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RoboCop runs on DOS, Terminator runs on MacOS & Apple II.
It's true. And we've got the screenshots to prove it.
June 04, 2024
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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

Part Man.  Part IBM Compatible PC.  All Cop.

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:

I wonder how much RAM RoboCop had...

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

Wonder if the T-800 could play Oregon Trail...

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!

A frame from Terminator (1984)

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?

Terminator 3 - Rise of the System Extentions

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.

> RESTART

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!

Well looky here...

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:

This is what the desktop of a futuristic killing machine looks like.

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.

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"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

Live Lunduke Journal show today at 1pm Eastern (5pm UTC, 10am Pacific).

Will be streaming on X, Locals, Rumble, & YouTube.

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September 10, 2025

Lunduke is back with a live show tonight!

5:30pm Central (3:30pm Pacific, 10:30pm UTC)

Will be broadcasting on X, Rumble, Locals, & YouTube. Free for the nerds of the world to enjoy.

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So far, in 2025, The Lunduke Journal has published 246 shows — being the only Tech News outlet covering the vast majority of those stories.

All without even the slightest influence from Big Tech. No sponsorships, no ad reads, not a penny taken from any company.

And every single story — every article, podcast, & video — is free to share far and wide.

In order for The Lunduke Journal to continue doing this unique work — to keep the lights on well into the future — we need your help.

If you haven’t yet become a subscriber to The Lunduke Journal, doing so today makes a big impact. Pick one of the options below. Big or small. Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime subscriptions — or even simply one-time donations — all make a huge difference.

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The Lifetime Subscription (which counts towards both Substack and Locals) is a marvelous, one time, way to show support. And it comes with all of the perks (access to the Locals community as well as the official Lunduke Journal forum, & DRM-free eBooks).

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And, once again, thank you for making The Lunduke Journal possible.

-Lunduke

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September 08, 2025
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Lunduke Journal hit 9 million views in August
And still not taking a single penny from Big Tech.

Thanks to all of you, August was a truly spectacular month for The Lunduke Journal.

After everything was tallied up — audio podcast downloads, video views, and article views — all of you viewed (or listened to) my work over 9 million times last month.

I’m not sure if that’s a record or not — I’ll need to go over some of the past stats to be sure — but it definitely makes me smile.

It means that the real Tech News — the stories that most Tech Journalists refuse to tell — is getting out there. In a big way. No matter how much Big Tech wants some of these stories to go away.

Stats for August

Here’s some Lunduke Journal stats (because stats are fun):

  • 238 shows, so far, in 2025 (Jan 1st → Sep 8th, nearly one show per day).

  • Over 9 million views (or listens) during the last month (August) alone.

  • 131,817 free subscribers (not including audio podcast feeds).

  • 4,488 new free subscribers on the primary platforms.

  • $0.00 (zero) taken from any corporation (no sponsorships, no ad campaigns… not a penny).

9 Million “views”. In one month. Hot diggity!

You better believe I’ll be keeping a close eye on the stats this month to see if we get close to 10 Million. Because 10 Million is a nice, big round number.

And big, round numbers are fun.

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Once again, a huge thank you for every subscription and donation.

Truly, The Lunduke Journal would not be possible without all of you.

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I love my job.

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September 01, 2025
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Fired Microsoft Employee Encouraged Corporate Sabotage
Leaked screenshots from a Microsoft whistleblower reveals efforts, by a "Worker Intifada" organizer, to disrupt Microsoft business and send spam propaganda email to thousands.

This last week, members of the Microsoft “Worker Intifada” claimed that some of their members were fired by Microsoft in an attempt to silence the speech of pro-Palestinian employees.

Thanks to an internal Microsoft whistleblower, we have gained additional insight into the real reasons at least one of the “Intifada” organizers was fired.

Including mass emailing thousands of Microsoft employees with anti-Microsoft messages, and building internal, corporate websites dedicated to disrupting company business. Over the course of months.

And, of course, we’ve got screenshots.

The Microsoft “Intifada”

The Microsoft’s “Worker Intifada” held a press conference, on August 28th, at the office of CAIR — a response to a Microsoft’s Media briefing held 2 days earlier.

The topic of both press events being the “Intifada” actions of the previous week — including vandalism, breaking and entering, and public demonstrations against Jewish people (with chants of “Go away, Jews!”).

A key topic being the firing of 4 Microsoft employees related to the “Intifada”.

One of those fired employees is Nisreen Jaradat, seen here speaking at the press conference at CAIR on August 28th:

 

Thanks to leaked Microsoft material, we can get a glimpse into the anti-Microsoft activity of Nisreen Jaradat… going back several months.

Anti-Microsoft Microsoft Employee

Nisreen created an internal website — on the Microsoft corporate Intranet — entitled “PledgeForPalestine”.

 

On that website, Nisreen encourages employees to take a pledge declaring that employees will “not support genocide”, specifically demanding that Microsoft no longer interact with Israel in any way.

It should be noted that, as of just a few days ago, this website was up within Microsoft.

Nisreen’s website also includes a list of ways where employees could sabotage internal corporate work.

 

Nisreen encouraged employees to:

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  2. Refuse to work with other employees on tasks which may involve Israel — or any Israeli Microsoft employees or customers.

In July, Nisreen sent internal Microsoft Teams messages to thousands of employees encouraging them to sign that anti-Israel and anti-Microsoft pledge.

 

But this wasn’t the first time Nisreen spammed Microsoft employees with pro-Palestinian propaganda.

Back in May of this year, Nisreen sent an email to over 8,000 Microsoft employees entitled “You can’t get rid of us.”

 

Within that email, she declared that her employers have “shown their true face, brutalizing, detaining, firing, pepper spraying, threatening and insulting workers and former workers protesting.”

Surprise, She Got Fired

Protesting your bosses and accusing them of “genocide” while encouraging thousands of other employees, in spam emails, to sabotage corporate work?

Now, think what you will about Microsoft… but I can’t imagine any company not firing someone who takes those actions internally.

In fact, I would suggest that it is wild that Microsoft put up with the actions of this “Intifada” organizer for so many months.


If you would like to be a Tech whistleblower — or would like to support the work of The Lunduke Journal — head to Lunduke.com. All of the information is there.

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