Windows NT (New Technology)
Window NT is a platform for 32-bit Windows applications.
This is a powerful and one of the most advanced operating
systems available today.
Windows NT was originally designed with big-system features.
Beginning with version 3.5, Microsoft began repositioning
Windows NT as a workstation and server operating system. It
also has a sophisticated multiuser security system, so
Windows NT performs excellently as a disk server. NT has
support for network services useful to applications like
client/server database engines. Still, all the features of
Windows NT are suitable for use in demanding applications of
desktop users.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Windows NT allows users to run all applications, including Windows applications, from the command line. It has better speed. Windows NT does not have arbitrary resource limits. Computer system reliability is improved by the result of this. It has the familiar Windows 3.x-style user interface, so users do not need to spend much time for learning. NT has a preemptive multitasking capability, and the users can multitask applications within their own memory spaces. It has much more reliable networking capability than that provided by Windows 3.x or Windows 95.
- Disadvantages: Windows NT is a platform for 32-bit Windows applications. 32- bit applications are not widely available yet. Still, 16-bit applications are prevailing in the software market. This operating system requires much resource. Windows NT workstation requires 12MB of memory when run on Intel 486/pentium computers (It runs in 8MB, but Microsoft recommends 12MB for NT to run adequately). Windows NT server requires 16MB. Windows NT system that is run on an RISC workstation also demands 16MB of memory. The NT requires at least 70MB of hard disk space only for the operating system. After all, this operating system requires too much for normal microcomputer users
- Resource Limit
- Windows 3.x has three 64KB resource heaps that must be shared by all applications in the system. When those three heaps are exhausted by many applications, errors like "out of system resource" occur. Windows NT does not have that kind of limit.
