[SLL] Alternative alternative operating systems?

[Derek Simkowiak]

    Don't forget AmigaOS.  Amiga, Inc. released AmigaOS version 4.1 back 
in September.  Amiga, Inc. is based in Issaquah.

    The Amiga was a big reason I got into Open Source.  I was an 
extremely passionate Amiga user; I've owned an A1000, A2000, and A3000.  
When Commodore ran Amiga into the ground, I was devastated.  The i386SX 
that replaced my A3000 was a sad, sad joke.

    When I discovered Linux, all my passion for computer technology came 
back.  I finally found a workstation that could never be mis-managed 
into oblivion.  It may have taken a few years for x86 to catch up to the 
Amiga hardware, but thanks to PC clones, the hardware is dirt cheap.  
And now, with Ubuntu and Compiz Fusion, I think Linux has the best 
desktop out there.

    Other "alternative" OSes (many of which are influenced by AmigaOS):

AROS
MorphOS
AtheOS
Syllable
KolibriOS
MenuetOS
ReactOS  (Open Source MS-Windows clone, binary compatible)

--Derek

Jeremy C. Reed wrote:
> Just curious, any of you using or looking at alternative operating 
> systems?
>
> (In my definition, mainstream Linux and *BSDs are not alternative. But 
> some derivative based on Linux kernel may be.)
>
> Here are some that I have heard about over many years, but recently again:
>
> OS/2
> I saw http://www.smedley.info/os2ports/ with up-to-date software for OS/2.
> As for OS/2 itself, I don't know if still maintained. I found eComStations 
> (Ecs) which is based on it. http://www.ecomstation.com/. Don't know if 
> open sourced.
>
> Interix
> I see it is still being used. It is Microsoft's Unix for Windows (based on 
> OpenBSD I had heard). (From my own little experience with porting software 
> to Cygwin, Interix is more portable.) 
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/interopmigration/bb380242.aspx
>
> DragonFly
> The fork of FreeBSD now over five years old. Can run kernels in userland, 
> HAMMER file system for massive disks, and has goal for system clustering 
> over Internet. (Disclaimer: I frequently use this and have commit 
> privileges.) http://www.dragonflybsd.org/
>
> QNX
> Known for "realtime". I played with the bootable disk with browser around 
> ten years ago. I see the operating system is still maintained, but I don't 
> see downloads and assume is not free or open source. But I do see it can 
> run open source software. http://community.qnx.com/sf/projects/pkgsrc
>
> Haiku
> Formerly known as OpenBeOS and inspired by BeOS. http://www.haiku-os.org/ 
> Can run some common open source Unix software.
>
> PureDarwin
> I thought Darwin outside of Apple was dead as it was no longer maintained 
> and no easy way to install. But now I see PureDarwin. 
> http://www.puredarwin.org/
>
> Inferno
> Is free software. Followup of Bell Lab's Plan 9 distributed operating 
> system. http://www.vitanuova.com/inferno/
>
>
> Do you use any of these? Or tried any other alternatives?
>