Client operating systems

Whereas a network operating system works behind the scenes, providing the services that make the network function, the workstation operating systems act as the window to the network. For that reason, network administrators must be aware of the operating systems that grace the front end of the network.

As stated previously, Microsoft's Windows products dominate the desktop operating systems market. The other operating systems discussed in this chapter hold single-figure percentages of the market share. However, these other systems are readily available, and their numbers are growing.

Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me

Perhaps the most widely used client operating systems are the Windowsbased clients-Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. These clients are used in network environments of all sizes, ranging from small office and home office environments to large corporations. Their popularity can be attributed to the familiar, easy-to-navigate graphical interfaces, compatibility with most of the current popular applications, and their low cost, at least in comparison to other Windows products, such as Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional.

Application support for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me

Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me systems support all but a few of the major applications used today. They were designed to be used with office productivity tools such as spreadsheets and word processors. In addition, they support a range of entertainment applications. Of all the operating systems in use today, they have the greatest commercial software support.