Difference between revisions of "Windows"
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| + | |Introduction= | ||
| + | Microsoft Windows is a graphical user interface based operating system that has dominated the personal computer market for well over a decade. Since it was originally introduced in the 1980s the system has evolved from a Graphical User Interface add-on for MS-DOS based systems into a full-fledged operating system for both personal and corporate use. When all versions are taken into account, Windows is installed on approximately 85-90% of personal computers worldwide. While Microsoft Windows Vista is the most recent version of OS, Windows XP still constitutes the largest number of installs (both within the windows family and for all operating systems). | ||
| − | < | + | |...by students=<em>How much is that puppy in the windows?</em> |
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| − | + | ==Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain:== | |
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| + | An easy way to look at the Windows operating system as having two primary functions. The first and most important function is simply to make the computer run. The operating system micromanages the flow of data around the computer to accomplish the tasks that it has been given. The second function is to provide the visual side of the operating system. In other words, Windows provides the visual environment for the user to interact with the system and tell it what they need it to do. | ||
| + | The massive rise in popularity of Windows and other [[Mac|visual operating systems]] helped begin a trend towards user friendliness in personal computing. The days of memorizing command line options and text-only entry quickly disappeared, replaced by welcoming visual interfaces. Studies have shown that human beings have a much easier time with recognition (learning by seeing) than with recall (Memorizing things, command line functions for example). Suddenly it took a lot less technical knowledge to use a computer and as a result the door was opened to a massive new pool of users and uses. | ||
| − | + | Many computer users have used Windows-based systems for a significant portion of their computing lives. With each generation of the software users have become further and further removed from the actual operating system side of the Windows platform. This separation has reached the point where the average user can more or less ignore the back end portion of their system unless a specific problem occurs. We can more or less treat the bare bones operation of the system as the titular “man behind the curtain.” This philosophy of hiding the portion of the system that a relatively small percentage of users will ever really use is certainly not unique to Windows and in fact has been further refined into the concept known as [[What is Cloud Computing?|Cloud Computing]]. | |
| + | ==What's really going on behind the scenes?== | ||
| + | Many users have the impression that Windows just sits in the background not doing much while we write our emails or play our games. This is far from the truth. Windows is constantly micromanaging every single thing that’s happening on your computer. | ||
| + | Take a simple task such as swapping between windows on your taskbar. You can do this by either clicking on the window in the task bar, or ALT-TAB swapping to that window. To the user, this happens more or less instantly. This creates the illusion that window2 was simply chugging away behind window1 and waiting for you to look at it again. | ||
| − | + | To see what actually happened in this example it might be helpful to think of Windows as the most nitpicky boss or supervisor you've ever had. In the time between when you asked for the other window and when it appeared for you, the following occured: | |
| − | + | #Your computer was focused on running window1. | |
| + | #Windows received a signal that you wanted to change windows. This type of signal (called an interrupt) communicates with the operating system and says: “Hey Windows, I need you to do something for me.” | ||
| + | #Windows wakes up and takes control of your system away from window1. | ||
| + | #Windows determines what command you asked to do, in this case: ''Change to window2''. | ||
| + | #Windows takes everything associated with window1 (such as the current data you were using, what’s about to happen next in the program etc…) and puts it in storage for now. | ||
| + | #Windows next loads everything needed for window2 and prepares it to run. | ||
| + | #Windows hands over control to window2 then goes back to sleep until the next interrupt. | ||
| + | This is of course a dramatic over-simplification, in reality Windows is doing this nearly constantly as it waits for anything that takes a proportionally long time such as user input, or a hard drive load. | ||
| − | + | ==Security== | |
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| − | + | Windows bad, very bad! | |
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| − | + | ==References== | |
Revision as of 02:46, 25 November 2008
IntroductionMicrosoft Windows is a graphical user interface based operating system that has dominated the personal computer market for well over a decade. Since it was originally introduced in the 1980s the system has evolved from a Graphical User Interface add-on for MS-DOS based systems into a full-fledged operating system for both personal and corporate use. When all versions are taken into account, Windows is installed on approximately 85-90% of personal computers worldwide. While Microsoft Windows Vista is the most recent version of OS, Windows XP still constitutes the largest number of installs (both within the windows family and for all operating systems).
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...by studentsHow much is that puppy in the windows? |
blah blah
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Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain:
An easy way to look at the Windows operating system as having two primary functions. The first and most important function is simply to make the computer run. The operating system micromanages the flow of data around the computer to accomplish the tasks that it has been given. The second function is to provide the visual side of the operating system. In other words, Windows provides the visual environment for the user to interact with the system and tell it what they need it to do.
The massive rise in popularity of Windows and other visual operating systems helped begin a trend towards user friendliness in personal computing. The days of memorizing command line options and text-only entry quickly disappeared, replaced by welcoming visual interfaces. Studies have shown that human beings have a much easier time with recognition (learning by seeing) than with recall (Memorizing things, command line functions for example). Suddenly it took a lot less technical knowledge to use a computer and as a result the door was opened to a massive new pool of users and uses.
Many computer users have used Windows-based systems for a significant portion of their computing lives. With each generation of the software users have become further and further removed from the actual operating system side of the Windows platform. This separation has reached the point where the average user can more or less ignore the back end portion of their system unless a specific problem occurs. We can more or less treat the bare bones operation of the system as the titular “man behind the curtain.” This philosophy of hiding the portion of the system that a relatively small percentage of users will ever really use is certainly not unique to Windows and in fact has been further refined into the concept known as Cloud Computing.
What's really going on behind the scenes?
Many users have the impression that Windows just sits in the background not doing much while we write our emails or play our games. This is far from the truth. Windows is constantly micromanaging every single thing that’s happening on your computer.
Take a simple task such as swapping between windows on your taskbar. You can do this by either clicking on the window in the task bar, or ALT-TAB swapping to that window. To the user, this happens more or less instantly. This creates the illusion that window2 was simply chugging away behind window1 and waiting for you to look at it again.
To see what actually happened in this example it might be helpful to think of Windows as the most nitpicky boss or supervisor you've ever had. In the time between when you asked for the other window and when it appeared for you, the following occured:
- Your computer was focused on running window1.
- Windows received a signal that you wanted to change windows. This type of signal (called an interrupt) communicates with the operating system and says: “Hey Windows, I need you to do something for me.”
- Windows wakes up and takes control of your system away from window1.
- Windows determines what command you asked to do, in this case: Change to window2.
- Windows takes everything associated with window1 (such as the current data you were using, what’s about to happen next in the program etc…) and puts it in storage for now.
- Windows next loads everything needed for window2 and prepares it to run.
- Windows hands over control to window2 then goes back to sleep until the next interrupt.
This is of course a dramatic over-simplification, in reality Windows is doing this nearly constantly as it waits for anything that takes a proportionally long time such as user input, or a hard drive load.
Security
Windows bad, very bad!
