The list of free Operating Systems :)

[NiTRoX]

Hi,

Many topics have been created in order to crictisize another operating system, but not one (or a few) was created for all of the O/S users to agree (except for the windows one of course). So I decided to make this topic (and receive as many flames as possible from the geeks) to try to be informative.

First of all, I find Windows to be a normal operating system, meaning it has its upsides and its downsides. Let me start by describing Windows and some reasons why you should switch. I use both Windows and Linux and have used other operating systems before.

I will first mention its upsides:

• Most popular operating system, some websites claim that its used by approximately 90% of the people who owns computers. This is mainly due to Microsoft doing deals and stuffs and forcing everyone to use its products
• It has thousands (if not millions) of software available for it
• Some of the best and most useful applications are only available on windows
• It is the only operating system that has 100% compatibility with drivers of new hardware
• Windows XP was the most successful operating system ever made, followed with Mac OS X
• It is extremely easy to use, almost, without any need to use the Command Prompt
• It offers native support for MP3 and other propriety codecs, which of most music/videos come with
• Has a large community and you will find help for sure
• Looks good

Obviously it has its downsides:

• Thousands is not millions of malware (viruses, Spyware, Adware etc..) compromise this system, this causes you to use an Antivirus/AntiSpyware
• It has less open source software than other *nix operating systems
• It has conquered the O/S world for a long time now
• When it crashes it crashes for good, cuasing you to format and reinstall or to seek commercial support (more $$$$)
• It is expensive and it doesn't come with a free office suite (you have to buy it too)
• You can only use one license on one computer
• You are not free to modify it as you like
• Installing the needed software is a long process
• Most software are large files
• Doesn't run on every architecture
• Linux runs Windows XP - software better than WIndows Vista

There are other pros and cons which can't come to mind at the moment.


So, NiTRoX, what are the alternatives?

There are various free operating systems, most of them based on Unix, which you can use for the day-today life instead of Windows.

I will mention a few (mainly the most popular)


Mac OS X *

-I can't really comment on this one since I never used one (you can see Zybork's, Kaleo's and Death On Ice's posts on the Mac OS X)

Linux Distros

- The most popular free operating system gaining more users each day.
- It is free,open source and has a large community
- Most of its software is free or open source
- It is not prone to viruses (although there are some viruses for it but they were created to prove that linux viruses are possible)
- it is the best O/S together with FreeBSD to use as a server
- it is easy to use (coming with lots of configuration utilities)
- can be modified,sold and distributed without any permissions
- It has a choice of Desktop Environments
- You have to use the terminal (equivalent to Window's command prompt) more frequently than you do in Windows.
- In my opinion, it is a better operating system to code with than windows (coming with a lot of professional-like development software)
- It doesn't have the BSoD (Blue screen of death)
- Its harder to fix things if your system crashes
- Software like Synaptic,YaST and others that let you install software automatically without the need to install software one by one
- Looks good
- Many large companies are using it instead of Windows Server to save money
- It has frequent updates and releases (depending on the distribution)
- It lacks professional commercial software such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Maya although it has its free alternatives
- 18,000+ (Ubuntu/Debian) free software packages
- Comes pre-installed with the most important applications (Office suite  media player, image editing, etc ...)
- Currently it has less hardware support than windows does, although support is increasing day by that
- Can be run through a 'LiveCD' (Allows you to use the operating system without installing it)
- Currently being adopted in embedded devices
- Runs on almost every architecture (32 bit , 64 bit , PPC etc ..)

Official Website: http://www.linux.org/ , http://www.linux.com/
Linux Distros: http://www.ubuntu.com/ , http://www.opensuse.org/ , http://www.fedorapoject.org/ , http://www.debian.org/
Linux Distro Popularity: http://www.distrowatch.com/
Linux Distro Chooser: http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

FreeBSD

I haven't used this operating system much.

- Uses the BSD kernel (I think?) instead of the Linux kernel (both are based on Unix)
- It is the best free operating system that can be used as a server
- It is free/Open source
- The other stuff are the same as Linux
- Has over 16,000 open source software packages available trough ports
- Lacks a graphical installer
- Less hardware support than Windows and Linux
- Long release cycle
- No official 'LiveCD' version (Check out FreeSBie)
- Steep learning curve ( getting easier each release ... )
- No graphical installer like Synaptic for its ports collection
- Requires the use of the terminal more
- Linux binaries are compatible with FreeBSD
- Its kernel is used in Mac OS X

Official Website: www.freebsd.org
Other FreeBSD based operating systems: http://www.pcbsd.org/ , http://www.desktopbsd.net/

ReactOS

I only tried this operating system trough VirtualBox

- it aims to create a free alternative to Windows NT and to be binary compatible with its software
- Still in Alpha stage
- Not that compatible yet with windows nt software
- Looks like windows

Official Website:  http://www.reactos.org/

Darwin:

- Not developed/supported anymore.
- Open source operating system from apple
- Based on the same hybrid kernel as Mac OS X

Project Indiana

- Based on OpenSolaris
- Officially supported by Sun Microsystems (creators of Java, NetBeans )
- Still in testing stages
- Free/Open Source

Official Website: http://www.opensolaris.org/os/project/indiana/

Haiku OS

- Aims at being an open source clone of the now defunct BeOS

AROS (A Research Operating System)

- Amiga like O/S
- Compatible with Amiga 3.1

Official Website: http://aros.sourceforge.net/

FreeDOS

- An open source replacement for MS-DOS

Other operating systems:

MorphOS* - Not developed anymore
SkyOS* - Based on Unix
eComStation* - the successor of OS/2 (which was developed by Microsoft and IBM)
E/OS - aims at emulate every operating system (lol)
Syllable OS - based on Unix
JNode - written in Java
NexentaOS - uses OpenSolaris kernel
Zeta* - Based on BeOS


*  (not Free but deserves to be mentioned)

Some screenshots:

http://img292.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img292/1815/1206542159ipg.smil

Suggestions:

I suggest you enter the open source operating system world by using Linux first. If you don't want to start with it immediately try dual booting it with Windows/Mac OS X.
You could also try using the open source software available on Linux/Mac OS X/Windows so that when you switch you already know how to use them.


Related websites you should visit:

http://www.freebyte.com/operatingsystems/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_software_operating_systems
http://www.osdev.org/ - Everything about Operatign System Development
http://www.KDE.org/
http://www.GNOME.org/
http://www.xfce.org/
http://www.osalt.com/ - Open source alternatives to commercial software

Thank you for reading..

edit:

• typos & links
• Updated Microsoft,FreeBSD and Linux
• BSoD
• ARoS
• Topic Title
• More links
• More links to operating systems
• Fixed info

[SoulAsasiN]

Nice summation...one correction. BSod is actually "Blue Screen of death"...when Windows won't boot...you get blue.

I've found the best solution is a combination of the 2...XP for gaming and generally futzing about, (with a virtual Linux machine for poking around funny neighborhoods of the net), and a Linux box for all online banking, and personnel documentation.

I built the Linux box out of leftovers from other machines...low spec, works like bomb, fast and secure. I use PCLOS, nice distro.   

[NiTRoX]

Nice summation...one correction. BSod is actually "Blue Screen of death"...when Windows won't boot...you get blue.

I've found the best solution is a combination of the 2...XP for gaming and generally futzing about, (with a virtual Linux machine for poking around funny neighborhoods of the net), and a Linux box for all online banking, and personnel documentation.

I built the Linux box out of leftovers from other machines...low spec, works like bomb, fast and secure. I use PCLOS, nice distro.   

Thanks.

Yep my bad, fixing it now.

[Steely Ann]

I'm fairly sure this falls under #12, no?

[NiTRoX]

I'm fairly sure this falls under #12, no?

Umm, was it abotu the title? I changed it

Anyways, its more of an informative topic than a "12) Operating System "A" sucks/rules/blows/dominates as compared to Operating System "not-A" " one

[kevlarman]

it hurts my eyes reading such blatantly wrong information

[NiTRoX]

wrong?

Point out where I'm wrong.

[Lava Croft]

Since when is Linux a OS?

[player1]

I'm fairly sure this falls under #12, no?

fixed/phail/impostor! (u borked t3h string, the real SA would never make that mistake... unless...)

& this one may not qualify, but the other three he started yesterday give 'trox an aggregate score of wannabe/pretender/also-ran/himtry2hard

P.S. I also completely reworked old YMBNIYSATA, in honor of some n00b who reminded me of a once-unknowing player1. Check out the threadlog here.

besides which, the real SA was supposedly gone when I created #12 (curioser & curioser)

[NiTRoX]

Since when is Linux a OS?

mmmmk you're right. its a kernel but the O/S is also called Linux ..

Like Ubuntu Linux , Arch Linux etc etc ..

[Revan]

Since when is Linux a OS?

You need to take a good long look at your signature, then look in the mirror.

[Lava Croft]

You could look here.

[NiTRoX]

And..?

Among the "top ten distributions" listed at DistroWatch, two (Debian GNU/Linux and Knoppix live GNU/Linux system) use the term GNU/Linux in their official names, three (Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora) use neither Linux nor GNU/Linux in their names, four (Mandriva Linux, Mepis Linux, Slackware Linux, and Gentoo Linux) use Linux in their names, and one (PCLinuxOS) uses a derivative name.

So I mistook the Ubuntu Linux one.. what about the others...

[SoulAsasiN]

Don't lose to much sleep over it, the hardcore Linux crowd is very touchy when it comes to nomenclature and so on...I made similar error on Slashdot, (or /. to be precise) and got modded to oblivion and flamed to hell.

Meh.

 

[Lava Croft]

Since when am I part of the hardcore Linux crowd. I just think that if you make a pretentious list of free OS's, you better do your work properly and correctly.

[NiTRoX]

Well when people make a list of free operating system I don't think they call it 'An operating system with a linux kernel'. Everybody refers to a linux distro as linux :/

[Lava Croft]

No, as GNU/Linux. And who is everybody? Most people I know use GNU/Linux, certainly when it comes to things like a public forum post which seems semi-serious in its attempt to deliver good information.

[SoulAsasiN]

..."which seems semi-serious in its attempt to deliver good information."

This is the Trem forum, under "off topic"...Semi Serious good information need not apply..

http://tremulous.net/forum/index.php?topic=7781.0 - something about cats
http://tremulous.net/forum/index.php?topic=7764.0 - Something about Jesus being a pokemon

the defense...rests.

[Lava Croft]

Does the way Nitrox has written his post indicate he is trying to be anything but semi-serious? And what do other threads have to do with this, this is a self-contained thread, like most stuff on Off-Topic.

[NiTRoX]

Jesus.. if thats the problem I'll just edit it..

[Lava Croft]

Nothing is more annoying than incorrect information, really.

[NiTRoX]

Then what the fuck are you doing on these forums?

[Lava Croft]

Then what the fuck are you doing on these forums?

This forum is actually full of correct information, but sadly, since the arrival of people such as yourself, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find said information.

[NiTRoX]

Then what the fuck are you doing on these forums?

This forum is actually full of correct information, but sadly, since the arrival of people such as yourself, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find said information.

And obviously those 'such' people exclude yourself?

[Paradox]

What about EyeOS or other browser based operating systems.

What about Solaris?

[NiTRoX]

What about EyeOS or other browser based operating systems.

I don't consider those as major operating system and they're no hardware centric. I don't think many people use EyeOs, GH.OS.t etc etc ..

What about Solaris?

Check my post (Project Indiana).

[player1]

since the arrival of people such as yourself

one of my personal faves

it wuz a golden age of rainbowz & unicornz b4 all u n00bz showed up

[Lava Croft]

And obviously those 'such' people exclude yourself?

Naturally, I was here long before your kind arrived, and I must admit that being surrounded by your kind does tend to bring out the worst in me.

[Shadowgandor]

And that's why we love you lava

[Steely Ann]

And that's why we love you lava

?