17 Dec
2011
17 Dec
'11
8:47 a.m.
Mouse wrote:
You mentioned OpenGenera; is this an open-source
version or something?
[...]
My (rudimentary) web-search skillz end up at pages
that give the
impression the "Open" part is a misnomer,
Liam Proven wrote:
Kinda, yes. It certainly doesn't mean what it
normally tends to.
Like OpenVMS.
Shortly after the name change to OpenVMS was announced, I received in
the mail a brochure for training classes DEC offered. One of the
classes was on the subject of writing OpenVMS device drivers. It was
noted that a signed nondisclosure agreement was required to take the
class. That's an even less "open" operating system than Microsoft Windows.
DEC marketing was usurping the word "Open" because they noticed that
customers were starting to want open things. They apparently thought
(probably correctly) that putting "Open" in the name would trick
potential customers and bring in more sales. Other companies did the
same thing, but I can't think of any others where the oxymoronic name
has lasted as long.
Someone suggested that in this usage, "Open" isn't an adjective, but
rather a verb, and the direct object isn't "VMS" but rather your wallet.