Talk:Operating system

Article Checklist for "Operating system"

Workgroup category or categories	Computers Workgroup [Categories OK]
Article status	Developed article: complete or nearly so
Underlinked article?	No
Basic cleanup done?	Yes
Checklist last edited by	Petréa Mitchell 10:06, 31 March 2007 (CDT)

To learn how to fill out this checklist, please see CZ:The Article Checklist.

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Bundling of drivers, GUI and apps

I disagree with the second sentence of the article "These components are almost always bundled together". Linux does not bundle GUI nor apps. Windows does not bundle many drivers (which are instead distributed by the device manufacturer). Alternatives:

• "These components are often bundled together".
• "These components are almost always distributed together".

--Markus Baumeister 14:18, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

Most Linux users don't build from scratch, they use distros, which do in fact bundle GUI (KDE/Gnome on X11) and apps with the kernel and drivers. --ZachPruckowski (Speak to me) 14:32, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

Well, as you say "they use distros". That's why I made the second alternative proposal. "Bundling" in my opinion has way to much connotation of "made into one". And GUI and specifically apps are not in general part of the operating system. --Markus Baumeister 15:02, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

OK but you're blurring the distinction between "Operating System" and "kernel." Linux by itself is just a kernel. A distro has to be made for Linux to be considered an "operating system."

Unix user to the front

I tried to fix some of the MS Windows centered definitions from the beginning of the article but there are some more in the GUI and especially the Apps section (Breaking down the App-OS barrier with "Browser as part of the OS" was the MS defense line in their monopolistic trials). I'm running a bit out of time, maybe someone else can do it. --Markus Baumeister 15:02, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

web browser importance?

The last section about the "fifth generation of computers" seems like someone just made it up, or lifted it out of some optimistic hypey pop article. browser-based apps are still a relatively small niche, compared to actual local apps. computers do /not/ come with less and less software, but rather with more and more (linux distros include a bunch of productivity apps with default install, windows now includes firewall, antivirus, antispyware, and many vendors, such as dell, will install a bunch of trialware for office, ISP, antivir, etc.) so basically, i don't buy it, but before i go and delete or reword, i wanted to get some comments to make sure i am not missing anything. :) --Dan 01:44, 15 March 2007 (CDT)

Nah, I see what you mean. Really, I'd like to see the article rewritten, but right now it's too early in the morning for me to do anything about it. ZZzzzz... --Paul Derry 01:51, 15 March 2007 (CDT)