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ReactOS

reactos.org

1–10 of 57 posts

Re: ReactOS

#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.

Re: ReactOS

#3
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.

Re: ReactOS

#4
post #3
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.

That would be OK by me: I'd prefer to keep myself and my parents at the XP SP3 level quasi-forever as long as the OS was supported (I myself an still using Windows Eudora as my email client).

Well, I suppose eventually Firefox el. al. will drop XP support, but that day will hopefully be far in the future.

Re: ReactOS

#5
ReactOS is one of those projects that has been on the net for a long time. You see it resurface every now and then and each time it looks better than it did before. I have to hand it to the their team, they have tenacity.

Re: ReactOS

#6
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.

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.

Re: ReactOS

#7

ReactOS is one of those projects that has been on the net for a long time. You see it resurface every now and then and each time it looks better than it did before. I have to hand it to the their team, they have tenacity.

For others like me who are unfamiliar with the word tenacity: "The state or quality of being tenacious", which in turn is "Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view" or "Tending to retain; retentive".

Re: ReactOS

#8
post #7

ReactOS is one of those projects that has been on the net for a long time. You see it resurface every now and then and each time it looks better than it did before. I have to hand it to the their team, they have tenacity.

For others like me who are unfamiliar with the word tenacity: "The state or quality of being tenacious", which in turn is "Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view" or "Tending to retain; retentive".

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. :)

Re: ReactOS

#9
post #6
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.

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 obvious they are fairly bright guys.

I have to agree with the Unix zealot (I am probably one myself - Unix is a local maximum in the OS space, as eloquently illustrated by the failure of, for instance, Plan 9): of all OS concepts (and with so many exciting ones - like Plan 9) there are to be reinterpreted/reimplemented, why Windows?

Re: ReactOS

#10
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For others like me who are unfamiliar with the word tenacity: "The state or quality of being tenacious", which in turn is "Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view" or "Tending to retain; retentive".

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

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