difference between operating system and software?

Question

give a clear cut defination

Answer 1

The operating system is the the Application which you run on a computer, for example Windows, Macintosh, Lunix, etc.. Software is an application that runs off of the operating system, most software applications require a specific operating system, for example Microsoft Office is designed specifically for us in Microsoft Windows.

Answer 2

Operating System (OS) is software that directly interfaces with the various hardware components of a computer such as accessing the disk, memory, printer, keyboard, etc...Different OS's support different hardware through 'drivers', which manipulate various chipset functions to do a desired function.

'Software' is a very generic term, defining any 'package' of code that performs a desired task. Thus, the operating system itself is software. I think what you mean to say is a specific kind of software called 'Application' software. This can be a word processing application such as Microsoft Word or a simple calculator program. It is called 'application software' because it is application specific, however is also dependent to the OS because of the drivers.

Answer 3

Operating system is software, but specialised, in that it runs the pc. Any other software needs the operating system and the pc in order to run.Heirarchically, the Operating System is the highest level of software.

Answer 4

An operating system is a piece of software that communicates directly with hardware. Any other application, be it games or office productivity, riles on the OS to control devices and communicate with hardware.

Remember though, there are hundreds of exceptions to that basic principle. So a clear cut definition will never be a complete definition.

Answer 5

operating system is the platform your computer runs on. Otherwise, you would just be typing code. Software is applications for an OS (operating system), like games and office stuff (word, powerpoint, etc.)

Answer 6

All operating systems can be considered software but not all software can be operating systems.

Answer 7

The working equipment is something alongside the line of homestead windows and mac. the utility utility is something that does something that helps, entertain, works for a reason at the back of a individual to apply, a pastime would be an superb occasion. (that's somewhat confusing to assert what utility utility does.)

Answer 8

operating system- windows xp, windows 98, mac os x.
software- photoshop, firefox, itunes