This is not unlike the way in which the Linux kernel is found in every Linux distribution. As a result, many illumos distributions are available. The most popular is probably OpenIndiana, which features in the accompanying video. Originally launched in as a Windows 95 clone project, the official website states that "the ultimate goal of ReactOS is to allow you to remove Windows and install ReactOS without the end user noticing the change.
In short, the aim is that you should be able to continue using your PC as you did before. ReactOS features over 9 million lines of code and is open source.
However, ReactOS has been in the alpha stage for quite some time now. One day, ReactOS might be a perfect, free alternative to Windows, but until then, it is available for your evaluation. Haiku is free and open source and was first released in Since then, this free operating system has been in continuous development and runs various apps. Haiku will also run may apps from the abandoned BeOS operating system.
If you're looking for a free alternative to Windows, it's certainly worth looking at Haiku. This means that it should be able to run on your PC.
In some ways, your PC or laptop turns into a modern-day Amiga computer, capable of running old and new software. Note, however, you'll be unable to read old Amiga discs on a modern PC, even with a 3. As such, you'll be limited to ROMs. Even so, this makes for an interesting alternative to Windows.
Available for bit and bit hardware, MenuetOS is an operating system that can be installed from a single floppy disk. Just to clarify, that's a single floppy disk of 1. Incredibly, it includes a full GUI desktop, a browser, media player, and spreadsheet pre-installed. Built with Assembly language, MenuetOS also features support for USB webcams, and handles resolutions up to x 16 million colors.
No floppy drive? Google has been developing Android and Chrome OS towards a convergence of operating systems in recent years. Very few operating systems will run on such an old PC! Solus is an open source, desktop, Linux-based operating system. Having been launched in , Solus is a relatively new operating system , with almost 6, members currently registered in the SolusOS forums.
Pros: the Java and Flash plug — ins are preinstalled , like all other applications listed in the key features, so use is made almost immediately after installation. Cons: This operating system is quite new, so some bug fixes will still be needed. Valve SteamOS is currently in beta. The old Linux desktop is under there, but the computer starts with a Steam interface designed for living rooms. They call their eComStation operating system.
This is the only operating system paid on this list. You can still download a free demo CD to verify it. ChaletOS is a free and open source Linux distribution based on Xubuntu. It is built with a design similar to that of Windows , which shows a simple and intuitive desktop interface. It is a good alternative for Windows users who want to try a Linux distribution, offering the Xfce desktop environment with the opportunity to customize the desktop.
ChaletOS includes several preinstalled applications and is a good option for older PCs that may not have enough memory.
The latest version, launched in April , is what gives users the opportunity to modernize old desktop servers. This is a free open source operating system similar to Unix, which is derived from the Debian Project launched in by Ian Murdock. The stable version 1. Debian provides access to online repositories of more than 51, packages , all of which include free software.
It is fully developed and distributed following the principles of the GNU Project. OpenSUSE is a Linux-based project that includes a server environment and a range of other open source software tools aimed primarily at developers and system administrators. It achieved a relatively usable state on the desktop, especially considering it was a one-man project — it was a hobby project for Szeleney.
SkyOS originally began as a simple bootloader , but eventually expanded to become a complete operating system. In the early days, until version 4.
After that, Szeleney began charging a small fee for accessing the beta version of SkyOS 5, which some considered controversial. The SkyOS 5. The project seemed to vanish, but Szeleney experimented with the use of third-party cores, such as a BSD kernel or a Linux kernel.
That was the last thing we heard from him, and earlier this year, the website was removed. Substitute for the BeOS project now discontinued, Haiku is free and open source and was first launched in Since then, the operating system has been in almost continuous development and now has the ability to run the multi-purpose VLC media player, as well as a couple of Quake versions.
However, the operating system is in a strange place , something like between alpha and beta , and this makes it perhaps the least attractive alternative on this list. However, if you were a BeOS fan a long time ago and are looking for a Windows escape, it is certainly worth checking out Haiku.
Operating systems are computer programs. An operating system is the first piece of software that the computer runs when you turn on the machine.
The operating system is loaded into memory and begins to manage the resources available on the computer. Then provide those resources to other applications that the user wishes to run. Typical services provided by an operating system include:.
A task scheduler: The task scheduler can assign the CPU execution to a series of different tasks. Some of those tasks are the different applications that the user is running and others are tasks of the operating system.
The task scheduler is the part of the operating system that allows you to print a document from your word processor in one window while you are downloading a file in another window and recalculating a spreadsheet in a third window. A memory manager: The memory manager controls the system RAM and usually creates a larger virtual memory space using a file on the hard disk.
A disk manager: The disk manager creates and maintains the directories and files on the disk. When you request a file, the disk administrator brings it from the disk. A network administrator: the network administrator controls all the data that moves between the computer and the network.
Security Administrator: The operating system maintains the security of the information in the computer files and controls who can access the computer. An operating system usually also provides the default user interface for the system.
The Mac operating system provides a completely different look for Macintosh computers. To understand why Linux has become so popular, it is useful to know a little about its history.
The first version of UNIX was originally developed several decades ago and was mainly used as an operating research system in universities. However, ReactOS is still in relative infancy so is best suited for someone with open source experience or someone wanting a totally customisable user interface. Xubuntu is a Unix-based open source operating system that runs the lightweight and configurable XFCE desktop environment, rather than Ubuntu's Unity environment.
While the interface is relatively stripped back, it's still a full-featured OS competing well with others listed. The most recent version, Xubuntu The standard release of Xubuntu Key features: The operating system comes preinstalled with applications including a web browser, a mail client, word processor, spreadsheet editor, applications to handle your media like music, videos and photos.
For more applications, games or tools, you simply have to search the Ubuntu Software Centre. The OS claims to offer increased security over competitors, with advanced security features such as PersonaCrypt and GELI disk level encryption, to keep your most important data safe.
The SysAdm remote management tool provides a way to manage your Server, Desktop or Cloud-based systems. You can remotely control all aspects of your machine, including management of software, updates, boot environments, users and backups.
The operating system is partially developed under the open source Chromium OS project. A huge variety of apps are offered through the Chrome Web Store. Key features: Cloud-based file management, integrated media player, virtual desktop access, Aura window manager, Google cloud print, Chrome Apps, support for selected Android apps and enhanced security. Set up should be easy with files being loaded from a USB or disk drive.
Released in , FreeBSD is a functional open source operating system and supports most web browsers, office suites, email readers and network servers. According to its site, the aim of FreeBSD is to provide a stable operating system that may be used for any purpose. The latest version of FreeBSD is It still remains under active development but includes support for Microsoft Hyper V as well as enhanced networking on the Amazon EC2 platform.
Haiku is an open source operating system targeted towards personal computing that is currently still being developed. The OS is still in the Alpha stage, but can currently be used for daily tasks including browsing the web, writing and reading e-mails, or listening to music and watching videos.
Based on Linux, the OS claims to be secure and doesn't collect personal data. The OS is aesthetically pleasing and boasts an extensive app store, offering plenty of open source apps from indie developers. The OS puts a lot of emphasis on supporting these types of developers, offering the option to users to make donations in return for using these products.
The bare bones OS comes pre-installed with essential apps for everyday use including files, photos and music apps. Here are the latest Insider stories. More Insider Sign Out. Sign In Register. Sign Out Sign In Register. Latest Insider.
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