[ros-kernel] Longhorn and ReactOS

[Devin Smith]

Hi,

Regarding your issue with the GUI, I think that ReactOS will never limit
the user to using a specific GUI just as almost all recent (NT4+) versions
of Microsoft Windows have not limited the user to one type of GUI. There
are many alternative GUI themes (WindowBlinds, etc.) and shells (Litestep,
BB4win, etc.) that you can use if you are unhappy with the default shell
that is bundled with ReactOS.

Furthermore, I believe that it doesn't matter what file system is used on
the OS when you are talking about a high level component like the UI.
Any clean user shell/interface should not be concerned with such a
low level detail.


Thanks,

Devin Smith


On Fri, 24 Sep 2004, Rick Langschultz wrote:

> Very True, I agree that ReactOS is still in development of core services
> such as TCP/IP and Win32 API and NT API. However considering how quickly
> the market for computer operating systems change from year to year I am
> simply reminding people to consider the over all affect that Apple and
> Microsoft have on ReactOS. Apple doesn't contribute to the Win32 API
> however they still produce Windows products like iTunes; and consider
> the interface that Apple has introduced to their environment. An
> Expose-like feature would be great to add to a functional copy of
> ReactOS.  And with a 3D interface like Project Looking-Glass ReactOS,
> Sun JDS, Linux, and Microsoft can benefit from non-conventional user
> interfaces. These are only options to consider in the further
> development down the road.
> Another key feature to keep in the back of your (developers) mind is the
> implementation of ROSFS that will be written using the MySQL and DB
> APIs. To provide this service shell integration will be important and
> ROS Explorer will have to be modified, or, perhaps, even rewritten form
> the ground up to provide a ROSFS interface that will provide features
> such as:
>
> 1) Metadata - Adding comments and markup to current files, folders,
> devices, and user that will provide powerful administrative and user
> functionality to our operating system.
>
> 2) Indexing Services and Servers - Providing a secure and stable way to
> sort, and archive files based on metadata and raw file data. Remote
> connection to manage files through VPNs, RADIUS, and even Intranet
> connections.
>
> 3) User Interface - ROSFS will provide a user to customize the view of
> their computer by adding custom folder icons by adding folder coloring,
> image overlays, thumbnails, and a variety of visual effects to add to
> home users computing experience.
>
> In Closing I would like to say that these features are far away but
> considering the options now will allow developers to keep in mind the
> potential of the operating system and their own programming goals.
> Seeing the potential of something before it happens is what the world of
> computing is based upon. If no computer developer foresaw Windows 2000,
> ME, XP, 2003, Longhorn, Apple's Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server, and others
> we would still be working on computers with 680K of memory and disks the
> size of 5 1/4" floppies.
>
>
>
>
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