Overview - The Operating System
The operating system is one of the most important components of any computer system. This is the system that runs the computer at its most basic level. Without an operating system, a computer is a lifeless box.
Operating systems are responsible for everything from starting up the computer when you push the "on" button to high level system security. The type of operating system a computer has also determines what types of software can be run on it.
From a career standpoint, the level of knowledge you have about a particular operating system will determine what types of jobs you might be qualified for. If you decide, for example, that your career goal is to write entertainment software to run on Apple Computers, you would need to have a strong understanding of the Apple Mac Operating System (also known as Mac OS)
System Administrators, in particular, need to have in depth knowledge of various Operating Systems.
Top Operating Systems
There are several popular operating systems that you should know about. The top three current favorites are: