Week 25 · Theme 4, Lesson 2 Operating Systems and Software · 3 lessons
3
Free and paid systems: pros and cons
ICT P6 Term 2, Theme 4: pp. 46–49
GoalCompare paid and free operating systems with pros and cons, and write help instructions for a family member.
New words
paid system · an operating system that you pay forfree system · an operating system you can use without payingopen source · its code can be read, shared and changed by anyoneversion · the numbered edition of a system or program
Explanation
Not all operating systems are the same. A pros-and-cons table helps us compare them: the good points (pros) and the not-so-good points (cons). Let us compare three kinds. A system that you pay for and that many computers use has many programs and lots of help, but it costs money, and updates can be costly or slow older machines. A paid system made by one company for its own devices usually works smoothly with those devices and has few attacks, but it is costly and the devices have fewer hardware choices. A free open-source system can be run, shared and changed by anyone and costs nothing; it has good community help, but it may need special knowledge and has fewer ready-made programs. No system is best for everybody. How do you help a friend with a new computer? Ask them to look in the settings for the ‘about’ part, which shows the system and its version, and the ‘storage’ part, which shows free space. Steps differ; ask a teacher.
Pros
Cons
paid system for many computers
many programs, lots of help
costs money
paid system from one company
smooth with its own devices, few attacks
costly, fewer hardware choices
free open-source system
free, shared, community help
special knowledge, fewer programs
Worked examples
School
Wants
May choose
School 1
save money
free open-source
School 2
many ready programs
paid system
Choosing for a school. A school wants to save money and has a teacher who knows computers well. A free open-source system may suit it. Another school wants lots of ready-made programs and does not mind paying. It may choose a paid system.
open the settings with a grown-up→look in About: system and version→look in Storage: free space
Helping a friend. A friend has a new computer. You tell him: ‘Ask a grown-up to open the settings. Look for the part called About to see the system and its version. Look for Storage to see the free space.’ Steps differ; the teacher helps.
I want…
Look in…
bigger letters
display settings
louder sound
sound settings
a new language
language settings
A help card for a family member. Mina writes a card for his grandfather with three settings: ‘Bigger letters: display settings. Louder sound: sound settings. Change the language: language settings.’ He adds a drawing for each.
Class activity
Pros and cons, then help. Draw your own pros-and-cons table for the three kinds of system (cost, programs, help, safety, speed, special knowledge). Then write a help card for a family member (an invented person is fine) with three settings they might want to change and where to look, with a small drawing for each. End with: which operating systems have you seen, and what would you improve?
Practice
1
What does open source mean?
Its code can be read, shared and changed by anyone.
2
Give one pro and one con of a free open-source system.
Pro: it costs nothing. Con: it may need special knowledge.
3
Where can you see a computer’s system version and free space?
In the About and Storage parts of the settings (steps differ).
4
Why is no operating system best for everyone?
People have different needs, such as cost, programs and help.
