The most popular desktop operating systems since 1978

The beginnings of operating systems

The history of desktop operating systems began in the late 1970s. One of the first operating systems was CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), which was developed by Gary Kildall in 1974. CP/M was widely used on early microcomputers such as the Altair 8800 and various S-100 bus systems. Another early operating system was TRSDOS, which was developed for the Tandy Corporation’s TRS-80 microcomputer. Commodore BASIC, which was used on the Commodore PET, and Apple DOS, which ran on the Apple II, also appeared in the same era. These early operating systems laid the foundation for the development of modern operating systems.

Operating systems of the 1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, MS-DOS dominated the market after it was selected by IBM for the IBM PC. MS-DOS was originally based on 86-DOS, a clone of CP/M. At the same time, the home computer market continued to develop with operating systems such as Atari DOS for the Atari 8-bit computers and GEOS, which was available for the Commodore 64 and the Apple II. Apple introduced the revolutionary Macintosh operating system in 1984, which offered a graphical user interface (GUI) and simplified the operation of computers.

Rise of modern operating systems

The era of modern graphical operating systems began with the introduction of Windows 95 in 1995. Windows 95 brought many improvements, including the integration of a start menu and taskbar, which are still characteristic of Windows operating systems today. In parallel, macOS (originally called Mac OS) continued to evolve and was reinvented in 2001 with the release of Mac OS X, which is based on Unix and offers a stable and user-friendly platform.

Linux, an open-source operating system, was developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and has undergone constant development ever since. There are numerous distributions of Linux, including well-known ones such as Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian. Linux has established itself particularly in the server and development sector, but is also becoming increasingly popular with desktop users.

Operating systems today

Today, Windows, macOS and Linux dominate the desktop operating system market. Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, offers modern features and an improved user interface. macOS Sonoma, the latest version from Apple, integrates seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem and offers powerful tools for creative professionals. Linux remains the preferred choice for tech enthusiasts and IT professionals due to its flexibility and customizability.

Although many of the early operating systems such as CP/M, TRSDOS and Apple DOS are no longer in use, they laid the foundation for today’s operating systems. The evolution of operating systems from the late 1970s to today shows the tremendous technological development and continuous improvements that have revolutionized the use of computers.

Conclusion

Choosing the right operating system depends on individual needs and preferences. Windows offers comprehensive support and compatibility, macOS impresses with its user-friendliness and integration with Apple products, while Linux scores with its flexibility and customizability. Each of these operating systems has its own strengths and offers unique advantages for different user groups. Whether you’re a gamer, a creative or a tech enthusiast, there’s an operating system to suit every need. The history of operating systems shows how far we’ve come and how technology has evolved to meet the needs of users.