Word: multi
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...area in which NT shines compared to its MS-DOS-based cousin is in multi-tasking, or the ability to run more than one program at a time...
...types of multi-tasking, the better kind assigns each task to its own processor so the programs run simultaneously in the truest sense. But often there are more tasks than available processors. Most PCs, after all, are equipped with only one brain. In the second type of multi-tasking, an operating system creates an illusion by "juggling" the programs very quickly...
Both NT and Windows feature multi-tasking of this second sort. But NT does a better job as its task assignment algorithm is better. What all this means to the user is that while in NT you can format a disk and download files from your husc account at the same time, this is impossible with Windows...
...goes a step further by also supporting true multi-tasking--when it knows that your computer has more than one CPU. In this case, all the processors are called in to execute programs and the computing power is increased...
...only powerful operating system for Intel-based PCs on the market these days. IBM's OS/2 2.1, probably NT's most serious competitor, features robust performance, excellent multi-tasking capabilities and flawless execution of MS-DOS programs. But its installation is a pain--you have to deal with 25 disks!--and it lacks a great many device drivers to support a wide class of peripherals...