Have any of you ever heard of ReactOS ?

https://www.reactos.org/

It's a totally new operating system a bunch of people are trying to write.

It's not Linux, Mac or Windows.

I can't wait until they're finished building it.

They do need people to test some of the programming. I wouldn't know what to do when it comes to that.

 

I've played around with it some. I even tried to build the source code on my own computer but it won't work.

ReactOS certainly does look promising, after it gets out of alpha stage. I mean, think of repurposing an old computer--like a Windows XP computer--with ReactOS, installing all of your favorite programs, and not ever thinking that you aren't running Windows.

 

I really don't like the direction Microsoft is going. With Windows 10 they want to know more and more about the user. Kinda like how Google is now. Tracking and knowing just about everything about everybody. And they're helping China with AI! That's scary.

Another thing I like about React OS, it's free! Or at least that's the plan for now.

 

For now?! Forever!

 

Looks like a very interesting project. I'm going to test on a VM just to see how well Windows Explorer and Search works, and also how the virtual memory system behaves.

 

As you try it out, keep in mind that it is still a work in progress and that it will not have nearly everything that real Windows does. Try to have a mindset of "What will this look like when it's done?"

 

I tried ReactOS over a decade ago, was very rough around the edges and was more of a Windows 98 compatible. I just checked their website and it looks like compatibility has improved so that some modern applications actually run in it.

I will try installing and running ReactOS once things slow down for me around Christmas when I will be able to devote some time to my long neglected hobbies and numerous pet projects

 

I read somewhere that ReactOS can even run Windows 10 Store apps.

 

Didn't I read somewhere that it's supposed to look a lot like XP?

 

Well, it currently looks the most like 9x, but I'm sure that it could be set to look like XP. Theoretically, you could even install the Luna theme directly from XP, but I'm not sure if that would work or not. I guess you could install a virtual machine program, create a ReactOS VM, and try things out.

 

Installing a virtual machine is way over my head. The computer I use the most is my Linux computer, and installing a VM on that is 1000 times worser.

 

Oh... What version of Linux?

 

Zorin 12.4 Ultimate 32bit

I like it. If I had a laptop with a touch screen I'd get Zorin 15.

 

Zorin is pretty good. One of the things I can't figure out is that you can get Zorin for free, but if you pay $40 (or is it 40 euros?) you get some games and a Mac theme preinstalled. So? I can install what I want after Zorin is installed.

 

I think it's a lot more than games. Plus I figure I'm helping the people that are making things work.

Zorin 12.4 I think was $27 and I'm sure Zorin 15 has a lot more. You can install it for free and add what you want to it too. They have a Zorin Lite that should be coming out soon.

 

Probably it is more than games.

Zorin Lite has been out for a while, unless you mean Zorin Lite 15. The most recent Lite edition out is 12.4.

 

Yup I was talking about Lite 15. Not sure why it's taking so long.

I tried a handful of Linux OS's and I like Zorin the best.

 

Zorin is fine, but I prefer anything with KDE Plasma 5. I also like Ubuntu fairly well but I haven't installed it on anything.

 

Yes. i have React 0.4.5 on disc. I took it for a very brief test drive many months ago, then off to my software bank. Not sure what was wrong. Maybe I should try it again, but right now between XP Pro, MX Linux, Kodachi, and sometimes TAILS...I'm kinda busy. I think it's about like Syllable Desktop and Haiku....a work in progress that has very slow progress.

 

I guess they're up to 0.4.12 now.

Do you have one desktop with a lot of partitions?