Multiple new OS from Microsoft

The news media is reporting that Microsoft will release several versions of its new productivity suite. Read this article, then do some research on your own. In a long comment discuss why Microsoft would change its highly successful applications in such a drastic way.

Blog on!

Alert Warning Headsup

Each student will be expected to make a brief presentation on the management of USB flash drives in the next class. You have been warned. This is in lieu of a quiz, so there will be no opportunity for make up.

A "New" Device to Manage

In the short time since the publication of the textbook the flash or thumbdrive has gained popularity in PC usage. Each of you should research this new storage medium and supplement the textbook's explanation with your own impression of how this device is managed by the system, and why it has gained such popularity. Don't forget to research it's potential weaknesses. So research, comment, and blog on!

Readers and Writers

The textbook mentions the problems of process concurrency. In the early 1970s, several great computer algorithms were composed. Readers and Writer addressed the concept of mutual exclusion. Read this rather simple article and see if the readers and writers concept clarifies this aspect of process management. Then (you knew this was coming, didn't you), do some research and locate at least one other site that addresses process synchronization -- test and set, wait and signal, and/or semaphores AND another site that discusses process cooperation -- producers and consumer or readers and writers.

It may be difficult (especially if you are one of the last to post), but try not to duplicate sites identified by other students. Your comment should include:

1. Your name

2. A summary on the site you located for process synchronization

3. The URL for the process synchronization site

4. A summary for the site you located for process cooperation

5. The URL for the process cooperation site.

Remember the theory behind blogging is to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. These are the big three in critical thinking. Technology changes so rote memorization has little value. Research, comprehend, and then contribute to the course knowledge base. It's different from completing textbook exercises, but I truly think the concepts will remain with you longer. If you disagree, you have the option to just do the textbook exercises.

Blog on!

Course Decision on blogs vs. exercises

After some pretty impressive negotiations (smile), the operating systems classes have convinced me that blogging is so valuable it can replace the assigned exercises from the textbook. I agree that communication is valuable, and I have some reservations about the quality of the exercises in the textbook, so I offer you this -- you may blog in lieu of completing a chapter's exercises, or you may complete all the exercises in a chapter. Either activity will count. If you do both, you are just a superachiever, (applause), but no extra credit.

In case you have some reservations about the use of the internet for research, I suggest that you look at this site. How helpful do you think a forum such as this is? What in particular do you glean from this site? Add your comments, and then, blog on!

The very impressive Augusta Ada Byron

Here's another giant in computer science -- Augusta Ada Byron. Research this 19th century woman and find her connection to modern computer science theory. Who was she, what were her major accomplishments, what OS is named for her (no, not the Augusta - grin), and how was she connected with Babbage.

History -- it's the gift that keeps on giving! Add your comments on Byron, and blog on!