Why is the operating system the most important software on the computer?

There are many aspects of the operating system which are vital to the smooth running of your computer system, with a number listed below :-

Speed

Many people are forever demanding quicker and quicker computer systems, and while they may have the best chips in the world, ultimately it is the operating system which will dictate processing speeds and the overall performance of your computer.

Security

In basic terms the operating system is the interface between your computer and supporting hardware and software. The Kernel of any operating system is the most vital area and is the one which is afforded the most protection. Microsoft was in trouble at the launch of Windows XP because they would not allow security software companies access to this area - concerned about possible consequences.

Control

While many of us just take for granted that we can have multiple programs and multiple services running at the same time, this can often require complicated stacking and queuing systems. This is an area of your operating systems which is hardly mentioned, but one which allows you to affectively multi-task.

The fight between the likes of Linux based and Windows based operating systems has started to hot up over the last couple of years and has pushed the operating system sector to the fore. More and more people are now curious as to what the operating system controls and what it does. This in turn has seen many look into what Linux offers over Windows and other operating systems.