What Operating System would you use to power a lethal android sent from the future… or an awesome, law-enforcement cyborg?
If you said Linux, UNIX, or some sort of Real-Time embedded OS… you’d be wrong.
The answer is... DOS. And MacOS. Seriously.
And we have boot screens, from both RoboCop and The Terminator, to prove it.
RoboCop
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_k6kwfsyecvaxyak_custom.jpeg)
In the 1987 classic, RoboCop, the titular cyborg is powered by, you guessed it, DOS.
Want proof? Check out this screengrab from the film where RoboCop is booting up his systems:
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_v564mv7k6wubtg7_custom.jpeg)
COMMAND.COM. CONFIG.SYS. An .EXE file.
Yep. There can be no doubt… RoboCop runs DOS.
But… which DOS? MS-DOS? PC-DOS? DR-DOS?
Honestly… it’s darn near impossible to tell based on this screenshot. It’s definitely not FreeDOS (as that was created after RoboCop)… but, otherwise, it could be any of a number of different MS/PC compatible DOS systems.
My money is on PC-DOS. RoboCop just feels like he would be an IBM guy. The guys that built RoboCop did wear neck ties, after all.
The Terminator
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_amksost6xkddsxy_custom.jpeg)
In 1984's "The Terminator", Arnold Schwarzenegger -- I mean... the T-800 -- was sent back in time. From 2029 to 1984.
Which begs the question: What Operating System would a robot be running in 2029?
Let's find out!
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_ip4fskkiyy87nvu_custom.jpeg)
That, right there, is from the point of view of the T-800 model Terminator. You’ll note the 6502 Assembly code on the screen… including comments! This is clearly taken from software intended to run on an Apple II.
So the T-800 was a 6502 powered Apple II. Most likely powered by Apple DOS 3.3 (as that was the most widely used version).
Now. To answer the question that is, obviously, on your mind: Yes. The T-800 Terminator could run Oregon Trail.
But, what about other Terminator models?
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_4enxiv9whio7cc4_custom.jpeg)
Back in 2003, we saw the third installment of the Terminator franchise: “Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines”.
In the third movie, Schwarzenegger plays a T-101 model Terminator -- specifically a "Cyber Research Systems Model 101 Series 850 Infiltration-Combat Unit" -- sent from the future (naturally).
What software is powering the T-101? Luckily, at one point during the film, he needs to reboot. And we are treated to a very brief shot of the boot status screen.
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_x5kfyer7a8jhsl1_custom.jpeg)
At first glance, this appears to be just a mess of barely decipherable computer techno-jargon. But, if I can direct your attention to the lower left side of the “RESTART” screen, you’ll notice some recognizable items…
ENHANCE!
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_kl5wwji1u4mflf2_custom.jpeg)
What's that I see?
“QUICKTIME PLAYER”?
“CONTROL STRIP”?
Wait just a second! What we have here are the names of Extensions of classic Mac OS (the pre-OS X stuff)! And “ODBC Setup PPC” is a classic MacOS control panel for PPC based Macs!
But, what version -- exactly -- of Mac OS would robots of the future use to power their most lethal fighting machines? Well. There’s one clue that helps to narrow it down:
“KEYCHAIN ACCESS”.
The “Keychain” functionality of Mac OS was added in MacOS 8.6. Meaning that the version of MacOS being booted on this T-101 Terminator would need to be between MacOS 8.6 and MacOS 9.2.2 (the very last version before Apple completely discontinued the classic Mac system).
In other news, if you hooked a T-101 Terminator up to a monitor, and plugged in a keyboard and mouse (I’m assuming there’s an ADB or USB port on him somewhere)… this is likely what you would get:
![](https://media3.locals.com/images/posts/2024-06-04/102127/102127_5fbxm99cbg1f182_custom.jpeg)
In summary:
- RoboCop runs DOS.
- The original Terminator is built on a 6502 based Apple II.
- The Terminator model from Terminator 3 runs MacOS 8.6 on a PowerPC architecture.
One thing is crystal clear: SkyNet is an Apple fan.