Syahirahcore's Blog

WHAT IS SYSTEM SOFTWARE

syahirahcore — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:21:49 +0000

A system software is a program that controls and maintains the operation of a computer and its devices. A system software also serves as a interface between the user, the application software and the computer’s hardware

There are 2 types of system software:

- Operating system

It is a set of programs that coordinate all the activities among the computer hardware devices. The operating system is installed and resides on the computer’s hard disk.

However, on handheld computers and many mobile devices -such as PDAs and smart phones, the operating system may reside on a ROM chip.

The operating system that a computer uses sometime is called the platform

Examples of operating system :

- Linux …(freely distributed UNIX, it is a compatible operating system for PCs and a number of other processors)

- Mac Os X… ( is a multitasking operating system that is the latest version of the Macintosh operating system.)

- UNIX… (is an operating system, or family of operating system, developed at Bell Laboratories in early 1970sas a replacement for an earlier system called Multics)

- Windows XP… (is the latest version of the Windows operating system, which is Microsoft’s fastest, most reliable Windows operating system

- Utility program

A utility program which is also called utility is a type of system software that allows the user to perform maintainence-type tasks usually related to managing the computer, its devices or its program

EXAMPLES:

SYSTEM SOFTWARE VS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

syahirahcore — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:00:36 +0000

System software		Application software
Enables the computer to properly	Usage	Enables users to work efficiently with documentation such as letters, accounting reports and presentations.
Compulsory – each computer must have	Need	Optional- depends on usage and needs.Without an application software the computer is still to function
Each computer only needs one system software	Number of software	Each computer can have more than one application system
Independent- system software can function without application software	Dependency	Dependent- application software cannot work without system software
Function the environment in which the application fun	Function	Provides the environment to enable users to accomplish specific tasks

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

syahirahcore — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:57:38 +0000

Application software are all programs that perform specifis tasks for users (processing, spreadsheet,database,presentation e-Mail and Web browser software)

Examples:

- Microsoft Word

- Microsoft Excel

- Outlook Express

- Internet Explorer

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

syahirahcore — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:09:41 +0000

System software refers to all programs that help the computer to function properly.

The most important type of system software is the computer’s operating system, which enables the computer to start, such as Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS, and Mac OS.

Others types of system software include system utilities such as file compression

(zip program) and antivirus program.

TYPES OF SOFTWARE

syahirahcore — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:49:18 +0000

TYPES OF SOFTWARE

Software is a program which consists of a set of instruction that tells the computer how to perform a specific operation ..

* a computer is just a machine with no special benefits without software

CATEGORIES OF SOFTWARE

SOFTWARE

1. System software=

Software that is used to control and manage computer devices and operations

2. Application software =

Software that is used to help a user perform a task and solve a problem

TYPE OF SECONDARY STORAGE

syahirahcore — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:36:23 +0000

1. MAGNETIC MEDIUM

-It is a no-volatile storage medium.

-It can be any type of storage medium that utilizes magnetic patterns to represent information. The devices use disks that are coated with magnetically sensitive material.

EXAMPLES :

magnetic disk….

- a floppy disk ( used for off-line storage)

- a hard disk ( used for secondary storage)

magnetic tape …..

- video cassette

- audio storage reel-to-reel tape

2. OPTICAL MEDIUM

It is a non-valitile storage media that holds content in digital form that are written and read by a laser. These media include various types of CDs and DVDs.

These following forms are often commonly used :

- CD, CD-ROM, and DVD : Read only storage, used for distribution of digital information such as music, video and computer programs

- CD-R : Write once storage, the data cannot be erased or written over once it is saved

- CD-RW, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM : Slow to write but fast reading storage, it allows data that have been saved to be erased and rewritten

3. FLASH MEMORY

It is a solid-state, non-volatile, rewritable memory that functions like RAM and a hard disk drive combined.

Flash memory store bits of electronic data in memory cells just like DRAM

(Dynamic RAM), but it also works like a hard disk drive that when the power is turned off, the data remains in the memory.

EXAMPLES :

- Flash memory card and flash memory stick

- Flash memory cards are also used with digital cellular phones, MP3 players, digital video cameras and other portable digital devices.

- Flash memory is also called USB drives, thumb drives , pen drives or flash drives, are the up-and-coming players in the portable storage market

Advantages of flash memory:

It offers fast reading access times among the secondary storage devices, (though not as fast as RAM) it is durable and requires low voltage.

It is also light and small

Disavantages of flash memory :

It is expensive than the magnetic disk of the same capacity

WHAT IS SECONDARY STORAGE?

syahirahcore — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:30:50 +0000

Secondary storage is another alternative storage to keep your work and documents. It is very useful to store programs and data for future use.

It is non-volatile = it does not need power to maintain the information stored in it. It will store the information until it is erased.

DIFFRENCES BETWEEN RAM AND ROM

syahirahcore — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:27:21 +0000

	RAM	ROM
Data and program	Stores during and after processing	Stored by manufacturer
Content	Stores information temporarily	Stores instructions (information) permanently
Processing time	Very fast, but uses a lot of power	Fast,but uses very little power
Volatility	Volatile	Non-volatile

READ-ONLY ME,ORY (ROM)

syahirahcore — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:11:54 +0000

- ROM is another type of memory permanently stored inside the computer

-ROM is non-volatile. It holds the programs and data when the computer is powered off

- Programs in ROM have been pre- recorded. It can only be stored by the manufacturer, once it is done, it cannot be change

- Many complex functions, such as start up operating instructions, translators for high-level language and operating systems are placed in ROM memory

RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)

syahirahcore — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:05:48 +0000

- RAM is installed insides computer. RAM is also known as a working memory.

- The data in RAM can be read (retrieved) or written (stored)

- RAm is volatile, which means the programs and datas in RAM are lost when the computer is powered off

- A computer uses RAM to hold temporary instructions and data needed to complete tasks. This enables the computer’s CPU ( Central Processing Unit) to access instructions and data stored in the memory very quickly

- RAm stores data during and after processing