MorphOS - YOU should try it too

[slobu]

Well, we can all agree it is FAST.  The Mac Mini option is the cheapest around too.

I found the apps to be basic and unpolished.  Web browsing was hit or miss and flash was, er, not so flashy.

Although there is some TrueCrypt integration no real user based security is in place.  I don't think full disk encryption was available (though it might be now)

The activation process hopefully has improved as well.  I heard it involves some miscellaneous tools and email and BY HAND creation of an activation key.  I don't mind paying for MorphOS but don't tell me how and when and on what machine I use it on.  That key is for that old, used G4 Mac Mini.  When it breaks you just lost your MorphOS.

When security, full disk encryption and a better licensing solution happens I'll jump on it.

[slobu]

These are just my impressions.  I'm glad that there are so many fans of a new alternative operating systems!

MorphOS is asking for a serious sum of money so I expected more.  At the time I installed everything was not as polished as other operating systems such as BeOS.  The user interface and stability all looked hobby OS to me.  Again, this may have been before the 2.xx series really took off so the situation may have improved.  

Partition encryption does not equal encrypting your boot drive.  If the spooks or other criminals can log in it's game over.

The OWB failed to deliver a good enough experience loading and displaying web pages.  Again, this may have been an earlier version.  Also, we're talking about user experience so I don't care if it's flash performance is the same on Linux - it sucked.

Finally, with Mac OS or Windows I can stick in my OS CD and install the OS on any machine I have.  I don't need to prove to ANYONE my machine is broken.  I don't care if Mac Minis don't break that often.  It's MY choice when and where to install Mac OS.  With MorphOS I need to "prove" it's broken.  Not good.

..and to make it clear I object to ANY form of activation on any other platform.  Activation is wrong by principle.  I bought a piece of property not a license.

Despite my less optimistic review than the OP I would QUICKY snatch up MorphOS if it had:

* No activation.  I own the software.
* User/Password security.  No one should access my files but ME.
* Full boot disk encryption.  Same deal.

Again, this is just my experience with an early 2.xx revision.  I didn't mean to get into a point-by-point debate.  just thought I'd clarify a bit!

Carry on

[slobu]

I cannot speak for MacOS, but I can for Windows.  This case is only partly true with Windows, provided that you did not purchase an OEM copy of Windows -- the kind that comes with computers purchased from Big Box or a system builder.

While you may have the technical ability to install your OEM on any other machine, your licensing does not legitimately allow doing so.  When your OEM computer dies, your OEM license of Windows dies with it.

Purchase a retail copy of Windows and you can move from machine-to-machine, you just have to jump through the activation phone call at times if using XP or later.  XP Home Edition used to run between $169 and $199 retail, so you pay about the same as MorphOS for about the same situation, relatively speaking.

Windows 3.x, 95, 98, 98SE, 2000, and ME do not suffer the WGA activation, so you can plug away on those all you want.  Hell, for that matter even XP is loosely controlled these days (only loosely since it is still a viable alternative to 7 if you can get drivers.  I have had to re-activate my XP x64 once or twice due to hardware changes.)

Hey LoadWB!  Hope your weekend is starting off awesome

The key file is far worse.  I don't need to prove anything.  I'm a paying customer.  The harder you make it for me to use and reinstall my OS the less I'm willing to purchase your product.

I stopped buying Windows at XP Home due to experiences with activation.  Are you listening MorphOS devs?