popularity or usage statistics of different operating systems

8/3/2019 Popularity or Usage Statistics of Different Operating Systems

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POPULARITY AND USAGE STATISTICS OF DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEMS

Submitted by:

Bendicion, Divine Grace L.BSCS 3

Submitted to:

Prof. Efren SemacioInstructor, Operating Systems

Quality of Research (30%)...

Writing Quality (20%) ...

Analytical Strength (30%)....

Effort (10%).....

References (10%)..

TOTAL ....


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OVERVIEW AND DATA PRESENTATIONA survey over the internet, specifically through Facebook, was done by the

researcher from November 28, 2011 to December 2, 2011 to determine the popularityor usage statistics of certain operating systems. A picture with operating systems logoswas posted by the researcher including the question Which operating system do you

prefer to use and why? During this timespan, 71 respondents posted their answers.

Below are screenshots of the actual post with the comments of all therespondents. Some respondents were shy posting their answers as comments, so theypreferred to message the researcher of their answers instead.


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Just by reading the responses, it is obvious that Windows is the most popular

and widely-used operating system by any type of user except for the administrators.

The next figure summarizes the type of users who responded to the online survey.


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The figure shows a total of 71 respondents which comprises of 3 administrators,

33 students (46.5%), 3 faculty members, 8 IT friends (11.3%), and 24 non-IT friends

(33.8%). The next figure summarizes the operating system used by administrators who

responded in the survey.


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The previous figure shows that none of the administrators preferred to use any of

the versions of MS Windows. Linux, Macintosh and Unix had 1 vote each. The next

graph shows the operating system used by students who responded in the survey.

The figure above shows quite a variety of answers. But overall, MS Windows still

got the most number of votes with 30 or 88.3%. Windows 7, the most recent version of

Windows got the most number of votes compared to Windows XP and Vista. The nextfigure shows the operating

systems preferred by faculty

members who responded in the

survey.


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Faculty members on the other hand preferred Linux 2x and Windows only once.

The next figure shows the operating system preferred by the researchers IT friends.

The figure above shows that, still MS Windows is the most popular operating

system gaining 5 of 8 votes at 62.5%. Next is Linux with 25% and lastly, Macinstosh

with 12.5%. With the students, faculty and IT friends, Unix did not have any vote. The

next figure shows the operating system preferred by the researchers non-IT friends.


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The previous figure still indicates that Windows got most votes at 83.4%.

However, Windows Vista, the version prior to Windows 7 did not have any votes, same

with the administrators, faculty members and IT friends. The next figure shows the

overall summary of the popularity of the operating systems regardless of the type of

users.

The figure aboveshows that still, MS Windows

is the most popular operating

system among all others.

Next is Linux, Mac, and lastly

Unix and an OS named

Kahel OS. The next figure

shows the distribution of

users who prefer using

Windows.


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The previous figure shows the type of user who prefer to use MS Windows. No

administrator preferred to use it. On the other hand, students and non-IT individuals are

the largest users of the said OS. The next figure shows the distribution of users for the

Linux operating system and its variants.

The figure above shows a quite equal distribution in the usage of Linux operating

system. The next figure shows

the distribution of users for the

Macintosh operating system.


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The previous figure shows, also a quite equally distributed vote among the users.

Notice that no faculty member preferred this operating system and the non-IT

individuals voted for this 2x. The next figures shows the distribution of users for the Unix

operating system and others which have not been included in the survey.

Only one administrator voted for Unix and only one student voted for, Kahel OS,

an operating system not included in the survey.


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DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONThe data were gathered and tabulated manually by the researcher. Respondents

profile were viewed to determine into which user type they belong. The goal of thisresearch is to find out which is the most popular or widely-used operating systemamong the researchers Facebook friends.

Two kinds of analysis were made to draw a conclusion on this research. Firstwas to find out the most widely used operating system by the respondents (divided byeach user type and generally), and second, to find out the user type distribution for eachoperating system. Reasons for using the operating system which they voted werecompared to several operating systems articles inwww.computerhope.com.

After data gathering and tabulation, the following conclusions were drawn:

As to the most widely used operating system among all user types, MS Windowsgot the most votes at 56 out of 71 respondents. The most common reason was being

user-friendly, compatibility to other softwares, and being common. This data holds truein www.computerhope .com, in their article Linux vs. Windows, it says that Windows isone of the operating systems which is really easy to use, has lots of software programs,utilities and game to choose from, has broader driver support, and includes its own helpsection and has vast amounts of online help and books. However, Windows downsideare licensing cost, software cost, reliability and security. But, the respondents have alsomentioned that through good and proper care, reliability and security can be improved.Also, licensing cost and software cost are bearable compared to MAC where evendrivers and upgrades are very expensive.

Looking closely in each user type, the administrators did not vote for Windows.Linux, Mac and Unix were the ones who gained votes. According to them these 3operating systems are more secure than Windows. Articles in www.computerhope.comalso say the same thing. Windows is much of a target for intruders since most virus andmalware writers are more familiar with the IBM platform than with the Unix/Linux kernels.Also, Windows is most widely used, so is really a hot target. However, Unix, Linux andMac can also be infected with viruses, but the chances if near to none. In addition, theycan be virus carriers and can still be victims of phishing and Trojan horses especiallywhen Mac users run Windows through Bootcamp.

As for the students, IT friends and non-IT friends, most of them voted forWindows gaining more than 50% of all the votes. Faculty members voted for Linux adWindows. Linux, being the next popular operating system, according to the respondentscomments and www.computerhope.com is more reliable, secure and less expensivethan Windows. However, you need to be at least really computer-inclined to maximizeits capabilities since it does not offer a help section and there are only a few online helpand documentations.

As for the user type distribution for each operating system, students are thewidest users of MS Windows at 53.6% followed by non-IT friends at 35.7%. Being user
http://www.computerhope.com/http://www.computerhope.com/http://www.computerhope.com/http://www.computerhope.com/


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types who need lots of functionality with average security, Windows fit them their needs.As for Linux, there is quite an equal distribution of different users. Students, facultymembers, IT friends and non-IT friends all comprised 22.2% of Linux users and theadministrator at 11.1%. They all enjoy less expensive licensing and software and bettersecurity and reliability.

For Macintosh, non-IT friends comprised 40% of its users. However one of theirreasons was only for showing-off since Mac computers are really expensive. On theother hand, other user types such as the administrator, IT friend and student prefer touse Mac because of security, reliability and aesthetic qualities. Mac maybe expensiveaccording to them, but it is worth the price both in hardware and in software. Unix got 1vote from an administrator because it is very secured according to him, and Kahel OSgot 1 vote from a student, because he says there were Filipinos who were part of thecreators of Kahel OS.

Generally, Windows is the most popular and widely used operating system. Its

functionality and considerable price attracts users. Security and reliability issue can beminimized through proper use and good care. Most users did not want complicatedsystems and does not need a very glamorous aesthetic quality. Also, since computerssystems change fast, it is not ideal to purchase a very expensive computer andoperating system.

REFERENCES

Do Macs get Viruses? (2011). [online] From:http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000737.htm. Retrieved on: December,2011

Linux vs. Windows (2011). [online] From:http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000575.htm. Retrieved on: December,2011

Mac vs. PC (2011). [online] From: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001238.htm.Retrieved on: December, 2011

Operating Systems (2011). [online] From: http://www.computerhope.com/os.htm.Retrieved on: December 2011

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