ReactOS 0.3.0 Released!
This release holds a few records - it is the most long-awaited release of ReactOS, it is the release which was preceded by 3 Release Candidates instead of usual 2, and at last ReactOS release never had so much changes since the last one.
This release’s main feature is the networking ability - it’s the first release where it is possible to download and install FireFox and browse the web, get mIRC (or some other irc client) and get to #reactos to chat a bit with developers. Or install command-line Samba-TNG client via the built-in package manager and use it to share files with Windows, Linux and MacOS X (all of them support SMB protocol)
But there are a bunch of changes beneath the “networking” feature: The kernel, drivers, applications, control panel applets, Win32 subsystem, boot loader, etc, etc was changed, improved, bugfixed and hackremoved. For the detailed overview it’s advised to read the Changelog.
The compatibility with applications and drivers is also improved. In order to keep track of progress, the reactos.org website now features a ReactOS Compatibility Database. It allows to quickly look up the driver’s version or some software which has been tested on various ReactOS releases and see how good it performs.
Thanks a lot to our core developers who are doing a fantastic job and to those people who submit patches for various small and big things - it really helps a lot, even if it is a formatting change!
Aleksey Bragin,
ReactOS Project Coordinator
When looking for a replacement for Windows you automatically think of Apple’s MacOSX, or perhaps a Linux Distro like Ubuntu. But how about an Open Source OS that would allow you to run your Windows Applications? I’ve been following ReactOS as it’s slowly matured, into an OS that can now handle a large number of Windows Applications (not all of them, but a surpisenly large majority) and now has the base down to really be thought of as a possible replacement OS. Now if you have Windows XP would you want to replace it? No. It’s still in developement and not at 1 yet. But if you have a box and no legal copy of Windows for it, or you have a box you want to play with a decent Widnows alternative. Then here you go. To take a look at some Screenshots before you download and install then click away. They include a Live CD (A CD you can run and try the Operating System without touching your hard drives. Note, it is slower then running natively on your hard drive) as well as full Source Code if you are really interested.
I’m mainly excited by it it’s full network support. And also it’s large base of supported applications. Finally giving me an alternative OS to install on cheap machines for friends. They can get the machine and the junky software they buy where-ever, or feel they need has a good chance of running on it.
Tags: Applications, Gaming, Interesting, Microsoft, News, Software, Windows
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