
Thread beginning with comment 182655
What's the point of this project?
by tomcat on Wed 15th Nov 2006 23:19 UTC
Member since:

Personally, I think that this is a waste of resources. Rather than try to create a cheap knockoff of Windows, perhaps the better strategy would be to focus resources on making alternatives such as Linux better. After all, it's possible to run Windows apps under WINE or emulation (VMWare, etc) on other platforms. Why solidify Windows-esque OSes in the market, when you could be promoting 'nix alternatives?

Edited 2006-11-15 23:20

Reply Score: 0

Quip Member since:

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it, however the Reactos developers don't think it is a waste and I share that same view as well. They are committed to develop a FOSS windows compatible operating system.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the interview and I can't wait to see more down the road.

Edited 2006-11-15 23:44

Reply Parent Score: 5

Alleister Member since:

Wine practical runs no Windows software at all. The very few programs supported are an exeption and usually because wine was tweaked to run them, which is bad because it shows that it's generell compatibility is close to nonexistent.

VMWare is a nice solution for ISPs to offer different OSes as an provider option but it is close to useless for the desktop. Not only doesn't it make the slightest bit of sense to switch away from Windows just to stay with windows in an emulated environment but it is also useless for many types of applications plus it is an expensive and slow solution.

So how do the options you mentioned make reactos an waste of resources?

Reply Parent Score: 2

thebluesgnr Member since:

Wine practical runs no Windows software at all.

That's not true, welcome to 2006.

Reply Parent Score: 5

umccullough Member since:

Wine practical runs no Windows software at all.

Well, it's a good thing ReactOS doesn't use Wine in any way, shape or form then... because that would make ReactOS just as incompatible


Fact is, ReactOS and Wine are attached at the hip.

Reply Parent Score: 4

petera Member since:


Reply Parent Score: 4

Gone fishing Member since:

Or these people don't like Windows and its licences etc but they do like Windows software.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Mage66 Member since:

ReactOS uses and contribute back to the WINE project.

So, in developing ReactOS, they ARE making Linux better.

And when done, ReactOS will breathe life into millions of older computers that won't run a current version of Windows and aren't worth purchasing a license for.

I've got a ton of systems I could give away if I had a legal copy of Windows to load on it. ReactOS could be that.

Reply Parent Score: 1

mmebane Member since:

Well, actually, Wine doesn't accept anything back from ReactOS, because they fear its development methods may not be entirely legal in the US.

Edited 2006-11-16 17:11

Reply Parent Score: 1

jessta Member since:

The architecture of Windows NT is quite nice.
It would be nice to have a Java, Python, etc subsystem running on an NT kernel for support for all that hardware that only has drivers for windows.

Reply Parent Score: 1

BluenoseJake Member since:

Perhaps they prefer a Windows style OS, with all the commercial apps that go with it. Not everyone thinks Linux is the end all in OS design.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Phloptical Member since:

There are thousands, and thousands of apps out there that are Windows only and Wine won't run. Remember Lindows (Freespire)? Wasn't that touted to be Linux that's able to run MS programs in the beginning?

VMWare, in your example, is pretty much useless too considering you still need to purchase a license from MS in order to run the virtual machine.

I think ReactOS is a valid idea to act as a go-between for the Windows users of the world and those that are OSS only. This should help the "chickan and the egg" syndrome that Linux has.....few apps because there are so few users, and so few users because there are few apps. Personally, I think it's an uphill battle for the ReactOS crowd. MS isn't going to allow them to eat their lunch for very long.

And, yes, I know there are repositories of open source software (Table of Equivalents list) but there's still Windows-only apps out there that a lot people want to run.

Reply Parent Score: 1