CourseHES 213

Week7 of 16

SemesterII

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This week’s topics

Comparing operating systems

Windows, macOS and Linux
Android and iOS

What you will be able to do

2.2 Compare common operating systems.

Activity

Compare two operating systems for a given user.

Study materials

Further resources

Workplace Software and Skills, 1.2: Operating Systems · PDF · OpenStax Workplace Software and Skills (2023), 1.2 on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, p. 29 · for registered students
Introduction to Computer Science, 6.1: Examples of operating systems · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 6.1 with Windows, macOS and Linux examples, pp. 240–245 · for registered students
The simple economics of open source · Open-access article · Lerner & Tirole (2002), Journal of Industrial Economics. Why open-source systems such as Linux exist alongside proprietary ones. · for registered students

Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.

Week 6 Midterm

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Course plan

Week 1: What is a computer system?
Week 2: Hardware: the parts of a computer
Week 3: Software: system and application software
Week 4: The CPU and the fetch-execute cycle
Week 5: Memory: RAM, ROM and cache
Week 6: What an operating system does
Week 7: Comparing operating systems
Midterm: Midterm evaluation
Week 9: Bits and bytes: units of storage
Week 10: Storing text: ASCII and Unicode
Week 11: Storing images: pixels and colour depth
Week 12: Storing sound: sampling
Week 13: Storage devices
Week 14: Choosing a computer for a job
Week 15: Review and coursework completion
Final: Final assessment and submission

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