characters

As OS-tan are unofficial rappresentations of OS born on Japanese boards for fun, they don't have a fix standard appearance (but the older OSes commonly accepted as Me-tan and XP-tan), and the ammount of characters rappresenting OSes and other hardware/software is bigger and bigger every month, so it's sure difficult for a non-Japanese understand and find them all.
This page collects the major OSes and their peculiarities as characters (where possible).

DOS-tan
MS-DOS
DOS is rappresented as a cute shy girl with ponytails, hidding herself beyond everything and carrying a keyboard.

DOS/V
As the Japanese version of DOS, DOS/V is quite mysterious and tecnologic. She wears a black suit and her hair is used to be grey or white.


Windows-tan
3.1
Windows 3.1 is a goth little girl with grey hair.
She's used to be with her black cat DOS.

95
Windows 95 rappresents the most traditional and both combative sides of Windows.
She's used to be a quiet and good mannered girl, but the presense of an Apple-tan turns her in a merciless samurai.
98
Windows 98 is a cute little showgirl/magical girl (I have no idea of how describe her outfit X'D), but extremely shy.
She's usually with her 98 box, a sort of fetish who rappresents a brother, a mecha, a friend and sometimes a home.
98 SE
Windows 98 Second Edition is rappresented as a nice school-girl.
she's more aware and active than her sister 98 but the basic characters is the same.
she's got a 98SE box too.
NT
Windows NT has many forms.
The most popular is the one who rappresents her as a dog girl (because in Japanese "NT" is pronounced "Inu-Ti", and Inu is the Japanese for Dog), but she's often rappresented also as a young pregnant and sweet woman, 'cause she's considered to be 2k, Me and XP mother.
CE
Windows CE, the OS for small devices/portables, is rappresented as a little fairy carring a USB cable wand.
She's extremely joyful, and currently she's the only OS who can fly.
2k
Windows 2000, the dependable woman, is portrayed as a serious and devoted technologic catgirl/secretary/maid with glasses.
She's often envious of her younger sister XP and extremely busy to control the weird actions of Me.
Me
Windows Millenium Edition is a real earthshake in OS-tan world.
She's used to act senseless causing a lot of troubles, also if she does her best to be a good OS. Usually her sisters XP and 2k must have to resolve her desasters.
XP Home "Homeko"
Windows XP Home Edition is very similar to 2k as character, but she's more efficient and quick (ooh, is it possible?).
She doesn't have a nice relationship with her XP Professional sister, and obviously with 2k-tan.
She is also a YAOI fan and always torment in this sense her brother Homeo (the male version of XP Home).
XP Professional
XP Professional is a good worker and an extremely beautiful and sexy girl with a large breast (that rappresents her memory).
Unfortunately she's also used to eat a lot, also stealing her sisters food.
This gives her the nickname of "Cow" or "Pig" by other.
Vista
Actually two versions of Vista-tan exists to suit the several versions of this OS.
The main version perform an hyper ninja-girl while the most moe counterpart is this dark girl in a futuristic school uniform.
The screw on their heads/outfit is a pun of the Japanese romanization of their name.

Mac-tan
OS 9 "Sonata"
OS 9 is rappresented as a gentle and nice girl who loves painting and art.
Probably she's the most pacific Mac-OS.

OS X
Despite her cuteness OS X is an aggressive and strong girl.
Her mortal enemy is 95-tan: she's used to attack Windows girls with her error bombs.
She has a rainbow apple on her head.
OS "Jaguar" 10.2
The other Mac OS-tan doesn't have a definite character design and characterization yet, but they are usually rappresented as serious and dedicated, not too involved with other OS-tan dramas.
Here's Jaguar-tan, who is a long haired girl with a cyber aspect and a jaguar-like costume.
OS "Panther" 10.3
Panther-tan is rappresented as a coloured cyber girl.
Her outfit obviously tried to remember a panther-like costume.

OS "Tiger" 10.4
Tiger-tan is usually rappresented as a tiger-girl with blonde hair.
Her costume is usually black/white coloured.


Linux-tan
Linux
Linux-tan is extremely skilled and strong.
She appears as an outcast and independent OS.
She seems to have good feelings for the Windows-tan. Obviously 95-tan hates her.
Linspire (Lindows)
Linspire is a big question mark, 'cause she's not a very popular character, just like other Linux-tan.



OS-KUN
The OS-kun are just the male versions of the classic OS-tan.
They born as distinct characters, and also if it's still not so clear the relationships of them (sometimes they are rappresented as brothers of the OS-tan, sometimes as lovers) I decided to add a little section about them.

Windows-kun
95
95-kun is a contemplative, mature and quiet adult man.
He's used to be rappresented as a Samurai beholding his katana.

98
98-kun is a masked superhero, who enter in action to protect his little sisters 98-tan and 98 SE-tan.
He's rappresented as a typical armoired Japanes superhero (like Kamen Raider, to give you an example) with a long scarf.
98 SE
I saw a comic strip where 98 SE-kun was an enemy of 98-kun. Then, when our hero defeat him he saw under his mask there is the face of his beloved brother.
DRAMA KINGS ;_; !
NT
I don't have many informations about the male version of NT.
He's rappresented as a brave furry dog in some NT-tan fantasies.

2k
As his female counterpart, Windows 2000 is the smart one: he wears technologic cat ears and glasses.
He's used to be rappresented as a business man, with office suites.
Me
Windows Millenium Edition is a private college student, with the same green hair of his female counterpart.
But on the contrary of Me-tan, he's a very smart and useful guy: he's used to make dirty jokes to his brother XP and he's the one who read the Windows Help Files to others when it's necessary.
XP Home "Homeo"
Poor poor Homeo ;_; He's the younger brother of Homeko (XP Home-tan), and he's continuously disturbed by his weird sister who he desperately loves.
He looks like a very young girlish boy, and he's very shy and hesitant.
It looks like 98-tan is in love with him.
XP Professional
XP-kun is the perfect rappresentation of the rude violent guy with a big heart.
He's rappresented as a big strong guy, with some scars on his chest to form the word "XP".
It looks like 2k-tan is in love with him.
Vista
Vista-kun is rappresented in a ninja/samurai outfit; he seems a lighthearted and trustful boy and despite his muscular big body he looks as a naive and childish person.
He's sometimes depicted by holding a toy windmill.

Mac-kun
OS 9 "Kyourou-kun"
OS 9 is a gentle guy, but ith a very sad and introvert character: he feels not very considered because of his stronger and powerful sisters.
He's in love with Me-tan.
Mac OS "Jaguar" 10.2
Jaguar-kun is a merciless furry jaguar pirate, usually rappresented as extremely rude and savage.
It looks like Jaguar-kun has a whole jaguar tribe at his dependance.
They are all extremelly attracted by Mac girls.


OTHER CHARACTERS
Here are other characters of Os-tan world, but not exactly OS-tan.
They are listed just to give a better idea of the OS-tan world.

Real life
Toshiaki "Master"
Toshiaki is the user of the various OS, that's why the OS-tan call him "Master".
His names comes from the 2chan: "Toshiaki" infact stands for "Anonymous" user, after a guy with this name tormented the board with his stupid/pervert requests.
Toshiaki holds in great consideration XP-tan, ignoring the pure love 2k-tan has for him.
Bill Gates "Father"
Bill is not a character we see very often, but usually the OS-tan referrs him as "Father".


Anti-viruses
Norton Antivirus
Norton is something like...Uhm... Happosai in Ranma 1/2: the whole damn pervert!
It's nice to know that antiviruses are considered as sort of maniacs who peeps continuosly the OS-tan or asking them to undress for a check...
He dislike Me-tan ;_;
Trend Micro Virus Buster
As Norton, Trend Micro is a perverted too.
But he has the appearance of a little blonde guy in a casual outfit.
He's in love with XP-tan.
McAfee Antivirus
On the contrary of her male colleagues, McAfee is rappresented as a beautiful noble woman, with monocle and an Ol' Europe militarish outfit.


Browsers
Firefox
Firefox-ko is ure the most famous browser-tan, due to her nice appealing and cute character.
She's rappresentend as a very beautiful fox-girl, sometimes as a Shinoist Fox priestess.
She's a big friend of Thunderbird-ko, and has no relations with the OS-tan.
Safari
I find some informations about Safari in iGirls, where it suggests her as a cute brave explorer.
With her compass and her binoculars she's sure a friendly guide!
Internet Explorer
I found this pic of IE on the web, and considering she's my browser I have to support her, also if she allows everyone looking at her panties X'D


Communications
Thunderbird
Thunderbird-ko is a very big friend of Firefox-ko.
She's very cute too, but not as popular as her best friend.

MS Outlook
Outlook-tan appears in some strips as a valid and helpful girl.
She's used to deliver post to OS-tan, and erase dangerous letters.

MSN Messanger
A brand new character but extremely beloved, Messanger-tan is sure the most active, skilled and cute of the instant messengers.
She's used to be rappresented wearing a bluette cloth with an emoticon-pin on her chest, a four-color butterfly ribbon on her head, and she hangs a red bag showing her status.

disclaimer

0perat1ve is © Daeva, all rights reserved.
OS-tan is © of their creators, used without permission but without intent of infringement for non-profit, educational purposes only.
Original art is from Nijiura's OS-tan archive.
Cosplay, Kigurumi and Papercrafts images are from OS-tan @ Wakachan.
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