Computer Software

Communications Software Software used to communicate with other computers or people. Examples: Internet Applications (MS Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator Fax (Win Fax) (MS Outlook, MS Exchange, Eudora, Pegasus)

Operating System Software These programs start up the computer and function as the principal co-ordinator of all hardware components and applications software programs. Examples: Windows (3.x, 95, 98, ME, XP) Windows NT, 2000 MacintoshUNIXLINUXOS/390

Graphics Software Software used to create graphics Examples: Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Quark XPress Adobe PageMaker CorelDraw

System Software Designed to allow the computer to manage its own resources and run basic operations Utility software Systems software includes compilers, loaders, linkers, and debuggers

Entertainment & Leisure Software Software used to have fun The software must be installed on your computer Examples: Games (Doom 3, WarCraft III ) Simulations (Flight Simulator)

Application Software Software used to complete specific tasks like create an essay or write a memo.

Business Software Software used to create business documents Examples: Word Processing (MS Word, Word Perfect) Spreadsheet (MS Excel, Quattro Pro) Database (MS Access, FoxPro)

Educational & Reference Software Software used to research. The software must be installed on your computer Examples:BritannicaDictionaries Reference Books

Internet Security The software used on your computer to ensure your machine stays safe from hackers and viruses Examples:FirewallsAntiVirus

Operating Systems (OS) The principal piece of system software in any computer system. Consists of the master programs (supervisor) that manage the basic operations of the computer Allows you to concentrate on your own tasks or applications rather than on the complexities of managing the computer It interprets the commands you give to run programs and allows you to interact with the programs while they are running It is automatically loaded into the main memory as soon as you “boot” your computer

Platform The type of computer architecture, or family. For the most part, software created for one type of platform will not run, without special arrangements, on other platforms. E.g. IBM, Macintosh. iMac G5 1.8GHz PC Sony VAIO All-In-One Desktop with Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz

Command-driven vs. Menu- driven Interface User interface: Controls the manner of interaction between the user and the operating system Command-driven interface The user must type in strings of characters to issue commands. The mouse may NOT be used Menu-driven interface The user is provided with menus (on-screen lists of options to choose from) that are used to issue commands

Multitasking The execution of two or more programs by one user concurrently on the same computer with one central processor

GUI Stands for graphical user interface Uses pictorial figures called icons to represent tasks, functions, and programs Uses windows They divide the display screen into sections. Each window may show a different display. Permits the liberal use of both the keyboard and the mouse Icons Tasks Window

OLE Stands for Object Linking and Embedding Developed by MS to support documents that contain or reference other documents Now a basic component of Win 95/98/2000/ME/XP/NT An Excel Spreadsheet double clicked within Word

OLE Cont’d Allows one application to access the services and data of another. For example, an object such as a video clip can be embedded into a text document, which is then called the client application or OLE container When the object is double clicked, the application that created it, called the OLE server, is launched so that you can edit or play the object

DOS Stands for Disk Operating System The oldest commonly used microcomputer operating system Runs on IBM (PC DOS) and compatible microcomputers (Compaq, AST, Dell, Gateway, etc.) MS DOS is created by Microsoft (hence the MS) Command-driven, single-user program

OS/2 Stands for Operating System 2 Designed to run on IBM and compatible machines Does not need DOS to run underneath it and has a GUI called the workplace shell (WPS) which uses icons resembling documents, folders, printers, etc. Can run on most DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications programs simultaneously. Don’t need to get rid of old applications First OS to take full advantage of the power of the Intel Pentium microprocessors Designed to connect small hand-held personal computers to large mainframes

Windows 3.x An operating environment that lays a GUI shell around the DOS operating system and extends DOS’s capabilities Windows lets you display your work in windows (rectangular portion of the video display area with a title on top) on a desktop. It supports multitasking Windows 3.1 Desktop

Windows 95/98/ME/XP Major upgrade designed to replace Win 3.X True multitasking operating system, not requiring the separate DOS program GUI is integrated into the OS It uses windows and a desktop Used for mid- networking/Peer-to- peer. Windows XP Desktop

Windows NT/2000 Multitasking and multiprocessing system with an integrated GUI. Intended to support large networks (multi- user system)

OS/390 The IBM operating system for mainframe and large server computers It is used by more computers than any other OS in the world Payroll, accounts receivable, transaction processing, database management, and other programs critical to the world's largest businesses are usually run on this OS It also comes with UNIX user and programming interfaces built in It can be used as both a mainframe and a UNIX system at the same time

Netware A network needs network operating system software (NOS) to provide it with multi-user, multitasking capabilities facilitates communications, resource sharing, and security, thereby providing the basic framework of the LAN Consists of modules that are distributed throughout the LAN environment

Mac Desktop Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS) Easy to use interface because hardware and software were designed together Set the standard for icon-orientated GUI and plug-and-playperipheral hook ups New MacOS

Unix Oldest “portable” operating system Multi-user, multi-tasking operating system with built- in networking capability and versions that can run on all kinds of computers Primary users are government agencies, universities, large corporations, and banks

Linux A UNIX-like operating system designed to provide personal computer users a free or very low-cost operating system comparable to traditional and usually more expensive UNIX systems. It has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system remarkably complete operating system, including a graphical user interface, and other components usually found in a comprehensive UNIX system comes in versions for all the major microprocessorplatforms

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