A Quick Review of Computers and Operating Systems

or

Why General Foundational Knowledge is More Important than In-Depth Understanding of Some Particular OS

We look at a brief history of operating systems and computers with an acknowledgement that the process appears to be cyclic.

• Mainframe computers
  • early single program computers
  • multi-program operating systems
  • multi-user operating systems
  • mini computers with Unix
• Personal computers
  • early single program-at-a-time computers and operating systems
  • multi-program operating systems
  • multi-user operating systems
• Internet computing
  • web browsers
  • web applets
  • web services
  • Google as your operating system

Quiz

Quiz 1 was given at the end of the class period.