Free Windows Compatible OS (ReactOS)

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:24 pm

Has anyone in here tried this with Creamware?

http://www.reactos.org/xhtml/en/index.html

What is ReactOS?

ReactOS (short for React Operating System) is an open-source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with Microsoft Windows applications and drivers.

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:36 am

I'd just like to know.....

WHY!?

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:46 am

All software sould be free:

"Why ReactOS? Why clone Microsoft Windows?

First of all, ReactOS is not a clone of Windows. ReactOS is an operating system that is compatible with Microsoft Windows applications and drivers. Some of the reasons are the same as the reasons for developing Linux (an open-source UNIX clone)? In short, Linux is a great operating system, but it is not the answer for everybody. There are a lot of people that like Microsoft Windows, but are very frustrated with Microsoft's policies on various issues.

The 9x family of Microsoft Windows is based on DOS, and shares many of its weaknesses, which is the primary reason why Microsoft Windows has such a bad name. The Microsoft Windows NT family of Windows, however, has a solid design. Not everything is perfect, but without access to the source code, there is no way to fix it, so a compatible operating system must be built from the ground up."

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:08 am

Sheer insanity and too much spare time if you ask me.

Windows is the way it is for a simple reason - backwards compatibility. This is one thing which Microsoft has got right every time.

The other approach is Apple's - no thought to backwards compatibility, and more speedy progress.

Can't see the point in ReactOS - if it loses some of the 'bad' parts of Windows, then many apps won't run.

If you want a free OS there are plenty. In this respect I can't really see the difference between cloning Windows from the ground up, or simply cloning the installer CD. It's just that one takes 10 years longer than the other.

At best it's a good learning tool for the coders involved.

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:16 am

Also, sorry but what's with the "all software should be free" thing?

I know quite a few programmers, and contrary to popular opinion, they aren't robots... they need to eat and pay rent just like the rest of us. I don't think you would get much good programming done if you had to do some bullshit job 9-5 and then program in your spare time because 'all software should be free'.

If you think all software should be free, change society first so that people don't have to pay to live. Then idealistic things like this may start to happen.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:46 am

it's interesting to see you guys discuss desktop OS while one thing that is happening right now is the return of massive paralell computing concept. check it out here:

http://wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/cloudware.html

google it is. The desktop seem to have its days numbered.. i think this leads us to a world where 'terminals' will be used at home.. a device with a good amount of RAM that can run a browser will suffice to provide your average joe with all the services he needs from a computer..

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:29 am

But these people are quite clear in stating that they are cloning Windows XP, not Vista.

I think by the time they have got round to actually finishing the XP clone and then turn their attention to Vista, no-one will even be using Vista any more.