计算机专业英语课后题第四,计算机专业英语课后问答题答案5

第五章

1. Describe system software. What are the four types of system programs?

System software works with end users, application software, and computer hardware to handle the majority of technical details. System software is not a single program.

Rather it is a collection or a system of programs that handle hundreds of technical details with little or no user intervention. System software consists of four types of programs: Operating systems coordinate computer resources, provide an interface between users and the computer, and run applications.

Utilities, also known as service programs, perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources.

Device drivers are specialized programs that allow particular input or output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer system.

Language translators convert the programming instructions written by programmers into a language that computers understand and process.

2. What are the basic functions of every operating system? What are the three basic

operating system categories?

Every operating system performs various functions. These functions are:

Managing resources: These programs coordinate all the computer’s resources

including memory, processing, storage, and devices such as printers and monitors. They also monitor system performance, schedule jobs, provide security, and start up the computer.

Providing user interface: Users interact with application programs and computer hardware through a user interface.

Running applications: These programs load and run applications such as word

processors and spreadsheets. Most operating systems support multitasking, or the ability to switch between different applications stored in memory.

The three main categories of Operating systems are:

Embedded operating systems - The entire operating system is stored within or embedded in the device and permanently stored on ROM.

Network operating systems (NOS) are used to control and coordinate computers that are networked or linked together.

Stand-alone operating systems control a single desktop or notebook computer.

3. Explain the differences and similarities between Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

They all perform the basic functions of an operating system. They manage resources, provide a user interface, and run applications. They all use a graphical user interface, and can network small groups of computers.

The differences are as follows:

Windows – has 90 percent of the market operating system market share, more

application programs are developed to run under Windows than any other operating system, designed to run with Intel and Intel-compatible microprocessors. The new version, Vista, has Advanced system security, a Three-dimensional workspace, and utilizes WinFS, makes it possible to locate files based on a description of their content.