Talk:Operating Systems

From Styleguide

Added note about GNU/Linux versus Linux.

There's no question that the GNU Project holds the high ground on this one... they created this OS, and should have the right to name it, or at the very least to have their enormous contribution properly recognized. However, the name 'Linux' has obviously caught on with the public, and it's too late (not to mention counterproductive) to attempt retraining the entire world. Using 'GNU/Linux' at least once in any article, perhaps more if the article is technical in nature, is the most practicable compromise.

It is important for the press to adopt such a convention now, for several reasons. Not only is Linux growing rapidly in importance, but: 1) technically, the term 'Linux' alone is clearly wrong; 2) morally, crediting Torvalds and not Stallman is clearly unfair; and 3) pragmatically, the GNU Project continues to do vital work that desperately needs the support of knowledgeable computer users... like gamers, and game journalists.

... fung0

• Fung, I'm admittedly ignorant about the vagaries of the Unix/Linux,GNU and everything. My main question is this: Are there programs that will only run on certain distros of Linux and not others. If so, I'd say writers should indicate which distro is required or used. If not, I'd say they're all equivalent and the general term "Linux" is the clearest way to refer to it for most readers

KyleOrl 15:43, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Variants of Mac OS X

Panther and Tiger. Anyone know if folks game on these OSes? I know the new dualboot and bootcamp systems allow you to run XP on an Apple machine, so these OSes might not be so relevant anymore. Just clarify if they are, or if we can use OS X as a catchall.

• Not a bad idea. Again, does anyone know if there are programs or games that will only run on one of these additions?

KyleOrl 15:43, 26 July 2007 (UTC)