Final answer:
The first operating systems were single-user and proprietary, controlled by specific companies and often requiring substantial costs. Linux, as an open-source operating system, emerged as a flexible and free alternative, significantly impacting the computing industry and reducing reliance on expensive proprietary systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the history of operating systems and their proprietary nature. Many of the first operating systems were indeed single-user and proprietary. Major manufacturers and software companies such as IBM, Digital Equipment Company, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and Silicon Graphics controlled these operating systems tightly. The UNIX operating system, for instance, which had initially been more open, became commercialized after AT&T sold its rights. Several proprietary versions emerged, each functioning on specific hardware platforms, often with a high cost associated with them.
However, this all began to change when Linus Torvalds introduced Linux, an open-source operating system that could be freely distributed and customized. Its adaptability spurred widespread use in everything from personal computers to supercomputers. Organizations like NASA found that networked PCs running Linux could rival the computing power of proprietary supercomputers, leading to a shift away from costly proprietary systems.