PhoneBoy Reviews: Microsoft Operating Systems
An operating system is software that controls access between the user,
programs, and hardware. Each operating system performs this function differently.
As such, some are better than others at things like multitasking (using
multiple applications at the same time), networking, and usability. This
week I will talk about the Microsoft operating systems available for Intel-x86-based
computers: MS-DOS/Windows 3.11, Windows 95 and Windows NT. Others exist,
but these are ones I've had direct experience with and these are the most
common operating systems in use.
MS-DOS/Windows
Despite what Microsoft wants, the MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.11 combination
is still a very common configuration on a lot of systems, mostly because
of the hardware requirements to run the other operating systems or the
need to run certain legacy applications that will not run on other Microsoft
operating systems. MS-DOS is the operating system portion of things and
Windows 3.11 is simply a "program" that runs under MS-DOS to provide a
"Windowing Environment" that other applications can be written to run under.
Unfortunately, this environment is pretty unstable. Though it is possible
to run multiple applications at once, Windows is very slow at it and, especially
with network applications, has a propensity to "crash" a lot.
Windows 95
Windows 95 is much better than Windows 3.11. First off, it looks a hell
of a lot nicer. It will run a large majority of applications that run under
Windows 3.11 a lot better. Windows 95-specific applications (or any written
to the Win32-subsystem) are much nicer and well-behaved than their Windows
3.11 counterparts. Even when a program crash occurs (which, in my experience,
isn't all that often), they usually happen much more nicely than in Windows
3.11 where, as is often the case, it is best to reboot the entire computer
when the a program gives you a "General Protection Fault." The network
setup is much more tied into the operating system and more sophisticated
than it is in Windows 3.11. In general, it is a big step-up from the DOS/Windows
kludge.
The downside to running Windows 95 is that it requires a bit more memory
and processing power than DOS/Windows does. You can theoretically install
Windows 95 on a 4-megabyte 386. I talked to someone on IRC who did exactly
that. I also read in the "Windows 95 Resource Kit" by Microsoft Press that
it was basically doable. A more realistic configuration to run Windows
95 is a 486DX/50 with at least 16 megabytes of RAM.
Windows NT
Windows NT is the next-step up in Microsoft operating system, and it's
the OS that Microsoft is really trying to get people to migrate to. NT
4.0 incorporates the Windows 95 "Look and Feel" as well as some "under
the hood" improvements from NT 3.51, the last release of NT. It is designed
for real "power users" and those using their computer to provide services
to others or other circumstances where access to the computer and data
must be more tightly controlled. As such, it was designed to run many applications
at once in such a way that problems that occur in one program do not affect
others that may be running. Two varieties of NT exist: Workstation and
Server. Essentially, the two are the same, though "server" comes bundled
with Internet Information Server, a DNS server, and other things.
Like on Unix systems, you have to "log in" to the computer once NT is
intsalled. The access levels and permissions you are granted by the "Administrator"
account will determine what you can or can't do. Legacy Windows 3.11 and
MS-DOS applications are supported thru an emulated sub-system. Most Windows
95 applications will also run since they are written to the Win32 SubSystem
standard that Microsoft has created. Some of these programs, particularly
games, often access hardware directly to increase performance or for other
reasons. These programs will not run under Windows NT as access to the
hardware must go thru the "Hardware Abstraction Layer," a subsystem in
Windows NT that mediates access to the hardware. This is the primary reason
that a home user should not upgrade to Windows NT -- yet. On the other
hand, what Windows NT can do it does more stably. Most program crashes
will not take Windows NT down, whereas a badly-written Windows 3.1 or (to
a lesser degree) a Windows 95 program can bring the entire house of cards
down.
Which OS is right for you?
Of the Microsoft Operating Systems, I'd have to say that for most people
who are just doing word processing and Internet surfing, Windows 95 is
the best thing to
run. It offers many improvements over DOS/Windows, especially in the
area of connecting up with the Internet. It runs all but a few of the old
Windows 3.11 and
DOS programs, and will be the operating system that most consumer-grade
applications will be written for. If you're buying a new computer, get
Windows 95 on it.
Also make sure you get Windows 95 on seperate floppies or CD-ROM in
case you have problems.
The bottom line, though is: Does what you have right now suit your need?
If so, then upgrading may cause you more headaches than it will save you.
If you want to
go from DOS/Windows to Windows 95, I strongly recommend you not try
and upgrade your existing Windows 3.11 setup as you will create many more
problems
in Windows 95 by doing so.
Last Update: 8 July 1997
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