ReactOS 0.2.7

[The Hunter]

ReactOS is an open source effort to create a Windows NT 4/2000/XP+ compatible operating system licensed under the GNU public license. In partnership with the WINE project, ReactOS also supports drivers which work under Microsoft Windows.

More info here: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ReactOS/1087314074/1

Im also interested in any feedback on this os.

[black_magiic]

Wow sounds like a good step in the right direction. Can't wait to hear more on this.

[zpman]

This is not new at all. I heard about this about two years ago. The idea is cool, I suppose, but it is very misleading. It does not use the NT kernal, and does not even clone it. This would not be legal. I believe ReactOS uses GPL, so this would make it impossible. I'm pretty sure it is UNIX (on a FAT filesystem??), with a Windows API layer, (WINE). Other layers are to be implemented int the future, such as JAVA. This is very experimental. I have installed this on a work machine, and it is very unstable. Most drivers are not compatible. I have heard other reports that this project will be abandoned, although the website doesn't say this at all. I personally, love the idea, but am not sure if a 'real' Windows 'clone' will ever be possible. Currently, you can get just about the same (if not better) functionality that this offers (for Windows apps) by just using WINE under *nix. That is with the exception of driver support, but these days, much hardware is supported by *nix anyhow.
Time will tell where this leads. It may very well help the WINE project, if anything, but I think it's probably the other way around (WINE helping ReactOS).
If this does actually work out, and uses a full FAT 32 filesystem, fully 'cloning' Windows, I wonder if Windows viri will run on ReactOS just as well? Just a thought. I've been keeping my eye on this project for a grip now, and don't see much improvement over time. If you want a free Alternative to Windows, you could try a free *nix accompanied by WINE. There is a commercial version of WINE called CrossoverOffice, that has made leaps and bounds in this area. CrossoverOffice isn't free, but it is cheaper than Windows. Their goal is to have full compatibility with Windows API, within the next year. Yeah, we'll see about that.

[zpman]

Sorry if I was mistaken about liscense...GNU, not GPL. So would this be called GNU/Windows, lol? See http://www.gnu.org for actual explanation of GNU (Gnu's Not UNIX).

[crackerjacker]

interesting
reminds me of bsd etc
wine reflextor
cheers

good article
i am downloading it
;)

[ferrarimodena360]

I have heard other reports that this project will be abandoned, although the website doesn't say this at all.

Please dont talk out of your ass. Where did u hear or read that ReactOS will be abandoned :icon_shak

[zpman]

Please dont talk out of your ass. Where did u hear or read that ReactOS will be abandoned :icon_shak

Please don't insult my intelligence. I read about ReactOS years ago. It is still in early development, like I said. Please don't twist my words. If you don't like what I say, ignore me, rather than insult me. I said, I love the idea. Thanks for leaving that part out though. ReactOS can never be a NT clone, because the kernal is only guesswork. The NT kernal is not opensource, so unless a Microsoft coder is leaking the kernal code, this is impossible. ReactOS has been an ongoing project for a while. I can't remember what magazine I read about it was, it was a while ago. I read about it at Barnes and Noble. Please be nice from now on. Nobody likes a you-know-what. I have a lot of knowledge to offer readers here, and I'm sure they would rather read about things that they can learn from. I refuse to engage in childish arguments about useless rhetoric. Let's instead combine our knowledge together to further help the not-so-knowledgable understand just what is being argued about in the first place.

[zpman]

I don't argue one bit, making an operating system compatible with Windows. I am however, much more interested in an OS better than Windows.

[zpman]

ReactOS is under a GNU license. But it will use copyleft to run non-copyleft software. Linux is no different, but still. I was under the understanding that GNU was originally started to make a complete free system. Not wondering about contradiction or anything, but just curious about it. Will ReactOS be used to run pirated Windows apps? Just a thought. Once again, no different from Linux/WINE, but it seems that most GNU/Linux users do not use pirated software (at least I don't personally know any).I imagine that most people who would pay for a license for MS Office, will also be paying for Windows Licenses. The driver support that ReactOS is supposed to provide, IMHO, is the most important aspect. There are plenty of native Windows Open Source software alternatives available out there. On my Windows machine, I use plenty of it, including OpenOffice.org, which btw, happens to run fairly smoothly on ReactOS.

[zpman]

I just had a great idea. IBM backs this, making a brand new OS/2! Maybe that'll speed up the process a bit. This is btw, far behind NT, since it doesn't even have networking (yet).
The best reason to use this, might very well be to use as a dualboot with *nix, so you can run Windows games! That is awesome. Driver support, including Nvidia, and sound, along w/Windows native API binary support? Hmmm....this could go somewhere if it works. We just need networking, then we can have ReactOS opensource LAN parties. Way too cool.

[DigitalJunkie]

It was Microsoft that wrote OS/2 for IBM, using Microsoft's product for open source project?

[DwarfBaby]

In partnership with the WINE project? Does that mean it uses a Linux/Unix kernel. It doesn't really say on the site.

[Excrement_Cranium]

Something I may have to keep my eye on. Been thinking of doing my next system w/ multiple partitions to try out some different OS's.

[zpman]

It was Microsoft that wrote OS/2 for IBM, using Microsoft's product for open source project?

Yes to to fully clarify:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2