---
title: "SMSQ An Explanation"
type: "article"
slug: "smsq-an-explanation"
url: "http://localhost/article/smsq-an-explanation/"
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published_at: "2026-02-08T23:26:31+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-02-08T23:26:31+00:00"
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  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "There seems to be a lot of confusion about the three systems listed above, understandable perhaps, as the initials on their own mean very little to the uninitiated. I will try to explain the differences without going into too much technical detail. If it is still not clear, let me know and I'll try again!…"
category:
  - name: "International QL Report"
    slug: "international-ql-report"
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post_tag:
  - name: "QL"
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    url: "http://localhost/tag/ql/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair QL"
    slug: "sinclair-ql"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/sinclair-ql/"
indiv:
  - name: "Jochen Merz"
    slug: "jochen-merz"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/jochen-merz/"
publication_r:
  id: 33740
  title: "International QL Report"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/international-ql-report/"
authors_r:
  - name: "Jochen Merz"
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    taxonomy: "indiv"
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volume: "4"
issue: "4"
issues_articles:
  - id: 37212
    title: "International QL Report V4 I4"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/international-ql-report-v4-i4-2/"
pages: "4-5"
pubdate: "November/December 1994"
archive_link: false
---

# SMSQ An Explanation

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the three systems listed above, understandable perhaps, as the initials on their own mean very little to the uninitiated. I will try to explain the differences without going into too much technical detail. If it is still not clear, let me know and I’ll try again!

The initials SMS stand for Small Microcomputer System. This is an operating system which can replace QDOS, with three variants for use in different operating environments.