General information about Operating Systems


General information about Operating Systems
These tables compare general and technical information for a number of widely used and currently available operating systems.
Because of the large number and variety of available Linux distributions, they are all grouped under a single entry; see comparison of Linux distributions for a detailed comparison. There are also a variety of BSD operating systems, covered in comparison of BSD operating systems. For information on views of each operating system, see operating system advocacy.
NAME↓
CREATOR↓FIRST PUBLIC RELEASE↓PREDECESSOR↓LATEST STABLE VERSION↓LATEST RELEASE DATE↓COST/AVAILABILITY↓PREFERRED LICENSETARGET SYSTEM TYPE↓
AIXIBM1986UNIX System VRelease 37.12010Bundled with hardwareProprietaryServer, NAS,Workstation
AMIGAOSCLASSICCommodore International, Haage & Partner, Hyperion Entertainment1985TRIPOS (as the disk operating component of AmigaOS)4.1 Update 22011Bundled with hardware up to version 2.0. Versions 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, 3.5, 3.9, 4.1 Update 2 also available as separate packages.Proprietary, Open source clone available under AROSPublic LicenseWorkstation,Personal computer
AMIGAOS 4Hyperion Entertainment2004AmigaOSClassic4.1 Update 220104.0 bundled with hardware. 4.0 for classic and 4.1 available as standalone package at € 99.ProprietaryWorkstation,Personal computer
ECOMSTATIONSerenity Systems2001OS/22.02010The Home & Student – 5 licenses – $149.00
Business Edition – Unlimited licenses – $259.00		ProprietaryServer,Workstation,Personal computer
EPOC32Psion PLC1996ER51999CommercialProprietaryPDA
FREEBSDThe FreeBSDProject1993386BSD8.22011FreeBSDServer,Workstation,NAS, Embedded system
DRAGONFLY BSDMatthew Dillon2003386BSD2.102011FreeBSDServer,Workstation,NAS, Embedded system
HAIKUHaiku Inc.2009BeOS R5R1/Alpha32011FreeMIT LicensePersonal computer
HP-UXHewlett-Packard1983UNIX System V11.31 “11i v3″2007$400ProprietaryServer,Workstation
IBM IIBM1988OS/4007.12010Bundled with hardwareProprietaryServer
IRIXSGI1988UNIX System V6.5.302006Bundled with hardwareProprietaryServer,Workstation
INFERNOBell Labs1997Plan 9Fourth Edition2007FreeMIT/GNU GPL/GNU LGPL/LPLNAS, Server,Embedded system
GNU/LINUXRichard Stallman,Linus Torvalds, et al.GNU: 1983,Linux: 1992Unix,[g 2]Minix[g 3]Linux kernel 3.0;GNU C Library2.132011FreeGNU GPL, GNU LGPL and other licensesSee: Comparison of Linux distributions
MAC OSApple Inc.1984None[g 4][g 5]9.2.22002Bundled with 68K and PowerPC Macs;versions 7-9 sold as retail upgrades[g 6]ProprietaryWorkstation,Personal computer
MAC OS XApple Inc.2001BSD10.72011Bundled with hardware; upgrades sold separately:
Desktop $169 (Single User Mac Box Set), $29 (Single User Mac OS X v10.5 Upgrade)
Family Pack $229 (5 User Mac Box Set), $49 (5 User Mac OS X v10.5 Upgrade)		Proprietary higher level API layers with Open source core system (Both Intel and PowerPC versions) (APSL,GNU GPL, others)Workstation,Personal computer,Embedded system
MAC OS X SERVERApple Inc.2001BSD10.6.82011Bundled with hardware; also sold separately:
$499 (unlimited clients)		Proprietary higher level API layers with Open source core system (Both Intel and PowerPC versions) (APSL,GNU GPL, others)Server
MINIX3Andrew S. Tanenbaum2005Minix23.1.82010FreeBSDWorkstation
NETBSDThe NetBSD Project1993386BSD5.12010FreeBSDNAS, Server,Workstation,Embedded system
NEXTSTEPNeXT1989Unix3.31995Bundled with hardware, then sold separatelyProprietaryWorkstation
NETWARENovell1985S-Net6.5 SP82008$184 (single-user)ProprietaryServer
OPENBSDThe OpenBSDProject1995NetBSD 1.04.92011, May 1FreeISCServer, NAS,Workstation,Embedded system
OPENINDIANAVarious, based on software developed by Sun Microsystems and many others2010OpenSolaris2010, December 17FreeMostly CDDL, with other licensesServer,Workstation
OPENVMSDEC (now HP)1977RSX-11M8.42010only free for non-commercial useProprietaryServer,Workstation
OS/2IBM and Microsoft1987UNIX, Windows 3.x4.522001$300ProprietaryPersonal computer, Server
PC-BSDPC-BSD Software2006FreeBSD[g 7]8.22011FreeBSDPersonal computer,Workstation,Server
PLAN 9Bell Labs1993UnixFourth Edition(Daily snapshots)FreeLPLWorkstation,Server,Embedded system, HPC
QNXQNX Software Systems1982DOS, Unix6.5.02010Commercial; a free testing version exists that requires authorization code prior to installation.ProprietaryWorkstation,Server,Embedded system
SOLARISSun1992SunOS10 10/092010Commercial; a free 90 days evaluation version exists.CDDLServer,Workstation
SYMBIAN OSSymbian Ltd1998EPOC329.52009CommercialProprietaryPhones
SYMBIAN PLATFORMSymbian Foundation2010Symbian OS3.0.42010FreeEPLEmbedded system
WINDOWS SERVER (NT FAMILY)Microsoft1993MS-DOS, OS/2,Windows 3.xWindows Server 2008 R2(NT 6.1.7600)2009$469 Web Server; other editions dependent on number of CALs purchasedProprietaryServer, NAS,Embedded system, HPC
MICROSOFT WINDOWS(NT FAMILY)Microsoft1993MS-DOS, OS/2,Windows 3.xWindows 7 (NT 6.1.7600)2009[g 8]Home Basic (Retail) $99.95, Home Premium (Retail) $119.95, Business (Retail) $299.95, Ultimate (Retail) $300.95[1]ProprietaryWorkstation,Personal computer, Media center, Tablet PC, Embedded system
MICROSOFT WINDOWS(CLASSIC FAMILY)Microsoft1985MS-DOS,Windows 1and laterWindows ME (Win 4.90.3000)2000[g 8]Outdated product. No longer for sale.ProprietaryPersonal computer, Media center
RISC IXAcorn Computers1988BSD 4.31.21c1993Bundled with hardwareProprietaryWorkstation
RISC OSAcorn Computers1987Arthur, also theBBC Master OS3.711997Bundled with hardwareProprietaryEducational software,Personal computer
RISC OSRISCOS Ltd, Pace plc1999RISC OS 34.392004Bundled with hardware, then sold separately at $127 (£70)ProprietaryEducational software,Personal computer
RISC OSCastle Technology,RISC OS Open2002RISC OS 45.172010Free for non-commercial use (recent releases); Previously bundled with hardwareShared SourceEducational software,Personal computer
RISC OSRISCOS Ltd2006RISC OS 46.202010Bundled with hardware, then sold separately at $127 (£70)ProprietaryEducational software,Personal computer
ZETAyellowTAB2005BeOS R51.22006DiscontinuedProprietaryPersonal computer, Media center,Workstation
STOP 6 / XTS-400BAE Systems2003STOP 5 / XTS-3006.4.U12007Unknown; supplied to customers on-demand by BAE SystemsProprietaryServer,Workstation
REACTOSReactOS development team1996Windows NT0.3.132011FreeGNU GPL, GNU LGPLWorkstation,Personal computer
Z/OSIBM2000OS/3901.122010Monthly License Charge (about $130 and up)ProprietaryIBM mainframe
Z/VSEIBM2007VSE/ESA4.32010, JulyMonthly License ChargeProprietaryIBM mainframe
Z/VMIBM2000VM (operating system)6.12009Monthly License ChargeProprietaryIBM mainframe
NAMECREATORFIRST PUBLIC RELEASEPREDECESSORLATEST STABLE VERSIONLATEST RELEASE DATECOST/AVAILABILITYPREFERRED LICENSETARGET SYSTEM TYPE