What are the most common operating systems?

The Operating System of a computer must be considered when selecting Assistive Technology to be used to for accessing the computer, or accessing information displayed upon the computer monitor. It can be very frustrating to have purchased an application-- and learn it is not compatible with the operating system of your computer.

The operating system of a computer performs basic tasks such as: recognizing information from the keyboard and mouse, sending information to the monitor, storing of information to the hard drive, and controlling device peripherals as printers and flatbed scanners.

Operating systems provide the basis for running common applications such as word processors and Internet browsers. Operating systems are also responsible for running Assistive Technology applications such as screen magnifiers, and applications that read text aloud.


Common Operating Systems

Windows XP Professional
This is built upon the Windows 2000 architecture and ideal for business and advanced home computing.

Windows XP Home
An upgrade to Windows ME incorporating some of the features and functionality of Windows XP Professional.

Windows 2000
This is built upon the Windows NT architecture and the best choice for most business uses. This is NOT an upgrade of Windows 98.

Mac OS X

While a version of Mac OS X comes pre-installed on all Apple Macintosh computers, users must pay if they wish to use newer versions when they become available. The system is not open source, so only Apple developers have the ability to legitimately make alterations or improvements to its code. It differs from other computer operating systems in that it only works on Apple computers. Its key feature is its usability. The most recent version as of the date of publication includes a "resume" feature that re-opens applications in the same state they were in when you last closed them. It also includes a "Mission Control" feature, which allows you to see all of your open files at a glance





Work Cited:
"Operating Systems Commonly Used on Personal Computers." Operating Systems Commonly Used on Personal Computers. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. http://abilityhub.com/information/os.htm.

Five Common Operating Systems." Small Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/five-common-operating-systems-28217.html>.