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ReactOS 0.3.16 released

reactos.org

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Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#11

Post by omh »

twocows wrote: post #6
troymc wrote: post #5

They're also doing a kickstarter for Thorium Core: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thorium/thorium-core-cl... "Thorium Core is an attempt to build a commercial operating system and cloud services platform, based on ReactOS, which is an Open Source implementation of the NT architecture seen in modern versions of Windows."

I really like the idea of ReactOS in concept, so I'd pitch in if their Kickstarter wasn't so blatantly what I didn't want. Cloud services? Come on.

I can see a possible market here, competing with Microsoft's licensing for cloud/virtual desktops. MS licensing is at best confusing, and in some cases quite horribly expensive. And obviously keeping the software open source but charging for cloud services is a relatively straightforward way to monetise free software.

If a non-cloud version comes out as a side effect then that's good for everyone.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#12

Post by pizza234 »

yangyang wrote: post #2

I just downloaded and installed in a virtualbox VM. It feels ridiculously snappy compared to windows. Runs Firefox with the odd crash. Impressive to see how far it has come but there is still some way to go.

I love the idea of ReactOS, but my guess is that, in the current conditions, either it will get nowhere, or it will take an extremely long time to get anywhere significant (that is, not a niche product).

I've followed all the newsletters and it feels like the development it's always a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite.

The way to go, while it appears small, it's the last 10% which is a 200% in practice. It's pretty clear from the development that is's an excessively large project for a small, changing, group of hobby developers.

Obviously, I hope things will change. I'd really like a free Windows XP in virtual environments.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#13

Post by frik »

BrainInAJar wrote: post #8
frik wrote: post #3

Office 2003 works now too: http://www.reactos.org/node/771 Some screenshots of ReactOS: http://www.reactos.org/screenshots and http://old.reactos.org/en/screenshots.html

It's too bad all the screenshots are of open-source windows ports of stuff, and stuff that's otherwise going to be really well-behaved (ie, not use secret API's)

Check out the second link, and scroll down. A lot of proprietary Win32 application work just fine.

From 3D games like Unreal Tournament to Adobe Photoshop, Screensavers, XEmacs... like in Wine plus apps like CD burning apps and similar that require NT drivers.

As driver support is still an issue on desktop Linux (3D graphics, HD audio, proprietary hardware cards, etc), ReactOS has a great advantage over *nix operating systems.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#14

Post by codeflo »

If ReactOS were "ready" right now (i.e., could run 99% of all Windows 7 software unmodified), with all the bad press that Windows 8 gets, it might even have a chance to steal some market share. However, I don't think they can catch up before Microsoft manages to release another "good" version of Windows, and then the game of catch-up will start again.

I hope I'm wrong. I'd really like to see this succeed.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#15

Post by vxNsr »

pizza234 wrote: post #12
yangyang wrote: post #2

I just downloaded and installed in a virtualbox VM. It feels ridiculously snappy compared to windows. Runs Firefox with the odd crash. Impressive to see how far it has come but there is still some way to go.

I love the idea of ReactOS, but my guess is that, in the current conditions, either it will get nowhere, or it will take an extremely long time to get anywhere significant (that is, not a niche product). I've followed all the newsletters and it feels like the development it's always a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite. The way to go, while it appears sm…

I bet in about 10 years Microsoft will release XP as a free product, without support, kinda like what adobe did with cs2

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#16

Post by wvenable »

vxNsr wrote: post #15
pizza234 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the idea of ReactOS, but my guess is that, in the current conditions, either it will get nowhere, or it will take an extremely long time to get anywhere significant (that is, not a niche product). I've followed all the newsletters and it feels like the development it's always a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite on top of a somewhat working rewrite. The way to go, while it appears sm…

I bet in about 10 years Microsoft will release XP as a free product, without support, kinda like what adobe did with cs2

No. If it wasn't for security issues, that might be a possibility. But Microsoft would not want an inferior product out there giving them a bad name.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#17

Post by webjprgm »

twocows wrote: post #6
troymc wrote: post #5

They're also doing a kickstarter for Thorium Core: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thorium/thorium-core-cl... "Thorium Core is an attempt to build a commercial operating system and cloud services platform, based on ReactOS, which is an Open Source implementation of the NT architecture seen in modern versions of Windows."

I really like the idea of ReactOS in concept, so I'd pitch in if their Kickstarter wasn't so blatantly what I didn't want. Cloud services? Come on.

So ... is this like Citrix + Windows? Replacing licensing costs of both Windows and Citrix would be a huge cost savings. It also would allow unlimited users.

It says Thorium Core is a commercialization. But ReactOS is open source. So is the cloud services part going to be proprietary? (Thus foiling my idea of a free Citrix replacement.)

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#18

Post by webjprgm »

Touche wrote: post #4
yangyang wrote: post #2

I just downloaded and installed in a virtualbox VM. It feels ridiculously snappy compared to windows. Runs Firefox with the odd crash. Impressive to see how far it has come but there is still some way to go.

Last time I tried it it ran an old version of Firefox (version 3.something) but if you downloaded Firefox stable it would not even install. I think having a working web browser should be the most important point of the project. Overall I'm a supporter of the idea.

A working web browser is hardly that important. If you just want web you can use any OS, like Linux or ChromeOS. If you want IE 6 for a legacy application that's a different matter.

The browser is just another test case to see if Windows apps will/won't run. The killer feature is the ability to run legacy Windows apps that are not easily replaced on other platforms.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#19

Post by andrewflnr »

webjprgm wrote: post #18
Touche wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I tried it it ran an old version of Firefox (version 3.something) but if you downloaded Firefox stable it would not even install. I think having a working web browser should be the most important point of the project. Overall I'm a supporter of the idea.

A working web browser is hardly that important. If you just want web you can use any OS, like Linux or ChromeOS. If you want IE 6 for a legacy application that's a different matter. The browser is just another test case to see if Windows apps will/won't run. The killer feature is the ability to run legacy Windows apps that are not easily replaced on other platforms.

If you're using ReactOS, you don't "just" want web, but you probably also want web. So yes, a browser is important.

Re: ReactOS 0.3.16 released

#20

Post by jjindev »

codeflo wrote: post #14

If ReactOS were "ready" right now (i.e., could run 99% of all Windows 7 software unmodified), with all the bad press that Windows 8 gets, it might even have a chance to steal some market share. However, I don't think they can catch up before Microsoft manages to release another "good" version of Windows, and then the game of catch-up will start again. I hope I'm wrong. I'd really like to see this succeed.

If you believe in technological plateaus ... it's possible that ReactOS has all the time in the world.
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