• An operating system (OS) is the computer program which translates user input into instructions for the hardware components of a computer or other technological device. An OS may provide a graphical interface through which a user can manage file systems, maintain hardware and install additional programs.

• 1. Microsoft Windows is the most common operating systemLinuxWorld: IDC - Consolidation to Windows won't happen
  2. Apple Software also designs a proprietary line of OSes for their computers
  3. Hundreds of different operating systems are also availableOperating System Documentation Project: List about existing operating systems
  4. Windows Vista has over 50 million lines of codeForbes.com: Dim Vista (February 26, 2007)
  5. Open source operating systems are also available
  6. Linux-based Ubuntu is the fastest growing open source operating systemCNET News: Survey finds Ubuntu is the fastest-growing Linux distribution (February 10, 2008)

• Open Source Solutions

  Open source programs are a popular solution for smaller pieces of software designed for specific purposes. But open source operating systems based on Linux are also common. They are a little more complicated to use than their commercial counterparts,Maximum PC: You Can Switch to Linux! (May 8, 2007) but are more easily customized for a user's specific purposes.

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