Operating System


The Amiga's operating system is far superior to the PC's 
Link Windows} and
  MS-DOS   and I am not just saying this.  The Amiga
uses   Workbench   and   AmigaDOS  
which integrates into one thing.

Both systems use Icons, which are small pictures used to represent programs.
But Windows is really only just a menu, whereby you can select a program
that you have had to add to the Program Manager.

Workbench on the other hand uses icons to display the contents of a disk
drive, whether it be data files, programs or tools.  This is far more
powerful because it allows file management to take place directly within
the operating system, as opposed to loading a seperate program to do so.

Underlying Windows is MS-DOS.  This is the basic operating system of the PC,
and it is from here that file operation can be carried out.  However, it
does not integrate with Windows, and Windows programs cannot be loaded
through MS-DOS.

AmigaDOS on the other hand takes a completely different approach.  AmigaDOS
will integrate perfectly happily with Workbench, and Workbench programs can
be loaded from AmigaDOS.

AmigaDOS is also far more flexible that MS-DOS.  For example, you have the
ability to set up   Assigns   that enable you to create
virtual drives containing the files of your choice.

AmigaDOS is also a ROM based system, i.e. it resides in the computer's
hardware and does not require software to run.  This allows it to be very
fast indeed, far faster than the hard disk based MS-DOS.

The Amiga's operating system is also fully pre-emptive 
link Multitasking},
unlike the PC's operating system which simulates being multitasking by
quickly flicking backwards and forwards between Applications, thus
overburdening the CPU and causing a vast reduction in speed.

Converted on 22 Aug 1996 with RexxDoesAmigaGuide2HTML by Michael Ranner.