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ReactOS

reactos.org

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Re: ReactOS

#11

Post by rbanffy »

mansr wrote: post #3
younata wrote: post #2

A free/Open source clone of the most successful virus ever created! Basically, these guys decided they legally wanted windows, but they didn't want to pay for it. It's a cool idea, but, I'm not exactly sure on a) the legality of it and b) the usefulness of it.

I don't think there are any legal issues here (but IANAL), and I can see a free Windows clone being useful to some people. However, Microsoft has a 25-year head start so these guys have some serious catching up to do. Until Microsoft goes out of business, I doubt they will ever have a system compatible with a current Windows version.

> I don't think there are any legal issues here

Just imagine how many patents Microsoft will be compelled to use against this project if it ever becomes a perceived threat.

I am sure all MS's EULAs prohibit you from running Microsoft software on anything other than Windows.

Re: ReactOS

#12

Post by coderdude »

mapleoin wrote: post #10
coderdude wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I use that word I'm conveying "doggedness: persistent determination." (It's part of my Googled vocabulary.) Either way, it's certainly meant as a compliment. :)

> Either way, it's certainly meant as a complement. :) While we're at it, you should also read this: http://www.google.com/search?q=complement+vs+compliment

Thank you, sir. I honestly didn't realize I had been using the wrong compl*ment all these years.

Re: ReactOS

#13

Post by zokier »

rbanffy wrote: post #9
etal wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's handy for the same reason FreeDOS is handy -- eventually Microsoft will EOL the platform, but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. You're right that there's no point in chasing the most recent Windows version.

> but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. But why would that be better, or even preferable, over Wine on top of a Unix-like OS with current programs to run sde by side with your legacy app? It's they project, their motivation, but I can't share it or understand why not devote these resources to make Wine better (or a better Wine, BTW). It's pretty obviou…

I'm quite sure that there are some software that is impossible to run on Wine. Drivers and other stuff that touches the kernel comes to mind.

And ReactOS does make Wine better as they share some code:

"ReactOS works with the WINE project to share as much programming effort as possible. ReactOS depends on Wine mainly for user mode DLLs. Where appropriate, patches to Wine are also submitted by the development team, and patch contributors are often directed to Wine if it is felt that the patches would benefit them." http://www.reactos.org/wiki/WINE>

Re: ReactOS

#14

Post by tptacek »

rbanffy wrote: post #11
mansr wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think there are any legal issues here (but IANAL), and I can see a free Windows clone being useful to some people. However, Microsoft has a 25-year head start so these guys have some serious catching up to do. Until Microsoft goes out of business, I doubt they will ever have a system compatible with a current Windows version.

> I don't think there are any legal issues here Just imagine how many patents Microsoft will be compelled to use against this project if it ever becomes a perceived threat. I am sure all MS's EULAs prohibit you from running Microsoft software on anything other than Windows.

Add this to the list of things you're "sure" about, but shouldn't be.

Nowhere in the EULA for Microsoft Office (their most profitable product) do I find text requiring you to run it on Microsoft Windows. I read it top-to-bottom, then searched for "Windows" (which never occurs) and then "operating system" (which occurs only to warn you that they use your operating system to get to the Internet).

Re: ReactOS

#15

Post by iamapipebomb »

rbanffy wrote: post #9
etal wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's handy for the same reason FreeDOS is handy -- eventually Microsoft will EOL the platform, but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. You're right that there's no point in chasing the most recent Windows version.

> but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. But why would that be better, or even preferable, over Wine on top of a Unix-like OS with current programs to run sde by side with your legacy app? It's they project, their motivation, but I can't share it or understand why not devote these resources to make Wine better (or a better Wine, BTW). It's pretty obviou…

Devotion of resource arguments are detrimental to the spirit of liberty in OSS. I think of these works more like exploration than some effort ultimately asymptotic to a goal. Exploration is hardly ever an unrewarding pursuit. And it has beneficial externalities. In this case more than most even!

From http://www.winehq.org/site/acknowledgement: "Wine is at the heart of ReactOS' Win32 support. Initial work improved Wine's portability by cleaning things up so MinGW could compile it. From there, a considerable amount of effort was spent improving Wine's shell32 infrastructure and various controls. The ReactOS team is also responsible for the regedit and task manager utilities." More details are in http://www.reactos.org/wiki/WINE

Re: ReactOS

#16

Post by JulianMorrison »

rbanffy wrote: post #9
etal wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's handy for the same reason FreeDOS is handy -- eventually Microsoft will EOL the platform, but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. You're right that there's no point in chasing the most recent Windows version.

> but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. But why would that be better, or even preferable, over Wine on top of a Unix-like OS with current programs to run sde by side with your legacy app? It's they project, their motivation, but I can't share it or understand why not devote these resources to make Wine better (or a better Wine, BTW). It's pretty obviou…

It's simpler, if all you're running is windows programs? The third world has been a windows fiefdom for ages, and they have to rely on legacy hardware where any spurious processes running mean slowdown.

Re: ReactOS

#17

Post by richbradshaw »

coderdude wrote: post #12
mapleoin wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Either way, it's certainly meant as a complement. :) While we're at it, you should also read this: http://www.google.com/search?q=complement+vs+compliment

Thank you, sir. I honestly didn't realize I had been using the wrong compl*ment all these years.

I think the right word was compliment. Complement means goes well with, compliment means a good comment.

Re: ReactOS

#18

Post by volomike »

Prediction: ReactOS will be little more than an OS used for running Windows-less video games that were designed for Windows.

In the time spent fiddling with it, you could have just purchased and XBox and been done with it.

Re: ReactOS

#19

Post by GeneralMaximus »

rbanffy wrote: post #9
etal wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's handy for the same reason FreeDOS is handy -- eventually Microsoft will EOL the platform, but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. You're right that there's no point in chasing the most recent Windows version.

> but there will still be programs that you need to run (for whatever reason) that require that platform. But why would that be better, or even preferable, over Wine on top of a Unix-like OS with current programs to run sde by side with your legacy app? It's they project, their motivation, but I can't share it or understand why not devote these resources to make Wine better (or a better Wine, BTW). It's pretty obviou…

Actually, the WINE and ReactOS teams share a lot of code.

Re: ReactOS

#20

Post by tome »

richbradshaw wrote: post #17
coderdude wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you, sir. I honestly didn't realize I had been using the wrong compl*ment all these years.

I think the right word was compliment. Complement means goes well with, compliment means a good comment.

I suspect coderdude edited his post to change the spelling.
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