OS-tan theories and disscusion

[Bella]

Just a place where I guess we can ask questions regarding backstories of the OS-tans, or otherwise have discussions that don't quite fit anywhere else

[C-Chan]

Ah-ha! So you DID make this thread!  ^___^

Okay, works for me!  ^v^

First order of business,..... to transfer ideas from that "Where are They" thread.  

I myself compromise between both your propositions, and do picture the OS-tans living in some surreal cybernetic world which at the same time parallels our own real world.  The Windows-tans and Mac-tans live in their company-provided housing (in the Mac's case, a living breathing house), whereas most of the other OS-tans live scattered throughout the world.  In some cases they band together into their own cooperatives, such as the Vintage girls at the Binteji Renmei

Could say more, but too tired.  X__x

[Bella]

I myself compromise between both your propositions, and do picture the OS-tans living in some surreal cybernetic world which at the same time parallels our own real world. The Windows-tans and Mac-tans live in their company-provided housing (in the Mac's case, a living breathing house), whereas most of the other OS-tans live scattered throughout the world. In some cases they band together into their own cooperatives, such as the Vintage girls at the Binteji Renmei

Questions like this, inevitably, lead to "where did they come from" or "what are they". I mean, how does hardware and stuff (which one OS can run of thousands of) add into this? I don't think these are completely answerable.

[NejinOniwa]

One word of advice...think Quantum. >:3

[Darknight_88]

I myself compromise between both your propositions, and do picture the OS-tans living in some surreal cybernetic world which at the same time parallels our own real world. The Windows-tans and Mac-tans live in their company-provided housing (in the Mac's case, a living breathing house), whereas most of the other OS-tans live scattered throughout the world. In some cases they band together into their own cooperatives, such as the Vintage girls at the Binteji Renmei

Questions like this, inevitably, lead to "where did they come from" or "what are they". I mean, how does hardware and stuff (which one OS can run of thousands of) add into this? I don't these are completely answerable.

Or just do as you please

Aside discussions about OS-tans origins (I mean, where did they originated, who created them, what inspired them, they're accepted designs, etc), which are already difficult to answer, OS-tans =/= serious business

So when drawing I think the only thing you have to is to draw as you please and have fun. Thats the spirit of memes (including OS-tans), so it's almost pointless to try to find a logical explanation that applies to all the OS-tan material out there.

Applying Nejin's opinion here: logic is to OS-tans as relativistic physics is to quantum physics

[Bella]

Or just do as you please

Aside discussions about OS-tans origins (I mean, where did they originated, who created them, what inspired them, they're accepted designs, etc), which are already difficult to answer, OS-tans =/= serious business

So when drawing I think the only thing you have to is to draw as you please and have fun. Thats the spirit of memes (including OS-tans), so it's almost pointless to try to find a logical explanation that applies to all the OS-tan material out there.

Applying Nejin's opinion here: logic is to OS-tans as relativistic physics is to quantum physics

My point exactly Nobody has a 100% clear idea and no two people's ideas are the same on these broad subjects.

I'd rather focus on the different groups, designing new OS-tans, etc etc. than quarrel about what they are, where they came from, in RL or pretend, or whatever.

[C-Chan]

You also forgot to mention that you're technically creating a comic as well, and need some sort of halfway-coherent universe in which to stick your characters in else they lose half their charm as OS personifications.  I originally loved OS-tans, not necessarily because of how they looked, but also because of all the witty technical references employed (e.g., ME-tan emptying out a recycling bin, or fragmenting a defragging job by 2K-tan, or opening a love letter to unleash worms, etc.).

With Unices and DECs, the challenge for Bella-san is greater because she's never even heard of them not but a few months ago, and has to be able to research quite a lot about them before she can hope to match the same level of witty referencing and easter egg laying.  Otherwise, you just end up with generic (albeit beautifully-dressed) characters with old operating system names plastered on them (otherwise known as Console-tans.... ^________^; )

[Bella]

You also forgot to mention that you're technically creating a comic as well, and need some sort of halfway-coherent universe in which to stick your characters in else they lose half their charm as OS personifications. I originally loved OS-tans, not necessarily because of how they looked, but also because of all the witty technical references employed (e.g., ME-tan emptying out a recycling bin, or fragmenting a defragging job by 2K-tan, or opening a love letter to unleash worms, etc.).

Heehee, I first thought OS-tans were neat because they kinda "humanized" OSs...if that makes sense...

With Unices and DECs, the challenge for Bella-san is greater because she's never even heard of them not but a few months ago, and has to be able to research quite a lot about them before she can hope to match the same level of witty referencing and easter egg laying. Otherwise, you just end up with generic (albeit beautifully-dressed) characters with old operating system names plastered on them (otherwise known as Console-tans.... ^________^;

Very true.

It's somewhat difficult to find really interesting (RL) stories that relate to a lot of "old" OSs (whereas our new ones have tales of viru-tans, BSODs, etc...)
I've found some interesting trivia about DEC, though...maybe somehow these could be worked into a storyline...

(Quotes from Wikipedia article on DEC)

The first spam in computer history was sent in 1979 by a Digital employee. Over 400 people received his promotional message via the Arpanet network.

One of the most unusual peripherals produced for the PDP-10 was the DECtape. The DECtape was a length of standard magnetic tape wound on 5" reels. However, the recording format was a 10-track approach using fixed-length numbered 'blocks' organized into a standard file structure, including a directory. Files could be written, read, changed and deleted on a DECtape as through it were a hard drive. In fact, some PDP-10 systems had no hard drives at all, using DECtapes alone for their primary data storage. For greater efficiency, the DECtape drive could read and write to a DECtape in both directions.

PDP operating systems were the model for many other operating systems. CP/M used a command syntax similar to RT-11's, and even retained the awkward PIP program which was used to copy programs. DEC's use of '/' for "switches" (command-line options) would lead to the adoption of '\' for pathnames in Windows as opposed to '/' in Unix.

As an aside, the three brought up a final test version on the main VAX used by the VMS development group. No comments were heard from the VMS developers whose terminals greeted them the next morning with a Unix login prompt...

A couple of games they developed (some of the earliest computer games):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Lander

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacewar%21

And as for actual personalities, very roughly, I see it like this:

DOS/Batch 11-tan:

DOS-11 was not known to be easy to use even in its day and became much less used in 1973 with the release of the RT-11 operating system.

Difficult (maybe even more than she was useful!), not well liked by "employees"...she had a somewhat short life, and not many were sad to see her die.

Ultrix-tan (DEC's BSD):
Not entirely sure, but I think she'd be quite competitive with VMS-san. VMS-san would be a bit jealous of her, but would ultimately be more successful.

I'll post some more ideas, cause now I have to go. to. sleep.

[C-Chan]

I'll post some more ideas, cause now I have to go. to. sleep.

Nope,... forbidden for Bella-san!  ^0^
You must stay up all night drawing win and stuff.....

Back to work!!  ^v^
*whiplash*

*reads about the DECs*

Gyaaaaaaaaah!  That sure takes me back some....!  ^_______^

*C-chan swoons in reminiscence*

[Bella]

You spoke of witty layering and the occasional easter egg, which is why I am trying to research more on Digital.

One interesting link between Homeko and DOS/Batch 11-tan (because one could theorize DOS/Batch 11 is perhaps the oldest known ancestor of XP) would be some of the attitude. As I said before, I see DOS/Batch 11-tan as being difficult and grating, maybe even a little crazed at times...perhaps some of her attitude was passed down to her great-great-granddaughter Homeko (which, as we all know, is canonized as having a difficult, crazy, albeit perverse, demeanor...though she's nice to me XD)

Another link I see is directly between NT-san and VMS-san, both being excellent swordswomen.

As for other character ideas, I see RT-11-tan as physically being around the age range of an older teenager, on the short side (because RT-11 is described as being "small"; I've no idea what "small" means, though). Attitude-wise, being a little more lighthearted than her other siblings; she enjoys gaming (or I should say very old games) a lot, and loves to challenge people to matches

If we can define what gaming is to an OS-tan...XD

RSX 11-san I think would look similar to VMS-san, except with light gray or silver hair; Her attitude would be on the somber side (growing up with DOS/batch 11-tan as a mother/mentor couldn't have been fun XD); she gave her daughter, VMS-san, all her knowledge of fighting, bravery, and a substantial amount of her unhappy nature (because I think VMS-san had a somewhat quiet attitude in youth...when she discovered her clone, NT-tan, I think that would have driven her to her current fringe, slightly psychotic state)

[C-Chan]

Sorry, still swooned.  Stand by for full consciousness so I can continue to admire your interest and research in the old DEC family of yore.....  XvX

*swoons*

[Bella]

I'm really not sure what -tan designs would fit such old OS's as TOPS or OS/8, but here are some random thoughts on the perspective, post-Unix, DEC OS-tans, as a whole:

(From Wikipedia)

The first versions of the C programming language and the UNIX operating system ran on Digital's PDP series of computers (first on a PDP-7, then the PDP-11's), which were the first commercially viable minicomputers, although for several years Digital itself did not encourage the use of Unix.

The VAX could use both Unix and DEC's own VMS operating system.

Makes me think that while the DEC OS-tans were willing to do business with Unix-sama (and probably on many occasions) they, openly, did not like each other,

*I can just imagine where they (VMS-san, RSX-san, etc...) invite Unix-sama to dinner, just to tell her that they hate her...but...not to let that get in the way of business...

Or a hi-larious scene with crazy DOS/Batch 11-tan and Unix-sama...*

and...

DEC tried to compete in the Unix market by marketing the VMS operating system as "OpenVMS" and by selling their own Unix (OSF/1 AXP, later renamed Digital UNIX, and even later Tru64), and it began to advertise more aggressively. DEC was simply not prepared to sell into a crowded Unix market however, and furthermore the low end PC-servers running NT (based on Intel processors) took market share from Alpha-based computers. DEC's workstation and server line never gained much popularity beyond former DEC customers.

...The DEC-tans and Unix-sama (and/or her daughters) probably got into a few battles. Moreover, NT-san may have, at some point, gotten into a fight or two with her very ancestors, ironically not knowing the truth behind her "enemies"...

DEC was acquired by Compaq in June 1998, which subsequently merged with Hewlett-Packard in May 2002.

The still alive or marketable DEC-tans (like Digital Unix, [AKA Tru64 Unix]-tan and VMS-san) were taken in by Compaq when they bought out their company. Later they became in league with HP; Therefor, I believe HP UX-tan would be their "stepsister". I'm not really sure how these shakeups would have effected the former DEC-tans...I mean, OpenVMS still seems to be alive and kicking at HP...but psychologically, being separated from her home, her culture, and her old relatives...

[C-Chan]

I'm really not sure what -tan designs would fit such old OS's as TOPS or OS/8, but here are some random thoughts on the perspective, post-Unix, DEC OS-tans, as a whole:

FYI, I had a loose character concept for TOPS-sama before as something of a Mitsune (from Love Hina) type.  But that's in her Binteji Renmei form, where she's laid back "enjoying" the fun and frivoloties of retirement.  In her youth she would have definitely been a fighter.  ^__^

Makes me think that while the DEC OS-tans were willing to do business with Unix-sama (and probably on many occasions) they, openly, did not like each other,

*I can just imagine where they (VMS-san, RSX-san, etc...) invite Unix-sama to dinner, just to tell her that they hate her...but...not to let that get in the way of business...

Or a hi-larious scene with crazy DOS/Batch 11-tan and Unix-sama...*

Yeah, that sounds about right.  UNIX-sama may have been more hot-headed in her youth, but now she finds that kind of unbridled hatred amusing.  Ther is no love in business after all, which makes conversations with Linux-sama all the more refreshing since she has no coherent grasp of traditional business "etiquette".

(I imagine that for the uber-old school DEC-tans, they probably view Linux as some kind of idealistic brat, nutcase, hippy or [choose your old-fashioned admonishment].  ^__^'

...The DEC-tans and Unix-sama (and/or her daughters) probably got into a few battles. Moreover, NT-san may have, at some point, gotten into a fight or two with her very ancestors, ironically not knowing the truth behind her "enemies"...

I don't want the DEC-tans to appear ignorant, as they still possess SOME connections and can find ways (however covert) to get information.  But imagine if you will that VMS-sama helped M$ all on her own without divulging this to anyone in her family (although RSX-sama may have found out on her own anyway), and thus she's the only harboring the secret of the "abomination's" true identity?

No real reason to do so, other than to heighten the soap opera sense of drama, especially when NT-tan is unknowingly asked to fight blood relatives.  ^___^'

The still alive or marketable DEC-tans (like Digital Unix, [AKA Tru64 Unix]-tan and VMS-san) were taken in by Compaq when they bought out their company. Later they became in league with HP; Therefor, I believe HP UX-tan would be their "stepsister". I'm not really sure how these shakeups would have effected the former DEC-tans...I mean, OpenVMS still seems to be alive and kicking at HP...but psychologically, being separated from her home, her culture, and her old relatives...

Fufufu... well now you definitely know why I wanted to keep VMS-sama as living in the fringes, since she's trying to eek out an existence in a world far removed from the one she grew up in.  In the case of her employment at Compaq, I reckon it would be akin of taking up a job as a temp after spending half your life working as a CEO of a famous company.  It puts bread on the table, but she hates it and spends as much time on her own as humanly possible.  ^___^'

[Bella]

FYI, I had a loose character concept for TOPS-sama before as something of a Mitsune (from Love Hina) type. But that's in her Binteji Renmei form, where she's laid back "enjoying" the fun and frivoloties of retirement. In her youth she would have definitely been a fighter. ^__^

I see most of the older OS-tans as being fighters...

Not like our lazy modern OS-tans XD

Yeah, that sounds about right. UNIX-sama may have been more hot-headed in her youth, but now she finds that kind of unbridled hatred amusing. Ther is no love in business after all, which makes conversations with Linux-sama all the more refreshing since she has no coherent grasp of traditional business "etiquette".

Hoohooo...! I never thought of it that way...makes me wonder about the relationship between Slackware-tan and Unix-sama (because, at least I think, Slackware-tan really wants to be like Unix-sama and follow her teachings but she also adores Linux-sama...t would make for some funny self-conflict)

(I imagine that for the uber-old school DEC-tans, they probably view Linux as some kind of idealistic brat, nutcase, hippy or [choose your old-fashioned admonishment]. ^__^'

I’ll take idealistic, socialist hippy, thank you... But, yeah, I do see the DEC-tans as kinda annoyed by the Linuxes...

I don't want the DEC-tans to appear ignorant, as they still possess SOME connections and can find ways (however covert) to get information. But imagine if you will that VMS-sama helped M$ all on her own without divulging this to anyone in her family (although RSX-sama may have found out on her own anyway), and thus she's the only harboring the secret of the "abomination's" true identity?

No real reason to do so, other than to heighten the soap opera sense of drama, especially when NT-tan is unknowingly asked to fight blood relatives. ^___^'

I guess it would be a bit interesting to think that hardly any of the DEC-tans know of the VMS/WNT(< had to do that) connection, but I think some (like you said, RSX-san [Who I also see as wise enough to make the connection], as well as a couple of the more modern, “in-touch” ones) know...even if not on a conscious level, or, they’re just in denial, calling it as a strange coincidence, and they’d never point out the similarities between their “sister” and NT-tan. I think part of the sad irony would be the incredible physical and mental similarities between the two, perhaps only offset by their incredible differences

While we’re on the subject of soap opera storylines, I’d like to think that VMS-san would have been the motherly type, (much like NT-tan), if she had been given the chance. Sadly, though, the only “daughter” she ever had was never raised or taught by her, and they’ve never even really met outside of battle circumstances...

But I can see where VMS-san (or I should say NT-san, via VMS-san) was could be the greatest help to the M$ family...had they stuck it out with MSDOS based OSs or gone with OS/2 (which I've heard wasn't as stable as IBM/M$ said it was), perhaps they wouldn't have gotten such a foothold in the server market...

Fufufu... well now you definitely know why I wanted to keep VMS-sama as living in the fringes, since she's trying to eek out an existence in a world far removed from the one she grew up in. In the case of her employment at Compaq, I reckon it would be akin of taking up a job as a temp after spending half your life working as a CEO of a famous company. It puts bread on the table, but she hates it and spends as much time on her own as humanly possible. ^___^'

And now at HP she’s stuck in a position between two Unix-tans (and I think we all know how she gets along with them)…Oh yes, fringes indeed O__o



Just another preconcept sketch of DOS batch 11 (or just DOS-11)-tan...I see her in the mid-to-older teenage age range...maybe, if not from the simple fact the "DOS" in her name remindes me of disk operating system-tans : / That and the fact that DEC only released DOS 11 for 4 years, and much of the users stoped using DOS-11 in 1973 when RT-11 came out (That's also why I think she'd be especially prickly with a perspective RT11-tan....)



and here's the preconcept sketch for an RT11-tan, or at least a young one...somehow I see her as being a cheery (or at least cheerier than most DEC-tans) type...in spare time, she likes playing old-fashioned games, and she stuck it out with her company, loyally, to the very end.

And speaking of RSX-san, I keep thinking she'd be a bit like Izumi from Fullmetal Alchemist....a tough-love kind of teacher. She's still strong, but in recent years she just can't quite exert herself like she used to...

[NejinOniwa]

2 wordz...me liek. -w-