| Windows®
is a computer software program that controls the computer.
This type of software program is called an operating system.
An operating
system fits in between the computer hardware and the application programs
(e.g. ScotWeave) that you run on the computer. It allows the application
program to talk to the computer hardware. Without an operating system
a computer cannot startup.
The operating
system controls the mouse, keyboard, disk drives, computer screen
and any other devices attached to the computer but you must have
some kind of applications software (e.g. ScotWeave, word processor,
database etc.) in order to perform useful tasks on the computer.
A computer with only an operating system and no applications software
is of very limited use.
Windows®
is the current industry standard operating system for desktop computers
and is written by the Microsoft® Corporation in the USA.
There are several different version of Windows available at present
as listed below -
Windows 3.1/Windows for Workgroups
This was
the first commercial version of Windows that was widely available.
It is now obsolete and has been completely replaced by the versions
below.
Windows®
95
This was the first of the “new” Windows versions but is
no longer available to buy. It introduced an new look and feel to
Windows which is still with us now. Windows
95 was a great improvement over Windows 3.1 and it was probably
this operating system that assured the future of Windows.
Windows®
98/Windows® 98 SE
Released to replace Windows 95, Windows 98 is still available on
desktop PCs. Windows 98 was intended to improve the functionality
of Windows 95 by keeping the best features but adding new ones and
addressing some of the criticism of Windows 95. There
were some problems with early versions of Windows 98 and the "SE"
version was released to fix these. However, many users preferred
to stay with Windows 95 rather than upgrade to 98.
Windows® Millennium Edition/Windows® 98 ME
This is the last and final "version" of Windows 98 before
it was to be replaced by Windows 2000. It has enhanced features,
many of the Windows 98 problems fixed, and a little of the "feel"
of Windows 2000.
Windows®
NT4
This version of Windows is aimed more at the business user and is
very good, robust operating system. Setup and maintenance is a little
more complicated that Windows 98/2000 so NT4 cannot be recommended
to a complete beginner with no on-site computer support. Later version
of Windows NT4 share the look and file of Windows 95/98 and have
more advanced security features, although support for printers,
scanners and other devices is not as comprehensive as for 95/98.
Windows®
2000
This represented the first in a new line of Windows which sits somewhere
between Windows 98 and NT4. It uses some of the best features of
NT4 but is simpler and easier for the home user to setup and operate.
Windows®
XP
This is the latest version of Windows and was launched in October
2001. Eventually this will become the only version of Windows, replacing
both 2000 and NT4. It is sold in two versions - a Home version and
a Professional version and includes all of the best features or
NT4 and 2000 plus new features designed to improve the look and
feel of Windows.
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