect and recycle all of the electronic products they collect and recycle 95-98% by weight. All of the data on the computers and laptops which are recycled can be guaranteed that is destroyed and certificates will be issued. 1800ewaste will only use accredited computer recyclers and electronic waste companies which are governed by ISO140001 standards. Computer recycling is above ground mining and it is important to recycle as much as we can to minimize open cut mining as much as we can.
1800ewaste is Australia's leading ewaste collection and recycling service.
www.ewaste.com.au
Computer recycling is important to the environment as computers are kept out of landfill and recycled. 1800ewaste will collect and recycle all of the electronic products they collect and recycle 95-98% by weight. All of the data on the computers and laptops which are recycled can be guaranteed that is destroyed and certificates will be issued. 1800ewaste will only use accredited computer recyclers and electronic waste companies which are governed by ISO140001 standards. Computer recycling is above ground mining and it is important to recycle as much as we can to minimize open cut mining as much as we can.
Internal Hardware components, cost, image and funtion
Motherboard: $234.00 - ASUS P5Q3 DDR3
the central printed circuit board (PCB) in some complex electronic systems, such as modern personal computers.
ASUS P5Q3 MotherboardLGA775, P45, 1600FSB, 4x DDR3-1800, 2x PCI-Ex16 v2.0, 6x SATA-II, RAID, 8Chl, Firewire.
Hard Drive (HDD) : $73.00Seagate 3.5” 500GB 7200rpm SATA or SATA II Serial ATA100 HDD Hard Disk WAS MISSING IN THE LIST – i used this Seagate one considering the price, performance and memory – 500 GB.
(500 GB Hard Drive with a SATA input (faster transfer rate))
A hard disk drive[1] (often shortened as "hard disk"[2], "hard drive"[3], or "HDD"), is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.
CD/DVD Rom drive : $36.90 - Teac DVD DrivePart #: DV516E/B/SCD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer.
Teac's DV-516E 16X max. DVD-ROM drive combines smooth DVD video playback with impressive CD-ROM performance. It supplies your PC with an even stream of data thanks to its 21.6MB (16X) per second DVD transfer rate.
USB/Portable drives : $40.63asus my cinema-p7131 se analog tv tuner pci card ntsc or pal
- the cost effective solution for tv entertainment on pc- watch analog tv programs on your pc- record analog tv programs on your pc- "asus splendid technology" for better video color enhancement- "asus videosecurity online technology" for keeping an eye on your home at all times no matter where you are.
Power Supply: $317.00
1500VA/830W Line Interactive UPS with LCD
Model: MP-5206
Guard against the unpredictability of mains power. Lightning storms, power surges, voltage sags, voltage spikes, faulty wiring are just a handful of problems that may cause damage to your computer and connected peripherals. Given the importance of computer data, a UPS is now a necessity for most business computers, data centers and some personal computers used at the home. This line interactive UPS features a wide array of protective features and gives the user the ability to monitor the status of the UPS through the backlit LCD inconjuction with the intelligent power management software (included). It will automatically regulate the voltage and frequency (AVR), giving you a reliable flow of power to your devices. The unit also protects against low/over voltage, surges, short circuits and power overloads. In the event of mains failure or low/over voltage, the UPS will switch to its battery which will last for 10-30 minutes depending on the load.The power management software includes a myriad of useful monitoring tools. The units, on the front, have a backlit� LCD which displays the input/output voltage of the device, the temperature, battery capacity, output load, UPS failure indications and much more.
Ram Memory : $183.84 - 2G DDR3 1333 KINGSTON
External hardware components and peripherals, cost, image and function
Monitor: $499.00 -Tech SpecPanel Size: 24"Panel TypeThis is used to display output created from the use of various computer programs.
Tech SpecPanel Size: 24"Panel Type: TN - Twisted NematicMaximum Resolution: 1920 X 1080Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typical)Brightness: 300 cd/m2 (typical)Response Time: 5 ms (grey-to-grey)Viewing Angle: 178° / 178° (typical)Colour Support: 16.7 million coloursPixel Pitch: 0.276 mmStand: Tilt and built-in cable managementSecurity: Kensington® security port
Keyboard: $119.95-Adesso SlimTouch Wireless 2.4 GHz RF Mini Touchpad Keyboard
Controls the operation of a computer, as well as allowing a user to type letters and numbers.
Adesso Wireless Mini-Keyboard SlimTouch excellent fit with the modern PC, flat LCD monitors and Tablet PC in the office today. He can sit in a conference room or office and can instantly go mobile easily installed in a backpack or briefcase. When on the road, USB mini-receiver plugs directly into your laptop or other computer providing connections up to 20 meters.
Adesso Wireless Mini-Keyboard SlimTouch excellent fit with the modern PC, flat LCD monitors and Tablet PC in the office today. He can sit in a conference room or office and can instantly go mobile easily installed in a backpack or briefcase. When on the road, USB mini-receiver plugs directly into your laptop or other computer providing connections up to 20 meters.
Mouse: $49.50 -Logitech® NX50 Corsica Laser Mouse
a hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around on a pad.
Printer: $358.00 - PIXMA iP4300 Photo Inkjet
An output device attached to your computer that produces printed copies on paper (hard copies).
PIXMA iP4300 Photo Inkjet Printer's patented print head and 5-color ink system, you can quickly produce spectacular, long-lasting photos with borderless edges from credit-card size up to 8.5" x 11" along with bold, laser-quality text. Its two paper trays let you hold both plain and photo paper, so you're always ready to print text or photos. And for convenience, you can print 2 sided without manually flipping over the page.The iP4300's 3,584 precision nozzles create exceptional resolutions up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi. Its 1-picoliter sized ink droplets produce exceptionally detailed photos, and thanks to genuine Canon inks and photo papers, you can create beautiful photos that last up to 100 years.Providing both USB 2.0 and DirectPrint connectivity, the iP4300 can quickly print images from your computer or you can capture an image with a PictBridge-ready digital camera/DV camcorder and print PC-free. You can even manipulate your images fom your computer with the included Easy-PhotoPrint 3.5 software
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