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Gnash will work fine.

If not try the gallery on the dev.-blog ( http://dev.zebuntu.com )

Gnash doesn�€�t work fine with it for me, I see the load screen and nothing more.

Not sure why they wouldn�€�t just link to real images, like most of the Internet does.

Especially when it deals with an exotic operating system. I could perhaps understand it if it was some Windows-only website, but not in this case.

I thought that if ever Bernd were to dip his fingers in the Beos world again it would be through Haiku, or perhaps more likely 'Zaiku'

still, the idea of being able to develop for Haiku/Beos on the linux platform is pretty nice, however my guess is Haiku will be a pretty stable development platform long before this compability layer is done.

I'm hoping your right. The only thing is it seems BlueEyedOS, which had/has quite a bit of development behind it, is being used as the basis for the compatibility layer. If the code 'inherited' from BYOS is enough to get this show on the road, we may see Bernd rise again.

I know which of the two I'd rather see.

Your comment implies that you believe that it will eventually be done. I honestly don't believe so. The one art in which Bernd Korz is a master is that of making colorful announcements. I wouldn't believe anything he announces, before having verified myself that it actually exists.

I would also see little benefits from this compatiblity layer. Compared to Unix or GNU/Linux, there are so few state-of-the-art apps for BeOS that a Linux compatibility layer for BeOS would make much more sense than the other way round. Further, running BeOS apps on top of a Unix desktop like XFCE is exactly the opposite of the consistency and elegance that BeOS stood for.

Finally, the German announcement is full of the same old ugly marketspeak. They hail themselves for the ability of handling MS Office file formats through OpenOffice and further they announce that they are having an Outlook-like application (Kontact), that they have an MS Windows compatiblity layer (wine) and so forth. Well, that's really laughable. I mean, this is what definitely every distro has.

Edited 2008-02-20 12:33 UTC

I don't think those at Haiku would want this guy anywhere near their code given the allegations and brouhaha surrounding Zeta. In fact, I'd say it would be better for Haiku if this guy forgot BeOS ever existed altogether.

Sources are included on DVD or can be downloaded via apt-get source packagename.

Haiku is far beyond to be ready this or the next 2 years.

Bernd just doesn't have what it takes. Maybe Haiku won't be done for another 2 years. So what? At least they have the right ideas. And who knows, maybe more will get involved with Haiku with more publicity.

I don't know..I don't like this Zebuntu idea. Maybe I'm just not able to let go of BeOS. No.. That's not it.. I just don't like 'The Bernt".

There is no "TheBernt" Code" included that will bite you

Lets give it at least a try

Indeed, you're right. I will dip my eyes in the water for a while to test it. I'm a huge fan of OSS so I try almost everything.
But .. Linux .. BeOS? ... ehhhhh, dunno dude.

That may be true, but Linux distros don't have "the BeOS spark".
BeOS is small, fast, and consistent.

You, OTOH, mix XFCE (uses GTK) with its HIGs together with OpenOffice (uses VCL with a GTK wrapper, but has different HIGs or some may say OO has no HIGs at all), Kontact (Qt app with KDE HIGs), and in the future also Haiku/BeOS apps (BlueEyedOS toolkit).

Not only does mixing all those toolkits waste lots of RAM, it also makes the OS inconsistent. Zebuntu is yet another Linux distro that's going to have limited BeOS compatibility in the future. Not that being "yet another Linux distro" is bad (Ubuntu itself started as one), but it does not and will not have the BeOS spirit.

Edited 2008-02-19 17:52 UTC

You, OTOH, mix XFCE (uses GTK) with its HIGs together with OpenOffice (uses VCL with a GTK wrapper, but has different HIGs or some may say OO has no HIGs at all), Kontact (Qt app with KDE HIGs), and in the future also Haiku/BeOS apps (BlueEyedOS toolkit)

You�'re right. It seems that this was fixed in upcomming Beta 3.

They replaced Qt with GTK. That's one step towards consistency and less RAM useage, but BlueEyed is still going to be included and OpenOffice and other GTK apps still clash when it comes to HIGs. OpenOffice is also not as "snappy" as typical BeOS apps. Zebuntu, as it currently stands, is just a relabeled Xubuntu. It has nothing to do with BeOS experience.
Personally, if I was going to try to mimic BeOS using a Linux distro, I'd use KDE 4 as foundation. KDE is more modular than most GTK/GNOME apps. Just compare KOffice to OpenOffice or Kontact to Evolution. Custom app launchers are also easier with Plasma.
I'm not saying that Zebuntu should switch to Qt/KDE, because if it did, it was nothing more than a relabeled Kubuntu.

I don't have anything against Linux at all. I use it on my PC as main OS. It's great, but it's not BeOS. It's different. And with all those distributions out there, desktop Linux is almost always a similar experience (not including really exotic WMs like RatPoison or Ion).

If Berd wants to become a Linux distributor, fine. But then he shouldn't tell potential users that he's recreating the BeOS experience, because he isn't. He can't. It's just impossible to do by reskinning Xubuntu.
If he is serious about recreating the BeOS experience, he should support Haiku and help make Haiku 1.0 reality sooner. He seems to have lots of money anyway (he had two financial disasters with InsideBeOS and Zeta and still continues to employ people), so why not employ some Haiku developers full time?

Edited 2008-02-19 22:41 UTC

The ambitious way to get by that would be to get developers to go through apps, one by one, and modify the gui to conform to beos. Then just let packages into the apt repository one by one when finished. It's a big job, but not so huge a one that I couldn't see a few full time developers able to chug through the majority in a month or so. Getting the changes merged back into the normal codebase as a configuration option on the other hand would be more of a pain.

I agree 100%. Which is why I am extremely glad he isn't touching Haiku at all. He'd either fragment the user base, or take credit for something he hadn't done or something bad. He's bad news one way or another... just watch.

Of course, the question is... how does he plan to get revenue out of this "Zebuntu" distro? Tech support? Zebuntu CD/DVD sales? Extra apps?

Knowing what it's about and who is behind it, I wouldn't touch Zebuntu with a 100ft pole, personally.

Zebuntu itself will be avaiable for free download for ever.

No matter if it's Linux or Haiku: As long as he and his team contribute modified sources back to the community under its original license (eg. not releasing changes to Haiku's MIT licensed code under GPL), then why not?

Zebuntu includes english and german language pack.

Edited 2008-02-19 15:13 UTC

Some people like the idea of this.

People need to give Bernd some slack. Why? No court has ruled against him, or Zeta, regarding legality, ever.

There is considerable doubt but no judgement.

nothing, if you are not interested in having an ubuntu running that looks a little bit like Zeta.

Actually, if they're really going to use BlueEyedOS as a base then you should be able to recompile your BeOS app without source modifications. That's way more then just "a Zeta look". Strangely enough, I was pretty sure that project was long dead.

It's under the LGPL, so anyone is free to pick it up and continue working on it. I'm happy about it, B.E.OS was a good project.

BeOS had such a great user interface, lightweight and fast XFCE was a superb choice because of the customization ability of the DE and the fact it is as light weight brings it on par with what tracker was. I agree with that statement. For right now I can only see this as a way for people who have old BeOS apps they want to run. On the other hand we havent seen any BeOS apps running on Zebuntu so this may be another Bernd blowing smoke. Im a little skeptical but as a BeOS fan its hard not to get excited. We will see if this is for real or just another skinned 'buntu.

Because people want a familiar OS look and feel and they don't want to get this all manually.

Edited 2008-02-19 16:07 UTC

You failed your reading classes, didn't you?

They are aiming for a compatibility layer for BeOS applications on Linux. Not just a theme.

Mine was more a general comment on the whole "Create your own Ubuntu distribution" attitude. A lot of these things can just be added as additional packages. Including a compatibility layer for BeOS applications.

You failed your reading classes, didn't you?

They are aiming for a compatibility layer for BeOS applications on Linux. Not just a theme. "

... which still doesn't warrant yet another Ubuntu derivate. Wine is just normal Debian package, like 19,000 others. A BeOS compatibility layer (if it would ever materialise, which I doubt it will, given Bernd's track record) would be the same, if you have a sensibly packaging strategy.

If they would offer their work in form of an add-on Debian package repository, as many other third-party software providers do, with a "zebuntu" metapackage, which depends on all the components, I would be tempted to try it out. Not so if I need to install yet another copy of the operating system just to switch the theme.

Additionally, by forking Ubuntu, they take onto themselves the responsibility for maintaining an entire distribution, including timely security updates, something which else would be provided by the Ubuntu team. I don't believe that the two people behind zebuntu would be up to this huge challenge.

For example, if I want an XFCE-based Ubuntu, would I rather download the xubuntu-desktop metapackage and then uninstall the GNOME packages or just download and install a premade Xubuntu iso? Sure, your examples would be pretty stupìd distros for sure, but it's not the case. Zebuntu is supposed to not only look different but also provide certain degree of campatibility with the original BeOS, everything as a one-stop solution. You can't tell your Zeta customers "to download and install this Ubuntu Linux thing, open a shell and run sudo apt-get install zebuntu-desktop zebuntu-compat". It's just an example, don't try this at home

Please pay attention to Canonical's rules referring to the use of the Ubuntu/*buntu trademark(s):

http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy

If an Ubuntu-derived distribution would be more than just an Ubuntu with a little variation of a few "peripheral" packages, it could not be called *buntu.

And, please, give Leszek a chance. He seems to be the "head" behind Zebuntu.

And in what EXACTLY should we don�'t trust? This is Ubuntu based Open Sourced Linux distro and it�'s downloadable for free.If you have personal problems with other people, get some professional help to get over it.

miqlas go away for yourself if you don't know anything.

We never ever violeted any trademarks from canonical.

Please read it for yourself:
http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy

Especially the Permitted Use and "Derived Works" Section.

Leave Bernd out of this. If you have some problems with him its your problem.
We just want to create a Operating System that looks and behaves like our beloved BeOS/ZETA.

Edited 2008-02-19 19:40 UTC

If blueeyed os can work on it it can be a great platform to develop Haiku software and put it back to haiku when it is finished. I would appreciate if Bernd and his coworkers can contribute to Haiku or even open source their additions to Zeta.

Snip:

Therefore, if you are creating a derivative of Ubuntu, you may use the Trademarks in association with the software product provided:

* the changes are minimal and unsubstantial, as described above

* there is no commercial intent associated with the new product

* the Trademark is used in a way that makes it clear that your project is a development effort related to the Ubuntu source, but that the software you are working upon is not in fact Ubuntu as distributed by the Ubuntu project. The approved naming scheme to facilitate this is through designation �€�Remix�€�. For instance, a new ISO image which has been packaged special tools for software developers could be called �€�Ubuntu, Developers Remix�€�, or an image was has been created with Thai language packs could be called "Ubuntu Thai Remix". Words such as "Edition" and "Version" should be avoided, as they have specific meaning within the Ubuntu project. Prefixes, such as �€�ThaiBuntu�€� should also be avoided. Any other naming scheme will require explicit permission.

* there is no suggestion (through words or appearance) that your project is approved, sponsored, or affiliated with Ubuntu or its related projects unless it has been approved by and is governed by the Ubuntu Community Council.[/i]

So apart from the (violated?) minimal changes clause, why is it called Zebuntu and not Ubuntu Zeta Remix?

Man, you need to relax. In all seriousness, if this wasn't Beos-ish and have Bernd involved, you wouldn't care. You have an axe to grind, grind it elsewhere.

I would think this applies:

If you are producing a new product which is based on Ubuntu but which has more substantial changes than those described above as a Remix, you are allowed to state (and we would encourage you to do so) that your product is "derived from Ubuntu", "based on Ubuntu", or "a derivative of Ubuntu" but you may not use the Trademarks to refer to your product. In some cases you may be allowed to use the Trademarks, but we'll need to discuss that. In that event, these products will need a trademark license, and such a license can be revoked if the nature of your divergence from Ubuntu changes.

It also reminds me on some other distros like Dreamlinux (www.dreamlinux.com.br), those guy do an incredible job in adding some MacOS X flavour to Linux.

I can�'t see any negative in trying to tweak a great distro like Ubuntu in a way some people enjoy it more than the original.

Downloading it now... interesting distribution indeed!

I don't think that the majority of "naysayers" think that it hurts Haiku or BeOS, but we fail to see the point of Zebuntu. No, not that it's bad that he wants to revive the BlueEyed toolkit, but to maintain B.E. you don't need a whole Linux distro. You also don't need a whole distro for a theme that could as well just be submitted to http://www.xfce-look.org/

You fail to see the point, but others like the idea.