Re: "Platform" vs. "OS"?

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "DaveC" <peninsula -at- covad -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: February 13, 2003 09:21 PM
Subject: "Platform" vs. "OS"?


>
> Hi, All,
> The client's docs refer to Windows and Macintosh as platforms. In
> addition to straightening out their belief that Windows is a
> computer, what's your understanding regarding usage of these terms?
>
> My experience is that a platform refers to Macintosh, Dell, or
> Toshiba, whereas OS refers to UNIX, Windows, or Mac OS.
>

My understanding is as follows:



>From the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary, Third Edition:

platform

n. 1. The foundation technology of a computer system. Because computers are
layered devices composed of a chip-level hardware layer, a firmware and
operating-system layer, and an applications program layer, the bottommost
layer of a machine is often called a platform. 2. In everyday usage, the type
of computer or operating system being used.



___________________________________
Bonnie Granat
Comprehensive Editing and Writing Services
http://www.editors-writers.info





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