Lesson Notes — GUI Operating System Navigation (Windows vs Mac vs Chromebook)
Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 3: Operating Systems & File Management / Lesson 1: GUI Operating System Navigation (Windows vs Mac vs Chromebook)
Lesson overview
A GUI (graphical user interface) lets you control a computer by clicking icons, windows, and menus instead of typing commands. The three most common operating systems with a GUI are Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), and ChromeOS (Google). They look different, but they share the same ideas.
Common parts of the screen
- Desktop: the main screen, where you can keep files and shortcuts.
- Taskbar or Dock: a bar of icons for opening and switching between programs. Windows and ChromeOS call it the taskbar or shelf, and macOS calls it the Dock.
- Shortcut: an icon that opens a file or program without moving the original. Keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that do the same kind of thing faster.
- User account: your own sign-in, with your own files and settings.
- Window management: opening, minimizing, enlarging, closing, and arranging windows so you can see what you need.
Comparing the three
| Windows | macOS | ChromeOS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made by | Microsoft | Apple | |
| Main file tool | File Explorer | Finder | Files app |
| Switch between windows | Alt + Tab | Command + Tab | Alt + Tab |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Command + C | Ctrl + C |
| Strength | Runs the widest range of programs | Tight match between hardware and software | Simple, built around the browser and web apps |
Moving to a new system
When you sit down at an unfamiliar computer, look for the same things: where programs are launched, where files are managed, and where settings are found. The names change, but the jobs do not.
Check your understanding
- What is the difference between a shortcut icon and the original file?
- Name the tool you would use to find your files on each of the three operating systems.
- You open too many windows and cannot find your document. What are two ways to find it?
Use this lesson’s Key Terms page to build your glossary.