ReactOS anyone ?

[The Linuxator]

So reading more about ReactOS I am starting to get more curious about it, on paper it seems like heaven to many ppl who love open source operating systems (i.e Linux) but are frustrated with the absence of the nice shiny software they had in windows land, but really how does it compare to what it's developers say about it ?

 

[sourceninja]

Its going to be a long time in comming. I belive they are targeting windows 2000 compatability. This could be great if microsoft starts drastically changing their OS so that programs that can run on win2k wont run on the new OS's. But in the mean time, they will always be behind microsoft and it will never be 100%. If by some chance they do get 100% of win2k, then wine would also have 100% of win2k as they are using wine libs as a basis for development. And then why not just run linux and use wine.

 

[LokeanSon]

then wine would also have 100% of win2k as they are using wine libs as a basis for development. And then why not just run linux and use wine.

I'm not sure 100% would equal the same in wine, given that part of their project goal is to implement a HAL/aka ability to use NT drivers... That could give it a much greater functionality for certain things.

I won't play with this until it's working under Xen.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: LokeanSon
<q>then wine would also have 100% of win2k as they are using wine libs as a basis for development. And then why not just run linux and use wine.</q>

I'm not sure 100% would equal the same in wine, given that part of their project goal is to implement a HAL/aka ability to use NT drivers... That could give it a much greater functionality for certain things.

I won't play with this until it's working under Xen.

They are using an NT kernel clone, their system looks as what it says , right now they are tuning it's functionality, I think windows drivers work out of the box...etc an if ever finished right an NT clone would take the world by storm, why ? 2k is very popular, and 2k for free will be 10 times more popular. If they can garuatnee win drivers compatibility and apps compatability + direct X = big sucess.
I mean if it works as it's theoratically suppoesd to , Gamers that want to play games but don't want to use / pay for windows nor Cedega can get ReactOS

 

[sourceninja]

My point about being 2k, is the same as that 98 thread in this forum. At some point (which I would bet will come before then finish 100% 2k support) Microsoft will change their driver model. Then companys wont make 2k/xp drivers anymore.

so while it is a good idea, and I fully support it. I think that any thing they do will be better served by wine on linux then as an entire OS. Most people want to run the apps, not the drivers. In 90% of the cases linux already has the hardware support they need, its the software support the windows users miss.

But if they could somehow get that 100% before the windows version after vista I could see it taking off and being a very popular desktop OS.

Looks like driver model changes are already happening check this out