Free OS to play with...

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:38

Hi guys

Every time an Ubuntu release comes out, I download it, I usually stick it on some machine, I play with it for a while, then I get bored. Then the next release comes out, and I do the same, lol.

My laptop is used solely for browsing the web and msn and things for when I cba to turn my PC (Win7) on or want to lounge on the sofa, etc. So seen as Im bored of the Ubuntu download-install-getbored cycle, are there any other OS's out there (free, so likely linux based) that are nice and clean and simple that I could have a play with. Reading up on it, what I would love is Google ChromeOS, but while we are waiting for that, are there any linux distro's that are similar.

(oh yeah, while I used to love the geekyness, im no longer interested in spending hours in the console doing stuff, so a linux distro thats nice and simple to setup and install stuff on is prefered, its why I like Ununtu)

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:59

Ive just found the UNR release which I didnt know existed, so thats something to play with. Im not looking for a solid replacement for Windows, I just like to play with new stuff and my laptop is the ideal candidate as its a spare computer that i dont store anything on, so formatting and installing things is no worry. Its just my linux 'playing' has bene very limited to the standard Ubuntu releases lately.

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 15:09

gOS Cloud looks exactly like ChromeOS. Did Google copy gOS's idea, or are gOS trying to build Cloud before Google get ChromeOS out?

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 18:18

gOS has, but their 'Cloud' os is in development, and the premise behind it seems to be the same as Google ChromeOS.

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 20:42

Hades said:
Two to look at:

OpenSolaris
OSX on a PC

OSX on anything other than Apple hardware isnt legal

masterluke said:
im struggling to understand the getting "bored" bit... IMO operating systems arent supposed to provide entertainment. If it runs the applications that you need reliably and in a user-friendly way then its a good job done.

Windows runs my applications perfectly well. But I have a PC that does that. My laptop is for fidling. Im a firm believer of learning by using, so while I could just stick windows on it and be happy, id rather try lots of other stuff, if for no other reason that to know about them.

Installing UNR 9.10 now. Looking forward to ChromeOS tho