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Student Corner |
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Which Operating System ?
{{ Windows refers to Microsoft and X Windows refers to Linux }} {{ I listed the cost price for your reference only }} X Windows If you are really budget, then use Linux ( free of cost and licensing fees, no joke), it will costs you around US$ 10.00 for the minibooks and the CD {OS and all the application in X Windows} (such as something like MsOffice, internet, games, networking, graphic, entertainment, burning software) even can do programming. But it is not too suitable for latest games. User Friendly ? quite Ok but still need to improve !! Turbo Linux (download for free) - boasting workstation and supercomputing solutions. Caldera Open Linux - (download for free) - easy to install, user friendly, suitable for home user. Corel Linux - (download for free) - easy to install, user friendly, suitable for home user. Debian GNU / Linux - (download for free) - great with management tools. Linux Mandrake - (download for free) - comes with an impressive list of third-party software such as Staroffice and Interbase (a back end database). Red Hat Linux - (download for free) - useful for new users insecure in their knnowledge of computing. It for mission-critical serving environments. Slackware - (download for free) - not user-friendly, for those who understaanding of Unix and Linux. Similar Debian GNU / Linux. SUSE Linux - (download for free) - closely resembles that of Caldera's OpenLinux. Including StarOffice and RPM compliant. You might ask which one should you install ? It's vary significantly in their focus and application but all similar. Desktop - Red Hat, Linux mandrake, Turbolinux Worktation, Corel Linux and SuSE. Non-graphical server / network environment - Red Hat, Debian and Slackware.
Windows Nowadays, WinXp ( costs US$120 ) had combined Win9x and NT version together. It run much more stable and more application in it. For normal user, not mentioned graphic designer , engineer and programmer, what application should be install into the Windows Xp ? Software is costs more than hardware, so make sure it's worth to buy. 1. Microsoft Office - US$ 300.00 2. Direct CD copy Not necessary to install other burning CD software, you can just copy and paste files or mp3 to the CD in Windows Xp. If you wanted to burn you music from mp3 to CD format, use Windows Media Player, it will automatics convert. 3. USB camera software ( Normally, it's come together with the camera.). Not necessary to buy, can use Windows Movie Maker,. 4. Internet All provided in Windows --> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook and Windows Messenger. At outlook express or Microsoft Outlook have an address book, so you can key in your friends address, if you doesn't know where he from, click view map and it will show the map where he from anywhere in this world.
Windows 98 vs Macs A comparison of user interfaces An efficient User Interface is one which provides an environment which allows you and your computer to communicate with each other in an effective manner. The interface allows the user to see, hear, touch or talk to the software that is being utilised. • The object-orientated user interface allows the computer user to concentrate on the work in progress not on how and when to press buttons to input requests and output procedures. Macintosh 8.5.1 - Macs allow you to open a file and work on regardlessly . That is you can save when you want, print when you want, alternate between applications (ie. word processing, internet) and still have more than one application running at a time. • The user should always feel in control of the operational interface, playing an "active" rather than "reactive" role. Macintosh 8.5.1 - The Macintosh user interface lets the user be in charge. Whatever the user tells the computer to do, the computer will perform it - but only at the instruction of the user. eg. changing the font style in a document can only be done by the user and only when the text is highlighted by the user. • Users should be able to personalise aspects of the user inteface. Macintosh 8.5.1 - Macs allow you to personalise your computer screen with colour, sound, text style etc. You can choose a desktop pattern and screen saver. Other options include single and double clicks to activate applications and the speed of your typing. • Good interface design allows the user to learn by trial and error, warning users about potential errors and how the user can recover from mistakes. Macintosh 8.5.1 - The Macintosh interface allows the user to learn by trial and error by showing information and warning messages when appropriate or by issuing an alarm sound, making the user aware of the possible consequences of that action. • Consistent interface design makes the interface familiar and predictable. Macintosh 8.5.1 - Familiarity in the Macintosh user interface is evident in the way graphical icons and other features very rarely change. eg. the trash can will always represent the area in which files are dumped to be deleted; icons and options in the menu bar are generally in the same order from program to program ie. File, Edit. • The software interface should allow visibility of information and choices so that users can recognise a command easily. Macintosh 8.5.1 - The presence of icons to represent commands plus the listing of these commands in menus allows the user to identify immediately what the results of that command will be, eg. the B icon in a word processing program will obviously make type bold. Both Macintosh and Windows 98 user interfaces allows the user to undertake the same functions even though the processes may slightly differ. We think that familiarity is the key to which user interface is preferred by the individual user. For example, a person who has used a Macintosh for a number of years, will obviously feel more confident and secure by using Macs, and this applies to Window users as well. www.often.tk 2004 |
I myself using Ret Hat and
Turbolinux with Microsoft Windows at one system.