ReactOS - an open source 'Windows'
ReactOS is an Open Source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with Microsoft Windows® applications and drivers (that's what the site says).
There's also an open source implementation of the Windows API on top of XFree86® and Unix, which is called Wine. (by the way, I don't know a darn thing about XFree86)
All these projects seem to be in their early stages, but we may expect something solid in the coming years. I'm personally a big fan of Microsoft Corporation, but I'd sure like to see some healthy competition on the operating system front -- Bill is starting to get a bit too cozy...
3 Comments:
if I may be permitted, I think that ReactOS and Wine are two entirely different projects, with different dimensions and different goals.
ReactOS is a ground up rewritten operating system. Like Linux. or BSD/OS (not the newer BSD variants like FreeBSD or NetBSD). They maintain compatibility with Win32 to let people easily try out the OS without sacrificing application portability. This is in contrast to BeOS, for instance, where applications specifically needed to be rewritten to target the platform.
Wine, on the other hand, is an emulator, pure and simple. It lets people get their Win32 fix while being in Linux. It allows the execution of Windows applications such as Office or Visual Studio and many many games (the list of compatible games grows daily). As such, it will never compete with Microsoft. If Windows disappears tomorrow, the need for an emulator (Wine and WineX) would also disappear.
You obviously know more about this than I do -- thanks for the, uh, _correction_ (damn! that was hard to admit). Wine is obviously an emulator, but wouldn't you think that ReactOS, as a bona fide OS, may have some chance?
Sorry, I didn't read the reply till latish. Anyway, the short answer: I don't know. But consider.. Why would anyone want to run ReactOS ? Would you ? What is the compelling reason to switch ?
Avoiding license fees: to be perfectly honest, many people would just get a pirate copy. or run something else. Or pay to get a legit copy of WinXP or Win2000 at a not too unreasonable amount (if you're in the habit of paying for software, $150 isn't a HUGE deal). And more to the point, people buying new OEM PCs get Windows bundled with it anyway.
Would an enterprise switch enmasse to ReactOS over Windows ? Can you see that happening ? Who sells support contracts for ReactOS (if anyone) ? Who "ensures" application compatibility is 100% ? Who does a corporation sue/scream at if app. compatibility does not extend to their beloved inhouse applications ? :)
Perhaps ReactOS has a way to go before Microsoft start worrying :) Now, ask the same questions about Linux in certain areas (even as a desktop) and ... see how things differ.
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