Updated May 30, 2023
Introduction to Windows
Windows is an operating system that manages a personal computer, known as a series of programs. It is a Microsoft-developed graphical operating system. This offers a way of data, running apps, playing video games, streaming videos, and internet access. Microsoft was first created in November 1985 and has frequently been modified as computer memory expanded, as chips got faster processing, and, of course, when the internet was invented. PCs used a set of text commands before Windows. After that, more than a dozen versions were released, including the latest Windows 10 edition.
Applications of Windows
Windows has already developed a range of valuable applications. Such applications will help you with many popular activities, including Web surfing, calendar management, and music shopping.
You can open most of these applications with a click on the Start button and then click on the user’s icon. You might need to navigate to the Start screen to find the app you’re searching for.
1. Web Browsers
Internet Explorer is one of the best-known Internet applications, mainly because many Windows models have bundled it in the last 20 years. The GUI and most common web browser features include your favorite bookmarking pages. Microsoft Edge substitutes Windows 10 for Internet Explorer but serves the same function. It has some additional features via Internet Explorer, including the option of easy-to-read and integrated Web pages with other Windows 10 components.
2. Productivity
Multiple productivity features, such as handling e-mails and schedules, following directions, and organizing notes, are included in Windows 8 and 10. Mail and Calendar are software that links your accounts, for example, to Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Within these services, you synchronize your mailboxes and calendars and display them on your computer in a single window.
Maps is a Bing Maps app that allows you to use all the same navigation and search apps. It also introduces a few additional functionalities, such as pinning and saving instructions on all Windows tools. One Note, which initially came with Microsoft Office, is the advanced notice management program, but now it’s a default Windows 10 feature. OneNote helps you create a notes list that you can search and share.
3. Settings
You can change the settings and configurations of your computer in the Control Panel. The Windows 8 Settings app provides you with access, for the most part, to your device settings, but instead of the traditional Windows, the modern tablet model.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Given below are the advantages and disadvantages mentioned:
Advantages:
- Ease to Use: The more modern ones are possibly simple for users familiar with previous versions. Perhaps that is due to the uniform look and feel of virtually perhaps the systems and the way the file system has been implemented since the days of MS Windows.
- Available Software: It is equipped with an extensive range of applications. This is because of and why Microsoft is a world leader in Desktop operating systems and bureau applications. When searching for your business program, a Windows version will likely be available somewhere if the product exists.
- Backward Compatibility: If you currently use the older edition and need more up-to-date details but don’t want to compromise the use of any older Window-only programs that are important to your business needs, such programs may operate with a newer version.
- Plug & Play: It is also a plug & plays support specialist for PC hardware as an operating system for the average home user. As long as you install the right drivers, it typically does an outstanding job recognizing new hardware. Many operating systems have Plug & Play features but require manual control to a lesser degree and more frequently.
- Games: You need Windows if you want the latest innovations in PC Gaming. It provides plenty of gaming games and other supporting gaming hardware. There are also some of the most common games for Linux and some for the Mac, but no comparison, really. Nevertheless, all the outdated games written for Windows 95 and 98 aren’t going to work with XP, as well.
Disadvantages:
- High Resource Requirements: By comparison, Microsoft wants its consumers to spend the most on their computer hardware, as compared to the manufacturers of other systems: faster processor (CPU), more internal memory, and a larger disk. Microsoft has also maintained that this is because of all the extra features its customers require.
- Closed Source: Fixing issues would be much simpler for users and support workers if they understood exactly what was happening. Unfortunately, only Microsoft has direct access to the source code of its software, and since no log file is created, its users can attempt to infer what causes their problems by trial and error.
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