Operating System : Types

• As computers have progressed and developed so have the types of operating systems.
• Below is a basic list of the different types of operating systems and a few examples of operating systems that fall into each of the categories.
• Many computer operating systems will fall into more than one of the below categories.

1)Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• A GUI Operating System contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse.
• Below are some examples of GUI Operating Systems.

1. Windows XP
2. Windows Vista
3. Windows 7

2) Multi-user

• A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and/or different times.
• Below are some examples of multi-user operating systems.

1. Linux
2. Unix
3. Windows 2000

3) Multiprocessing

• An operating system capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor.
• Below are some examples of multiprocessing operating systems.

1. Linux
2. Unix 
3. Windows 2000

  

4) Multitasking

• An operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time.
• Below are some examples of multitasking operating systems.

1. Unix
2. Windows 2000

5) Multithreading

• Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run alongside each other.
• Operating systems that would fall into this category are:

1. Linux
2. Unix
3. Windows 2000