Vixta: Teh New Linux Vista

[Guest Reimar]

Linux is Copying Windows Vista

Forget about Windows Vista! Introducing Vixta, an open source, Linux-based, copy of Vista. Generally speaking, Linux, open source Microsoft and Windows are by no means aligned concepts.

In fact, with the exception of the Linux and Windows technical interoperability efforts derived from the Microsoft and Novell agreement focused on heterogeneous environments, the two platforms don't mix. Not even by far. Additionally, Microsoft's latest Windows Operating system, Windows Vista was regarded as a window of opportunity for Linux to increase its foothold on the client side. Almost nine months into the general availability of Vista, and the various distributions of the open sourcelatform are still situated under the 1% market share milestone, according to statistics provided by net Applications.

At the same time, Vista grew past the 7% market share mark, indicating that from January 30, 2007, Microsoft shipped in excess of 70 million copies of the operating system. In this context, a part of the open source community decided to find inspiration in Windows Vista. Vixta features the KDE based Desktop Environment and is essentially a Fedora-based distribution. But on top of it all, Vixta is nothing more than a Vista copy. Of course the open source and the Microsoft proprietary operating systems are not identical. In fact, under the hood, Vixta is still Linux, all the way. But on the surface, the similarities between the two operating systems are evident.

"Vixta.org Release 095 very soon! Goals: absolutely free, in every sense; spread linux to the "masses"; ABN - AbsolutelyNo Config; User-Frendly; Eye-catching and familiar look and Feel," are the promises Vixta developers made to users. Vixta brings to the table a graphical user interface that is a knock-off of Windows Aero in Vista. And the GUI copying is also illustrated in the name of the Linux distribution, as the difference between Vixta and Vista is almost inexistent. Microsoft failed to comment in any manner on the promised delivery of Vixta, but the Redmond company will undoubtedly tackle the Linux distribution through its legal department if the name and the GUI similarities will survive. Just click on the screenshots below in order to get an idea of the visual style of Vixta.



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source: news.softpedia.com

Edited October 13, 2007 by Tywais
Blind links removed - not going to where they should

[cdnvic]

Microsoft failed to comment in any manner on the promised delivery of Vixta, but the Redmond company will undoubtedly tackle the Linux distribution through its legal department if the name and the GUI similarities will survive.

I'll bet the legal knives are sharpening already.

Linux needs to do its own thing well instead of trying to copy Microsoft. As for "absolute zero config", what about codecs needed for common files, like mp3 which are copyrighted and require a license fee?

[nikster]

As if Vista wasn't bad enough, now there are Vista clones! Jeez!

Linux needs to do its own thing well instead of trying to copy Microsoft. As for "absolute zero config", what about codecs needed for common files, like mp3 which are copyrighted and require a license fee?

How does Ubuntu solve this these days? They have a solution, don't they?

[cdnvic]

As if Vista wasn't bad enough, now there are Vista clones! Jeez!

Linux needs to do its own thing well instead of trying to copy Microsoft. As for "absolute zero config", what about codecs needed for common files, like mp3 which are copyrighted and require a license fee?

How does Ubuntu solve this these days? They have a solution, don't they?

I had to get my own codecs for Ubuntu

[RKASA]

  I have not been using Linux for vary long, but I could have my desk top looking like that in ten minutes.  I don't think anybody ran out a wrote a new kernal trying to copy vista.  It would not be necessary. In fact if I was on my other free Linux OS right now I could zap you a pic that looks better then that, but I am booted up in the wifes OS.

 

[LivinLOS]

I have not been using Linux for vary long, but I could have my desk top looking like that in ten minutes. I don't think anybody ran out a wrote a new kernal trying to copy vista. It would not be necessary. In fact if I was on my other free Linux OS right now I could zap you a pic that looks better then that, but I am booted up in the wifes OS.

Sorry but to me that desktop looks win98 level attractive..

While its obviously a form over function thing creating a more attractive desktop experience is essential to get home users interested IMO

[cdnvic]

We all know how Linux XP took the computing world by storm..............

http://www.linux-xp.com/

Yes, it actually exists

[RKASA]

I have not been using Linux for vary long, but I could have my desk top looking like that in ten minutes. I don't think anybody ran out a wrote a new kernal trying to copy vista. It would not be necessary. In fact if I was on my other free Linux OS right now I could zap you a pic that looks better then that, but I am booted up in the wifes OS.

Sorry but to me that desktop looks win98 level attractive..

While its obviously a form over function thing creating a more attractive desktop experience is essential to get home users interested IMO

Trust me the reduced jpg converted from bmp snapshot is not showing what it looks like.  You can reach right into the screen it like three feet deep.  and if I was into waesting my processor I could reinstall the cube desk top that rotates and switchs and flips.  Its a full 3d desktop enviroment and it was around a long time.  Like windows were before MS started using them.  I am not really into bashing MS alot its just that they really don't invent most this stuff, they are just well placed in the assbly line, and PC maker love OS that make hardware need replacing thats why they love MS.   I don't think that anybody hopes there distro of linux is going to be the one that overcomes MS, its more like a poke in the eye to name something vistx or what ever anyway vista is really not a big deal, most people are far more concerned about how long XP will get supported then they are about how they can get vista, and I won't have to care anymore.

[Richard-BKK]

It became time that somebody did this, most advanced 3D user interface enhancements I'm using for over 5 years can now be found in MS Windows Vista.

About the legal stuff....I hope Microsoft has the balls to try to sue the Linux distribution. Microsoft takes a lot from the free-software community but never gives. Look at MS Internet Explorer 7.0 it is just a copy of Firefox. Or look at the enhancements of the GUI of Windows Vista, did we not see all that in Beryl manager around the changing of the millennium.

Then look at the current build of MS Windows Vista, it is build as a Linux distribution, similar to what we can see in Apple's OS-X, with the exemption that Apple is taking from and giving too the open-source community.

Also you never hear Apple lie about thinks, they never hide that they found the idea from the in the open-source community.