What's An Operating System?

An operating system is the software, or collection of software, that makes the use of a computer for the user possible. Most people will just think an operating system is another name for Windows. But Windows is actually just one type of operating system:

The most common operating systems that are in use today would be:

• Windows
  This is built mainly for business and home computing.
  
  
• Linux
  A free Unix style operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world. This operating system is becoming very poplar with networking professionals. Software applications are widely available and are often free. Linux is also starting to develop a liking by advance home users as an alternative to Windows operating systems.
  
  
• Mac OS
  Name of operating system used by Macintosh computers. Originally, the Macintosh operating systems were called System x.xx (x represented the version numbers). System is no longer used since the release of Mac OS 8.

Full list of operating systems