Operating systems are used everywhere. From personal home computers to workstations, to office PCs, they are always in use. Are you in IT, an accountant, or someone interested in learning more about computers? Knowing how operating systems relate to one another and what they do could help you. Operating systems can improve your work speed and increase productivity by automating tasks. But one thing to keep in mind is that the use of OS’s is not restricted to personal computers.

Here are the three different types of operating systems that tech users and computer enthusiasts may encounter.

Batch processing operating systems:  These are used for executing repetitive tasks or chunks of work using automation. An automated punch card is a good example of this. You simply program the task, and the computer will execute it. In this instance, the computer can be defined as any device that does computations or process. Don’t restrict your thinking to only personal computers. Batch processing operating systems do not have much user interaction. They are maintained by programmers. They work like programs, solving tasks by means of automated algorithms.

Time sharing operating systems:  Time-sharing operating systems usually involve multiple users utilizing the same OS. This cuts down on response times by carrying out tasks immediately. Think of it as sharing time with others and dividing up the work in the OS for others to view. You can work with your friends on the same task with time-sharing operating systems and keep track of progress. It’s like peer programming, and similar to collaborative working. The difference between time sharing OS and batch processing OS is that the processor is used more in batch processing. This is because you add piles of work, thus more processing power needed to get it done in a time-effective manner. Timesharing OS uses minimal processing power, thereby maximizing response time.

Think of it this way – the computer needs more time to respond to the user when you use its resources heavily since there’s a lag or overload. However, if the resources are used minimally, then the computer can respond to the user much quicker without being overloaded with tasks. This is the key difference between time sharing OS and batch processing OS.

Network operating systems:  If you work in a startup or a company, chances are – you already know a bit about network operating systems. These allow you to share files over Wi-Fi and access work files over the network. Network operating systems run mostly with the help of a server, which allows admins to manage users, data, groups, security, apps, and much more. Examples of this include Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Mac OS X, Linux, and BSD. That’s where it starts to get complicated, but for most non-technical people, that’s all you need to know.