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MacDSmith2
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Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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Location: Phoenix
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 Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:03 am Post subject: ReactOS Windows NT Clone Project |
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This ReactOS project is fascinating and long overdue. Imagine freedom from Microsoft legally! With a virtual environment like Parallells on a Mac Mini, this non-Microsoft Windows environment could provide a fast, small, secure alternative for porting Windows Apps to the Mac without the bloat and overhead of big brother MS looking over your shoulder. As a programmer this might be something I want to get involved with.
http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html |
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saul
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Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Location: PA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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I don't get it. Why re-write a 15 year old operating system? Is this just so people don't have to pay the license fee to Microsoft? These guys will run into the same problems that Microsoft did - trying to support every app out there destroys the O/S and turns it into a bloatware mess. Yes, it sounds good that a 20 year old program still can be run but who really needs to? Apple cuts off the old stuff every few years - this causes short term problems but keeps the core healthy.
Since it is supposed to look like XP I am sure that Microsoft's legal team will shut them down shortly. |
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Aquafire
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Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 2372
Location: AUS-USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: ReactOS Windows NT Clone Project |
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| MacDSmith2 wrote: | This ReactOS project is fascinating and long overdue. Imagine freedom from Microsoft legally! With a virtual environment like Parallells on a Mac Mini, this non-Microsoft Windows environment could provide a fast, small, secure alternative for porting Windows Apps to the Mac without the bloat and overhead of big brother MS looking over your shoulder. As a programmer this might be something I want to get involved with.
http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html |
Reactos is a yawn and its been around for 10 years or so. For all of that time, they still haven't come out with a final version. The Alpha stage seems to go on forever... 
I have downloaded it & used it on & off for a few years. Beyond that, I have been following the groups fluctuating fortunes. Like many great ideas that lack financial backing it has had to rely on a small bunch of dedicated followers. Unfortunately, the lack of critical mass, has made it somewhat sporadic in its development. To make matters worse, the current direction of computing means that Reactos will become even more sidelined by such things as Cloud computing.
Its a shame really as there was a time when Reactos could really have rattled Microsoft. ( Remember Lindows ? )
So, despite Ballmers histrionics, Reactos is no more a threat to Windows dominance than is Freedos. For it to have any chance of becoming a real threat; it would have to have a injection of massive amounts of capital. And that''s a thing that no company or shareholders will touch, given Microsoft''s litigious track record.
The real threat is going to be from Google OS, but that remains to be seen.
Still, if you want to do programming for Reactos, I reckon go for it.
And while your at it...perhaps you can persuade them to do something about the terrible 95/98 style interface. It is so so ancient. 
Aqua
_________________
Of the four X systems in the world.
Which would you choose?
OS X : LinuX : UniX or MS-BolloX. |
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MacDSmith2
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Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 779
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| THere has long been a demand for a robust, clean, secure and SMALL version of the NT 4.0 Kernel around which Windows Server 2003 is written that doesn't come with all the Microsoft junk. This project is trying to extract the good out of Windows as an open source project that is software compatible with all existing Windows Apps legally. It sounds like a great idea, but as Aquafire said, unfunded public domain projects often don't succeed for lack of funding, no matter how noble. The other knock on this may be that the majority of developers are located in Russia, so working on it could be emotionally considered anti-american! |
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Aquafire
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Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 2372
Location: AUS-USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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Your right of course.
In principle the idea behind it is great : but why would you want to still be holding hands with Windows & Microsoft when well produced alternatives are now coming into fruition ? This certainly wasn't the case when Reactos first was started : but not any more.
And given the way many people are now thinking; cutting ties with Microsoft is probably going to be inevitable : but its going to take time.
(One of the major reasons MS still has a monopoly in business is because most companies employ 'Windows only' technicians, who know that they'd be doing themselves out of a job if they recommended Linux, Unix, OS - X or for that matter, Reactos.)
But by all means give it a spin if you haven't already.
Its still got issues with various drivers for printers, audio etc. Even older machines still suffer under Reactos. Still, I do admire the developers tenacity.
As for being un-American.
I'd rather think that MS if far more Un american...
As is Google.
Aqua
_________________
Of the four X systems in the world.
Which would you choose?
OS X : LinuX : UniX or MS-BolloX. |
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