OS-tan
OS-tans are moe anthropomorphic personifications of popular operating systems, originating on the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel.
The designs of the OS-tans, which were created by various amateur Japanese artists, are typically female; for example, the personifications of Microsoft Windows operating systems are often depicted as sisters of varying ages.
Discussions on Futaba Channel likened this to the stereotype of a fickle, troublesome girl and as this personification expanded Me-tan was created and followed by the other characters.
[15] The Japanese version of Windows 7 Ultimate DSP Edition includes the unofficial Nanami Madobe mascot.
[18] In this case, the mispronunciation is used intentionally to achieve the contrived cute or charming effect that is commonly associated with its use by young children and is also sometimes added to the names of non-mascot characters.
She wears round glasses, a white button-down blouse with a light blue skirt and suspenders.
Windows 98SE-tan is depicted as a girl with an appearance of a middle-school-aged person who is prone to aggression and holds a can opener with her.
She has mint green braids with an ahoge, a blue maid dress, with an orange or red bow on the chest with the Windows Me system restore icon.
She usually wears a pendant bearing a Media Center icon over her chest, and has been depicted carrying a remote on occasion.
Akiba PC reported that the first 7777 copies of Japanese Windows 7 Ultimate DSP editions[20] include special wallpaper and sound sets for a character called Nanami Madobe (窓辺ななみ, Madobe Nanami), voiced by Nana Mizuki.
Regular DSP edition includes a digest Windows 7 theme including a Nanami wallpaper, an event sound set; the preorder users can also download an extra Nanami wallpaper and 6 event sound sets.
[23] During the initial sales event of the Windows 7 DSP edition, the official profile of the character has also been revealed.
Nanami and her cousin Claudia Madobe (クロード(蔵人)) later appeared in Microsoft's Cloud Girl comic strip.
Both versions (4,000 units per character, thus 8,000 total) include a Microsoft Wedge touch mouse with the Windows 8 logo, character-specific Windows theme (three theme pack wallpapers, event sounds in the respective character's voice), picture password images.
[26] In addition, Limited Akihabara Editions (444 units per character, 888 total), sold in Tokyo's Akihabara shopping district, include Madobe Ai/Yū edition of Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse, an alternate character-specific event sound samples and theme pack and an alternate wallpaper for its respective character.
[27] Nipponbashi versions (500 units per character), sold in Nipponbashi in Osaka, include Microsoft Wedge touch mouse (with Ai and Yū decal), three theme pack wall papers (two common and one character-specific), and Yū or Ai event sounds.
[32][33] The Windows 8 Can Edition from Unitcom (available for the first 2,888 copies) included a notepad, T-shirt, two-way mouse pad, pocket media case, smart phone stand cleaning, two-way PC cleaner, Yū and Ai badges, and a freeze blanket.
[35] Yū and Ai were said to have a birthdate of 18 November 1996 (Windows CE's release date) with age 15, with height of 152 cm.
[37] In 2012 and 2013, Windows Navi+ (Techno-Alliance Corp.) also created separate Twitter accounts for Ai and Yū, respectively.
[47] Additional types of Windows 8.1 Pro DSP edition Madobe family theme packs were also sold by Ark (TowerHill), ZOA Corporation, Tsukumo (Project White), Dospara, Buy More (Unit.com), Big Camera (Sofmap), and PC One.
These versions include two types of wallpapers (Christmas, New Year), theme pack with system voices.
[49] As confirmed on the character's official Facebook page, her name is a homonym for one of the readings for the Japanese word for 'ten': too (とお).
Her rising popularity can be attributed to fan adoption, with increased visibility following an Instagram reel posted by the official Windows account in 2024.
[53] Linux-tan is typically portrayed as having light skin, long hime-cut blueish or purple hair, red or pinkish eyes, a loose, sleeveless blue dress with gold accents, flipper-shaped shoes, a spear with multiple ribbons attached near the spearhead, and a large helmet with a penguin bill-like visor, gnu horns, and a row of gear teeth running down the middle.
Some examples are: Wired News rated OS-tan among the "Lamest Technology Mascots Ever", yet "strangely compelling".
[54] The influence of OS-tan would spark similar phenomena such as Console-tan, based on video game consoles.
