Operating System
The operating system (OS) is an application like Microsoft Windows XP or Mac OSX Lion that is designed to enable computer hardware to function with computer software in a sufficient and capable manner. Without the operating system, software and hardware in computers would be pointless, because they would have no way to have their functions executed. This execution of operations between computer software and hardware is the purpose of the operating system. It is also meant to direct and control all data within the computer. Especially new data from objects that are not a part of the computer. On top of this, its job is to direct all this data and other relevant information to the computer monitor. Its jobs of directing and controlling information makes it comparable to a traffic control officer in the middle of a busy city street. The operating system even assists in the protection of computers against viruses. The functioning process of the operating system is somewhat complex. All information within the computer's applications are sent to the operating system, which sends this information to the computer's softwares, output devices and CPU. This process of data being sent out from the operating system is what triggers the initial activity of all these receiving components. Without the operating system, computers would virtually be incapable of doing anything, therefore, they would be ineffective. The operating system affects end users because it is 100% responsible for the computer being effective. If a student had a computer with no operating system, they would quickly realize that the computer would be largely unresponsive to their commands and the computer's speed and capabilities would be substantially low. The computer would also be unresponsive to the students attempts at directing their actions on the computer. In the end, a student would have virtually no chance of even beginning school work if their computer had no operating system. This potential problem could ruin a student's school marks to a large degree. The specifications students should look for when searching for a good operating system include Windows 8 (Microsoft) or OSX Mountain Lion 10.8 (Macintosh). Also, make sure to get a good amount of RAM (3 or 4 GB would do fine).
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/o/os.htm
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-operating-system.htm
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFYWRlpmbR8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matsuyuki/2307871986/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizmac/5957712195/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdPbGwqP0bU
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_an_operating_system_work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/operating-system.htm
http://www.adachicomputech.com/blog/2012/07/why-operating-systems-are-so-important/
http://www.maine.gov/msl/commons/jobs/purchaseComputer.pdf
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5636&p=2
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-operating-system.htm
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFYWRlpmbR8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matsuyuki/2307871986/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizmac/5957712195/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdPbGwqP0bU
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_an_operating_system_work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/operating-system.htm
http://www.adachicomputech.com/blog/2012/07/why-operating-systems-are-so-important/
http://www.maine.gov/msl/commons/jobs/purchaseComputer.pdf
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5636&p=2