Stop Microsoft

Miscellaneous => The Lounge => Topic started by: anphanax on 24 February 2004, 12:41

Title: Maybe SomeDay an Operating System (MS-DOS)?
Post by: anphanax on 24 February 2004, 12:41

I've noticed a lot of people dislike MS-DOS (Referred a lot to as MS-DOG, M$-DOG, or M$-DOS), and don't consider it an operating system. I can understand the dislike as i've had to learn how to work with Int 21h and i'm not a huge fan of how it handles certian things (TSRs, The primitive file system, general support). I can also see how these people are extremely annoyed when people refer to MS-DOS as "DOS". But, IT IS an OS isn't it?

Definition:
<http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212714,00.html>
An operating system (sometimes abbreviated as "OS") is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manages all the other programs in a computer. The other programs are called applications or application programs. The application programs make use of the operating system by making requests for services through a defined application program interface (API). In addition, users can interact directly with the operating system through a user interface such as a command language or a graphical user interface (GUI).

I just want to know why people think it's justified to say MS-DOS isn't an operating system. I don't see anyone calling QDOS "QDOG". I brought that up since it's what MS-DOS originally was (Q-DOS was purchased by Microsoft, IBM needed an operating system and the author of CP/M wasn't thinking) for those who didn't know.

[ February 24, 2004: Message edited by: anphanax ]

Title: Maybe SomeDay an Operating System (MS-DOS)?
Post by: Paladin9 on 24 February 2004, 12:45

It is an OS, does not mean it sucks ass though.

Title: Maybe SomeDay an Operating System (MS-DOS)?
Post by: WMD on 25 February 2004, 02:35

MS-DOS is written mostly in assembly language and requires the applications to interact with most hardware directly, rather than via the OS.

So it's hardly an OS.  :D

Title: Maybe SomeDay an Operating System (MS-DOS)?
Post by: Calum on 25 February 2004, 14:27

hmm, it provides an interface of sorts between programs and the hardware though, and provides an environment for other software to act as an interface between the hardware and the apps, also it provides a command line interface to the user, so perhaps DOS and its associated software are an OS together.

I think DR-DOS is a better operating system, and FreeDOS is a lot better, although the latter is not good for running any GUI over in my experience, and the former is closed, and sometimes a bit finnicky for no apparent reason.

Title: Maybe SomeDay an Operating System (MS-DOS)?
Post by: flap on 25 February 2004, 18:01

Of course DOS is an operating system, albeit a very primitive one.