A good place to start learning about an operating system is to perform a preliminary exp...

A good place to start learning about an operating system is to perform a preliminary exploration of its GUI or desktop. In this project, you explore the Windows XP, Vista, or 7 interface and then in the next two projects, you contrast it to the interfaces for Fedora 13 (using the GNOME desktop) and Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard. If necessary, ask your instructor for accounts as needed on the appropriate Windows, Fedora 13, or Mac OS X computers.

To explore the Windows XP, Vista, or 7 desktop:

1. If necessary, log on by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.

2. Enter your user name, password, and domain name (if required), and click OK.

3. Notice the taskbar, which is at the bottom of the desktop on most systems.

4. Click the Start button to view the available options. Record some of the options. Some options, such as All Programs, Control Panel, and Help and Support are always displayed. Other options, particularly in the left side of the Start menu may change to reflect the last programs you have accessed.

5. Point to or click All Programs to view programs that you can start or program folders, such as Accessories.

6. Move the pointer to the right side of the Start menu or click Back (in Windows Vista and 7) to close All Programs.

7. Click My Computer (in Windows XP) or Computer (in Windows Vista and 7) on the Start menu to view its options, such as the option to double-click a drive to view its contents. Notice that the display shows any DVD/CD-ROM or flash drives, as well as hard drives connected to the computer (see Figure 1-13).

8. Close My Computer or the Computer window.