Internet Spotlight: OS-Tan

Japan is a culture of cute. Just about everything in Japan will have a cute chibified mascot, and users of Futaba Channel have pitched in to create mascots representing Microsoft Windows! They are all collectively known as OS-Tan.

Each character in the OS-Tan family represents a different operating system within Windows lifespan. Some of the more popular characters include:

Windows ME
The youngest of the bunch and also the most incompetent. Like the system itself, she works hard but has a habit of freezing or otherwise screwing up in the cutest ways possible.

Windows XP
Beautiful to look at but otherwise fairly shallow, XP is the fanservice character (like Mikuru!). She has a huge appetite and a bust size to match, which correlates to the system’s tendency to eat up a lot of ram.

Windows 2000 Professional
True to her name, Windows 2000 Pro is the most reliable and professional of the bunch. She’s often seen as the one who keeps the rest of her sisters in line.

Windows 95
Since she’s the oldest system of the bunch, Windows 95 is depicted as the most traditional, wearing a kimono to match. She also takes on the calm, motherly older sister, though she flies into a samurai-like rage whenever Mac shows up.

Mac OS
Considered the rival of the OS-Tan family, she tends to act as volatile as Macs tend to be. However, she does become quite friendly once you get to know her.

Dr. Norton
The personification of Norton Antivirus, he’s the doctor to all the OS-Tans, but he does tend to be lecherous and intrusive. Just like Norton Ghost!

Though their popularity has subsided in favor of the Vocaloids, OS-Tan still remains as a part of the internet fan community. Even now there are debates as to what Windows Vista will look like. As long as operating systems exist, there will be Japanese fans to turn them into cute girls! Can you say “moe”?

Written by: OptimusPrime