Nude
Said of machines delivered without an operating system (compare
bare metal).
"We ordered 50 systems, but they all arrived nude, so we had to spend a an extra weekend with the installation tapes."
This usage is a recent innovation reflecting the fact that most PC clones are now delivered with DOS or Microsoft Windows pre-installed at the factory.
Other kinds of hardware are still normally delivered without OS, so this term is particular to PC support groups.
[
Jargon File]
