UNIT 2 TASK 4 (M1)

Develop a table that can be included in your web pages that compares the features and functions of Windows XP and Mac OS in the following areas;

Functions	Windows XP	Mac OS
Machine and Peripheral Management	The operating system controls the whole system and all of the components. It also controls peripherals such as: keyboards, mouse, printers etc.  For example:  Windows controls the monitor by changing the resolution of the screen.	On Mac OS the controls of the computer components are similar to Windows XP but almost all of the devices needed are specifically for Mac. For example: Mac OS can control keyboard by changing the input language. For other devices like iPhone, Mac OS can control the screen and change  it to landscape mode.
Security	The operating system needs to make sure that everything functions properly and to make sure that unauthorised data doesn’t harm your computer. Windows has security functions such as: user accounts with password protection, firewall and other functions to keep your information and data safe.	The Mac OS operating system has security features like application sand boxing this protects the system by limiting the operations an application can perform, such as opening documents or accessing the network. Sand boxing makes it much more difficult for a security threat to take advantage of a specific application that can also affect the system. There is also authentication for file sharing, where the user has to input his/her Apple ID and password to log in to a Mac for file sharing. If others need to access a folder on a mac, the user is required to enter their Apple ID details to log onto the system.
File Management	Every Windows system provides easy access to a file or folder. When you open any file on your computer you can select a file or a folder and then click a task to either rename, copy, move or delete it. The My Documents, My Pictures and My Music folders can help you manage your documents, pictures and music files. In My Computer you can view and select your drives on your computer and the files that are stored on it.	On Mac is it very easy to access your files and folders. On all Mac user accounts there is a ‘Home Directory’ section. IF you click the option you will find Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures and also a Public folder where most of your files are stored.
Device Drivers	Device drivers are programs that tell the operating system how and what to do with a specific device. For example when you buy a new graphic card, to make it work properly with all of its power and efficiency you need to install drivers that are compatible with the card.	Just the same as Windows XP  the drivers are programs that control the devices. On Mac OS needed driver to run the computer is included in system. But when you want to install a new printer, you have to install a version of driver for Mac OS specifically.

Features	Windows XP	Mac OS
Ability to Customise	There are many ways you can customize Windows to make your computer more accessible and easier for the user, this is called accessibility. Accessibility features have been built in to Windows to help users who have difficulty typing, using a mouse, have bad eyesight/vision or are deaf or hard of hearing. The features can be installed during Setup, or you can add them later from Windows installation disks. You can use Control Panel and other built-in features to adjust the appearance and behaviour of Windows to suit your needs and preferred settings. These include adjusting colours and sizes, sound volume, and the behaviour of the mouse and keyboard. The Accessibility Wizard also helps you configure Windows. Dvorak keyboard layouts make the most frequently typed characters more accessible if you have difficulty using the standard keyboard layout.	Whilst using a Mac operating system it is relatively difficult to customize your computer because there are limited options. It requires additional software to customise most of the desktop and menu features. Without the additional software there is virtually nothing that a user can do to customise their features other than changing the background of the desktop. With the correct   software however, you can do plenty to customise your Mac. System preferences control the system-wide settings and are available from the apple at the upper left corner of the screen. System preferences allows you to adjust things such as: screen resolution, keyboard controls, mouse controls, sound, printer, settings, sharing settings and accounts which is basically the same as what Windows XP allows you to do.
Support for Connectivity of Portable Media	Windows XP supports almost every type of portable media. Windows XP supports all media including ones that can be connected via USB ports such as: phones and cameras and headphones as well as voice control, Ethernet cables for internet, CDs and DVDs and your typical computer peripherals such as: monitors and mice.	The Mac OS supports the typical computer peripherals such as: computer mouse, monitor and keyboards, they also support, headphones, CDs and DVDs, USB ports for cameras and phones, as well as Ethernet cables for internet just like Windows XP.
Stability and Reliability	It is mostly down to applications that are installed on the computer rather than the core of the operating system. Windows offers more of a wider range of them, so therefore has more potential stability problems.	Mac OS offers less of a wider range of applications than Windows does so therefore is potentially more stable and reliable than Windows.
Ease of Management	I would say that Windows XP is easier to use, but it does depends on the user themselves and whether they are more comfortable with either system. But because the Windows operating system seems to be most popular with the customers, I would say the Windows operating system in easier to use.	Mac OS and Windows are very similar as it mainly depends on the user. Mac OS is a newer type of operating system so users may find this system has a bit more difficulty than Windows that has been around much longer and for consumers that are used to the way the system runs.
Associated Utilities	Windows doesn’t have much range but it does have little things like the DirectX drivers, Bing toolbars, Windows Languages which lets you download different languages for your Windows System.	Mac OS has a wider range of choice compared to Windows when it comes to utilities. There are plenty of apps and drivers that can be installed for example for hardware you can download Drive Genius, Watts and SMART Utility and for Files you can download Blast and Berokoyo that helps to organise your files.