[1005] in IS Home Pages
Re: Correction necessary on IS web page
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Griffith)
Thu Feb 24 15:23:31 2000
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In-Reply-To: <200002241953.OAA07162@pellenes-shoshonensis.mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 15:24:12 -0500
To: rjpage@mit.edu, is-home@mit.edu (IS Webmasters)
From: Chris Griffith <cg@MIT.EDU>
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As far as I can tell, all of our Mac OS 9 pages have the phrase "Mac
OS 9" in the title or highlighted prominently. The word "OS9" only
appears occasionally in isolated blocks of text.
Given that context, I'm confident that our intended audience (MIT
Macintosh users) will be able to figure out that "OS9" is merely
shorthand for "Mac OS 9". If we were consistent in calling the
product "OS9", then I might be concerned.
The problem with calling it "Mac OS 9" all the time is that it makes
the text harder for novice users to read. If a nickname or synonym
can be used occasionally, it breaks up the text makes it easier to
comprehend.
Incidentally, the Microware OS9 product does not run on Apple's
computer hardware and never will. The two products are vastly
different- one is an obscure product often found in specialized
embedded systems, the other is a popularly-known operating system
found in personal computers. Since the crossover between these two
user groups is tiny-to-nonexistent, I don't think we have much to
worry about in terms of possible enduser confusion.
Chris
At 2:53 PM -0500 2/24/00, rjpage@MIT.EDU wrote:
>Please provide as much information as you can. Thank you.
>
>** Incorrect information:
>The name of the Operating System (OS9) or (MACOS9)
>
>** Location (URL):
>
>** Correction:
>This is not a correction per se, but rather a
>question/clarification. Is MACOS9 the same thing as OS9?
>
>The reason for my question is this:
>
>Microware Software Development in Des Moines, Iowa has had a a
>real-time UNIX called OS9, since 1977. This OS was originally
>designed for systems using the 6809 processor (thus the name OS9).
>This OS is primarily marketed for embedded systems (a competitor of
>WRS' VxWorks). OS9 was later ported and enhanced for the 68020 and
>80386 families as OS-9000. There are versions of OS-9000 for other
>platforms as well. Collectively, these Microware products are
>referred to as OS9.
>
>If Apple purchased the right to package OS9 as an Apple product,
>fine (I'm not concerned with the legalities here). My main concern
>is the confusion over the name. If MACOS9 and OS9 from Microware ARE
>two completely different products, then I would recommend a
>clarification in terminology, at least in these pages. Not being a
>Mac user, OS9 to me refers to the Microware products. I'm sure I'm
>not the only one.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Russ Page
>253-9585
>
>** Is there an original source for this information (i.e. author,
>owner, etc.)?
>
>Microware Software Development
>Des Moines, Iowa
>
>** Do you have a special interest in this information (i.e. owner,
>frequent reader, etc.)?
>
>I have a copy of OS-9000 running on an 80486 at home. The use of
>this OS was at the heart of my Master's Project (Thesis).
