Linux, IBM, What?! Some help please?

Question

Okay so.

Linux and microsoft are operating systems.
So where does IBM come in is that a company?
and do they owe microsoft and Linux?
who owns what??

People say theres apple, linux and microsoft as the main operating systems.
i don't understan whats what.

Stupid question but can someone clear this up for me?
Cheers!

Answer 1

Just to clear up a misconception, Apple and Microsoft are not operating systems. They are companies. Windows and Mac OS are the operating systems.



IBM is mainly a hardware company but they used to develop an operating system in partnership with Microsoft known as OS/2 (In the 90's).



The biggest contenders on the PC operating system market (Although some would argue a Mac is not a PC :/) are Windows, Linux and Mac OS.



Mac OS is generally used for Apple's own computers (iMac and Macbook), it also costs money.



Windows is another operating system that costs money, it is the most widely used OS by consumers.



Linux is a FREE operating system. Everyone has access to the source code, and unlike the former two, can be modified and redistributed without charge. It usually takes a more tech-savvy person to run Linux but new distributions such as Ubuntu are much more user friendly.



I hope that clears things up let me know if you need more clarification.



EDIT: Yes, Ubuntu is a particular distribution of Linux (There are bloody loads of them). And you are correct, Linux is the free, open source version of Unix.

Answer 2

IBM "The Big Blue" International Business Machine... it is a company that makes computers along with a variety of other business related machines and devices.



Microsoft develops software for use on computers... owned by Bil Gates.



Linux is an open source Operating System developed by Linus Torvaldis (sp?) It is has many distributions, most of which are community developed and maintained.

Answer 3

IBM is the company that first built computers and still make many products and technologies.



Linux, Microsoft, and mac are the top 3 operating systems, an operating system is what runs your computer.



microsoft is owned by bill gates, although i think he stepped down from his position at top.

Linux is open-source so isn't owned by anyone, but was created by someone..i don't know who though.