In addition to the alternative Linux, other operating systems that have been present through the years, with a quite high level of followers. One is Haiku, which passes through its Alpha 3. Haiku is a continuation of BeOS, another already missing alternative operating system, based on BSD.
The most touted in the use of Haiku is the simplicity. The desktop is divided into two parts: on the one hand, we have the icons to navigate through the directories, grouped in the top left of the screen, while to the right groups the applications menu, with a number of pre-installed applications. Although applications are simple, it meet or exceed with the average user, but will disappear in lack applications a little more elaborate in the standard installation that is low on the network.
Although it seems an OS that is not too powerful (its minimum requirements include a Pentium III and only 2 GB free hard disk) can work freely with audio, graphics and videos, without overloading the processor even more demanding tasks, several programs open at once or running video.
The problem found so far is that Haiku does not have the ability to access a repository of programs like Linux, for example. However, there is a solution at hand it is to access Haikuware, a repository of programs fairly well integrated and large number of applications. Following the programs available in Haiku is missing a browser (the default is using the Web+) a little more advanced that supports extensions.
Haiku can be a good solution for netbooks, laptops and even some old computers. As in other downloadable OS, an option to install from a Live CD, so that only you can try it without touching anything that affects your primary OS and VMDK formats to run in VMware or VirtualBox.