The control program in a user's machine (desktop or laptop). Also called a "client operating system," Windows is the overwhelming majority while the Macintosh comes second. There are also several versions of Linux for the desktop. Contrast with network operating system.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Martin jabs back at Comcast over suit
- FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin responded to Comcast's lawsuit challenging the agency's authority to sanction the company. "Given Comcast's past failure to disclose its network management practices to its customers, it is important Comcast respond to the many still-unanswered questions about its new management techniques," Martin...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Red Hat draws its line in the virtual sand with Qumranet
- The caves of Qumran, located in in the highly disputed region of the West Bank that sits between Israel and Jordan and is populated by both Palestinians and Jews, is where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The scrolls are said by many Judaic scholars...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Should political postings stay or go? A survey.
- I've been blogging for ZD Net for several years, writing for ZD publications for almost 20 years. I've always found readers to be intelligent and thoughtful, which is why I continue to do this while doing other things as "work." My posting, A virus in your genes, think about that,...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Is Microsoft is putting Windows 7 on a diet?
- As part of Microsoft's mission to insure that Windows 7 and Windows Live Wave 3 are joined at the hip, Microsoft is exorcising features that used to be part of Windows from the operating system by Mary Jo Foley
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- SocialCast: enterprise Twitter/FriendFeed mashup
- SocialCast has revamped its group comms service, given it a facelift, aligned itself more closely to consumery apps like Twitter and FriendFeed and then given it an enterprise twist. As far as I am aware, this is the first enterprise facing application that has gotten close...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Critical WMP, MS Office bugs on Patch Tuesday swat list
- Microsoft today announced plans to ship four security bulletins next Tuesday (September 9, 2008) to cover worm holes affecting Windows users. All four bulletins in September's Patch Tuesday will be rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating. A "critical" rating is used to rate a vulnerability that can...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Wireless Access: What Price Speed
- Is Verizon missing a trick in its trench warfare with Cablevision? Or has the maverick cable operator found an Achilles heel in the telephone operator's methods of providing TV, phone and particularly Internet access to customers in the New York area – and possibly nationwide? One...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Wireless networking finally hits the ceiling
- With the advent of multiple input multiple output MIMO technology that's used in Draft N (and some later 802.11g) products, wireless range isn't as big an issue for new networks as it has been in the past. But if you're running an older 802.11g network as I am in a...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Red Hat acquires Qumranet
- I just received a press release telling me that one of my clients, Qumranet, has been acquired by Red Hat.This was not entirely unexpected. Here's what the release said Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Analyst: Google Chrome 'SOA ready'
- There's been plenty of excellent commentary about Google's new Chrome browser provided by my colleagues here in the ZDNet community, so I'm not going to go into any nitty-gritty here. But to look at it from an enterprise perspective, Chrome may help lay the groundwork for a...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Ten key differences between Linux and Windows
- Before debating the relative merits and shortcomings of Linux and Windows, it helps to understand the real distinctions between them. Before debating the relative merits and shortcomings of Linux and Windows, it helps to understand the real distinctions between them. Here are the key differences distilled into one list....
- News items 2008-09-04
- Dell repair adventure, day 5, with updates
- Since our last episode, our hero has been communicating with Bob Pearson, Dell's VP of Communities & Conversations, and Bill Bivin, Dell's Community Liaison, about getting my Dell Lattitude D620 back up and running. Both Bob and Bill give every impression of trying very hard to deal not only with...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Dell and Salesforce.com: So cozy they could merge (someday)
- Dell and Salesforce.com have quite a partnership going on. Dell is developing its internal and some of its external application on Salesforce.com's force.com platform. Salesforce.com is moving its data centers to Dell hardware. And the two are teaming up on marketing pitches. Meanwhile, the relationship appears to be much more...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Access Virtualization for Mac OS X - Aqua Connect ACTS 3.0
- Aqua Connect is an exception. It focuses on providing access virtualization for users of Mac OS-based servers. (For those keeping track, the post, Aqua Connect Access Virtualization for Mac OS X, introduced the company back in December 2007.) This time, the good folks at Aqua Connect are in the process...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Dell's Mini packs Ubuntu, XP; Vodafone to sell it
- Update: Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 now available and Dell is pushing the netbook is available on its site. Meanwhile Vodafone is going to sell the Mini in Europe. While Dell's move Techmeme could be viewed as playing catchup to other rivals such as Asus the Vodafone deal...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- CPUOff Lite (zip)
- CPUOff Lite monitors average CPU load and initiates computer power off if the CPU load has been below 15% for 60 seconds. It can be started manually or automatically via the windows task scheduler. The program parameters are not configurable. The program normally runs in the system tray. Requires a...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
- SysReturn (zip)
- SysReturn is a software to manage publicly accessible computers, such as those in computer labs, libraries, Internet cafes, biz centers and even KIOSK machines, such as ATM in banks, home automations, unmanned advertising computers, etc. The program allows you to restore data and system automatically after a system crash, software...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
- Split And Zip (jar)
- Split Features: Select "Slice" option under Split menu. Use "Open" button to open a file. Alternatively you can drag a file from desktop or explorer and drop it to open. You can view details of file e.g. path, size, last modified date on screen. Enter number of pieces you like...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
- TechTool (exe)
- Tech Tool is a lightweight tool for Techs to get simple information about a users computer. It is a standalone EXE, so you don't have to install it. Just download and run it. It produces a log that is easy to post to a forum for a user. It is...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
- Logitech tries to take network music player mainstream with Squeezebox Boom
- In the press release announcing the new Squeezebox Boom, Robin Selden, vice president and general manager of Logitech's Streaming Media business unit, says that "[t]he network music player will be the CD player of the 21st century." That may be true—eventually—but at $299.99, the Boom probably...
- Blog posts 2008-09-03
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