Operating System 2

System: "A group of interacting elements functioning as a complex whole."(Concise American Heritage Dictionary) .

(DOS)

The disk operating system was developed in 1981 for IBM's first personal computer. (Other names for this system are PC-DOS and MS-DOS.) There have been six versions of DOS (meaning the first DOS system has been improved six times). At first DOS had only a command line that the user could input instructions into. It was difficult to use, since the user had to memorize many commands. The DOS shell was later developed which provided a menu for users to choose from so that the system was easier to use. Deleting of files could be accomplished, but took several steps to complete.

Most computers come bundled with the latest version of DOS already installed on the hard drive. In WINDOWS 95, DOS is installed as an option on the WINDOWS 95 exit menu. DOS is still used, especially for those of us who like the DOS computer games.The games seem to run faster since the WINDOWS 95 graphical interface does not have to run. Also applications that do not need a graphical interface also run faster in DOS. Powerful business programs like Lotus 123 for DOS is an example of DOS being used. Basic word processing programs also do not need the power of the graphical interface if you are going to work on text or text based applications.

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WINDOWS 3.1

(required 2 MB of RAM to operate but 4 MB recommended)

WINDOWS 3.1 was Microsoft's answer to a graphical user interface (you can use on screen pictures to activate the computer to start programs). WINDOWS 3.1 provides icons that you can manipulate by way of a pointing device such as a mouse or keyboard. There are pull down menus, and allowed a lot easier way to learn and use new software. The best feature was letting the user work on more than one program at a time on the screen (multitasking). The data transfer rate was a lot faster, too.

Other Features:

File manager included a copy utility.

Deleting and highlighting the file in the File Manager allowed for easier file maintenance.

You could double click on a program icon to start the program.

You could have an 8 character filename with a 3 character extension. A period (.) was used to separate the filename from the extension.

Software was downward WINDOWS compatible(you could use software designed for earlier versions of the operating system (such as WINDOWS 3.0).

Note: Windows 3.1 did not include network software, so if you wanted to network computers, a network operating system was required such as NOVELL NETWARE.

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WINDOWS forWORKGROUPS 3.11

In order for two or more people to work together on the same datafile on a local area network, a software called groupware was required. WINDOWS for WORKGROUPS was the answer to that problem. (Two or more individuals working together on a file or project is referred to as a workgroup). This is similar to the interactive games where a person can play against another person on the same game at different computers. (QUAKE is a good example of this type of file sharing.)

Features of Workgroups:

Document Routing: This is the electronic forwarding of a document so that all the people who need to see and approve the document can do this electronically through the computer without having to physically walk it through the channels. It provides multi-level approval.

Desktop Videoconferencing: This is real live video of a meeting in real-time through the computer. Group scheduling of meetings and confirmation of meetings.

Group editing or revising of the same document from different locations. E-mail options.

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