Chris Searles (csearles_at_netcologne.de) wrote:
> While we're on the subject does anyone happen to know where the
> omnipresent X comes from in operating system names such as Unix, NeXT,
> Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows XT/XP?
Well, let's see:
Unix: originally called "Unics" (a pun on Multics), later renamed "Unix"
for whatever reason -- this was in the early 70s
NeXT: well, there always was an "x" in "next", wasn't it? Plus a
reference to its Unix underpinnings
Linux: from "Linus" and "Unix", so the "x" was borrowed from Unix
Mac OS X: "X" is the Roman digit representing 10 (and thus it's
pronounced "Mac OS Ten", not "Mac OS X"), also a reference to its
"plumbing" being derived from Unix
Windows XP: eXPerience? And Windows eventually had to have an X in it
somewhere, so as not to be left out when everyone else had so much fun
with their X-whatever OS
- Michael
Michael J. Hussmann
E-mail: michael_at_michael-hussmann.de
WWW: http://michael-hussmann.de
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