First of all, let me point out that Linux is not a company, or even a single product. It is a building block that companies and individuals can tailor to different needs. As such, it can provide just as closely knit compatibility with the hardware as Apple can.
Windows does not have a specific hardware platform that it has to run on, unlike Mac OS X. Microsoft does not yet force hardware manufacturers to put their drivers and hardware through rigorous testing to be used with Windows. So many manufacturers can make inferior products with poor drivers, and the bugs caused by them are often shoved towards Windows. If Microsoft required better certification (which they are starting to do in their 64-bit versions), they would achieve hardware stability on par with that of Apple.
Microsoft and Linux must contend with a wide range of peripherals. They must also try to support older peripherals as they release new versions of their software.
Apple releases software that is purposely designed to work with only a few of the most popular peripherals. They make the specs available to the manufactures who then make peripherals that will work properly with the Apple computer.
It is easier to make products that are focused on a specific market segment than to make a variety of products designed to work on a variety of computers. Manufacturers who make products for Apple computers can put an Apple icon on them and the customer will be assured that it will work. Putting a Windows icon on a product will not assure anyone that it will work on their specific set-up.
Microsoft and Linux must contend with a wide range of peripherals. They must also try to support older peripherals as they release new versions of their software.
Apple releases software that is purposely designed to work with only a few of the most popular peripherals. They make the specs available to the manufactures who then make peripherals that will work properly with the Apple computer.
It is easier to make products that are focused on a specific market segment than to make a variety of products designed to work on a variety of computers. Manufacturers who make products for Apple computers can put an Apple icon on them and the customer will be assured that it will work. Putting a Windows icon on a product will not assure anyone that it will work on their specific set-up.
Simply because Apple doesn't have to compete with other vendors for an operating system on Apple products. Apple produces both the hardware and software for their computer systems. With a Windows or Linux computer, hardware components may come from any number of manufacturers.
Microsoft and Linux must contend with a wide range of peripherals. They must also try to support older peripherals as they release new versions of their software.
Apple releases software that is purposely designed to work with only a few of the most popular peripherals. They make the specs available to the manufactures who then make peripherals that will work properly with the Apple computer.
It is easier to make products that are focused on a specific market segment than to make a variety of products designed to work on a variety of computers. Manufacturers who make products for Apple computers can put an Apple icon on them and the customer will be assured that it will work. Putting a Windows icon on a product will not assure anyone that it will work on their specific set-up.
Apple controls the design of all hardware running their software and Microsoft has no such control.
yes
No, it is a function of a special piece of software such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org. Operating system is just a middle layer between the hardware and other software to put it simply.
The HAL (hardware abstraction layer) is the layer between the OS and the hardware
The software that acts as a liason between the user and the computer's hardware and software is called as an Operating System. Microsoft's Windows operating system is the most popular and widely used. Linux is another which is free and is an open source operating system.
the HAL
Operating systems software manages the hardware on your computer, and provides an interface between the user- or application software, and the computer hardware.
Operating System have a major component called KERNEL that is designed to interact with hardware .Kernel acts as an interface between OS Shell & Hardware.
MFT
The operating system and the hardware device drivers.
Apple regulates the hardware very strictly.
The Operating System provides a consistent interface between the hardware and the applications programs. The GUI provides a consistent visual interface for some applications programs on top of the kernel and other parts of the Operating System. Microsoft claims it's part of the OS some people agree some people don't.
Operating systems are used in caculators. Operating systems act as a layer between applications and the hardware allowing for smooth operations between the two.
Operating system is interface between computer user and computer hardware.