For as long as computers have had the ability to host multiple, individual users, machines have operated using some sort of operating system. These systems have obviously varied in sophistication, capability and (of course) aesthetics. Despite these variations, they all still support the basic functions of a computer, such as scheduling tasks, running applications, and controlling peripherals. Perhaps the most important difference is the way their codes are protected and distributed to the market population. This distinction is the dividing line between open source and closed source operating systems. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Closed source operating systems (or proprietary software) are prevalent in the software market. Under this model, the code behind the operating system is considered a “trade secret” and therefore is not released to the public in its raw form. Instead, software is written and maintained by teams within individual companies, and then released in a “compiled-executable state” (St. Laurent, 2008, p. 4). This essentially means that the public can use the software without making any major changes to the code. In contrast, open source operating systems are not released only in the executable state. Instead, the source code itself is made available to users and consumers. By purchasing (or often downloading for free) the software, users receive the right to modify and “play with” the source code, making it fully customizable. This type of software is considered “open source” not simply because of access to the source code, but because it is often developed on a collaborative basis. Through cooperative effort, open source software allows for licensing with extremely relaxed or completely non-existent copyright restrictions (Shell, 2005). There are several prominent examples of both of these types of operating systems. The most obvious examples of closed source operating systems are found at Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft distributes its Windows operating system on many PCs and sells the software individually. Apple, similarly, loads its own operating systems (such as Mountain Lion for Macintosh computers and iOS5 for iPhones) onto its devices. On the other hand, free and open source operating systems are also widely distributed and used on many types of devices. The two most prominent examples of open source operating systems are Linux and Berkely Software Distribution (BSD), both Unix-based software packages. These operating systems are manually loaded onto millions of servers, desktop computers, and even smartphones. It is important to note that the performance of each type of system appears to be relatively comparable. According to a study by Diomidis Spinellis (2008), a comparison between BSD, Linux, Solaris, and Windows found that the code organization and structure were the same across the four systems (p. 381). Therefore, even though coding development is different, different types of systems work similarly. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The main difference between the two types of operating systems is their business model, or how they are marketed. Closed source software companies create artificial scarcity on their products by imposing royalties on the use of their system. In other words, users actually pay to use the software, rather than for the software itself. Companies that produce open source software,,.