What is an Operating System?
The operating system (or OS) is a set of special programs that run on a computer system that allows it to work properly. They help it to load and save data, to communicate, and to run other programs (applications software). Because there are different types of computers, and different uses for each of them, so, there are different types of operating systems as well. 

GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface. A GUI Operating System contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse. See our GUI dictionary definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of GUI Operating Systems.
System 7.x
Windows 98
Windows CE 

Multi-User - A Multi-User Operating System allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and/or at different times. See our multi-user dictionary definition for a complete definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of multi-user Operating Systems.
Linux
UNIX
Windows 2000 

Multiprocessing - It is an Operating System capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor. Below are some examples of multiprocessing Operating Systems.
Linux
UNIX
Windows 2000 

Multitasking – It is an Operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to be run at the same time. Below are some examples of multitasking Operating Systems.
UNIX
Windows 2000 

Multithreading – These are Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Linux
UNIX
Windows 2000

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