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Infamous Chinese pirates launch Ubuntu that looks just like Windows XP
If you clicked the link above, you'll notice that the entire site is in Chinese with no sign of any button that'll magically turn it into English, but if you navigate to the download page, there does seem to be five links to the ISO that you can download. Initial testing, and the screenshots, would suggest that the OS's GUI (graphical user interface) is purely Chinese too, but if you find out a way to convert it into American/English, let us know!
This isn't the first time copycats or pirates have imitated a prevalent operating system. Cloned in China reported on the case of Tomato Garden Windows XP, another pirate distribution, where the creator was jailed for 4 years and fined $147,000. China has very lax piracy laws, but I would expect Microsoft to lean rather heavily on its friends there -- if they have any -- to make sure Ylmf OS is stamped out quickly. It might not be Windows itself, but you can sue for GUI copycatting too!
All in all, despite the questionable legality, it really is a great-looking copycat; almost pixel-perfect. I wonder if Ubuntu developers are happy, or despairing.
Comments
52
Subscribe to commentsIgotta GoDec 26th 2009 6:06PM
So TF what? The desktop looks like XP but Ubuntu certainly doesn't function like XP. ... and why would MS care, anyway? They've moved on with Vista/7.
And you think Linux is gonna be concerned? There are *at least* 3 other distros (that I know of) that look like XP. 1 more isn't gonna make a difference.
So, again, WTF?
Sebastian AnthonyDec 26th 2009 6:07PM
Hm, there's a difference between basing it on the Windows GUI (like most Linux apps), and completely ripping it off.
I think usually it comes down to using copyrighted artwork and the like -- but I don't know for sure :)
ReenFeb 11th 2010 11:58AM
There is an english download link http://xiazai.xiazaiba.com/Soft/Y/YlmF_OS_EN_v1.0.iso
JordanDec 26th 2009 6:21PM
I find this pretty amusing. That someone had to go THAT far to emulate Windows XP. Points for creativity, at least.
bongsooDec 26th 2009 8:04PM
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ylmf.org%2F&sl=zh-CN&tl=en
Just a quick translation via google, but it doesn't look like they are advertising the product as Windows. Rather it is themed after it. If indeed copying the look is such a crime, Microsoft's legal department would have a field day at gnome-look.
motangDec 26th 2009 9:43PM
If people are taking this extreme measure, I fear XP won't die for a long time.
BaldguyDec 28th 2009 8:06AM
After helping a user troubleshoot a VPN install on Vista this weekend, taking a full hour for what should have taken five minutes, I HOPE XP stays around...
rameshDec 26th 2009 10:37PM
Well, they didn't have to try so hard. ubuntu in itself is better than windows any day. so :p wtf.
King SDec 27th 2009 10:06PM
The problem is that Linux can't run games. If Linux is such an awesome OS, then why can't someone develop an application that can run ALL windows games. FYI, no one is going to develop games for Linux, and to expect game companies to waste time doing so is b***s***. Until Linux can run games, Linux is still 2nd best...after Windows.
BoltronicsDec 28th 2009 4:19AM
King S: Rubbish. On what basis do you say that you cannot play games under GNU/Linux? Have you tried?
As a GNU/Linux gamer, I've been keeping a record of games I've *finished* lately just so I can dispute claims like this. Here we go:
2009-08-29: BlackSite (WINE + mousepatch)
2009-08-30: F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin (WINE)
2009-09-11: Quake 4 (native GNU/Linux)
2009-09-13: Unreal (WINE)
2009-09-14: Frontlines: Fuel of War (WINE + mousepatch)
2009-12-12: Unreal II: The Awakening (WINE)
2009-12-13: Wolfenstein (WINE)
2009-12-20: Crysis (WINE + regression patch)
2009-12-25: Crysis Warhead (WINE + regression patch)
As indicated, some required WINE patches to get going. I expect even these few issues will be ironed out in the near future so people can just double click that .exe file...
Note that the majority of games (>50%) in my largish collection already run under GNU/Linux with ease. The few I've listed here are just the games I've completed without requiring a Windows install. It will keep growing as quickly as I can finish them.
ramDec 28th 2009 4:40AM
@ King S.
I strongly believe that computers are not for gaming purpose in the first place. if you want the best out of your gadgets, use linux for computer and use CONSOLE for gaming :) the money you shell out for a gaming console would be almost equal to the amount of money you will be forced to pay for windows and the updates and the license and the support and the OEM softwares, the mcafee or norton antivirus which comes along with OS. We can keep adding on.
Computer - UNIX (Linux)
Gaming - Console
Sebastian AnthonyDec 28th 2009 6:57AM
A fine, fine list if I may say so, Boltronics :) Thanks for the tip!
gophercakesDec 28th 2009 9:45AM
WINE is garbage. The truth is, unless it's a popular game or program it doesn't stand a chance of working very well or even at all. Don't forget to add additional time to hunt down missing fonts, DLLs, and scripts needed to get things to install or launch.
My favorite game, Day of Defeat Source, STILL doesn't work very well under WINE and other games are slow as molasses unless all details are set on their lowest levels. Some of my other favorite applications like XMPlay or Weather Pulse are either extremely buggy or don't run at all. The only people who claim WINE works well are Linux zealots who aren't going to honestly tell you how well it doesn't work.
This Chinese version of Linux won't ever be popular in China. Why? Because with the more Internet users than the USA, everyone here uses QQ instant messenger. There is a crappy version for Linux, but it crashes constantly. The Windows version under WINE? HA HA. Again, like so many other programs, it doesn't work under WINE.
Shay GuyDec 28th 2009 10:00PM
I tried playing Iji and Fate/stay night under WINE, but both were crippled by slowdown. I wish there were a better way, but it's not like Microsoft's going to be releasing their own intermediary with XP code in it.
techpopsDec 26th 2009 10:57PM
My first thought was wow, that's really impressive. I'm wondering now what happens when you click the outlook express icon and the messenger one.
I'd love to see more screenshots to of the file explorer and other areas to see how they've married the two.
I also think Microsoft will care a lot about copying the look of XP to this extent. I remember Microsoft contacting Wincustomize a few years ago demanding the removal of the Vista themes and also denying the use of the word in any of the themes.
And while it might not seem like Microsoft are making much from XP now, I wonder if that's true in other countries and how much the Netbook market is boosting sales.
markDec 27th 2009 12:02AM
Sebastian: I extracted the iso, copied over the default isolinux file from Cosmic Koala, made it back into an iso then installed it in vmware. It asked me to set up the username and password. After logging in I was then was able to change the language by using the following command in the terminal:
sudo locale-gen en_US
for anyone else who wants to give it a spin...
pic:
http://i50.tinypic.com/2lar9s0.jpg
JordanDec 27th 2009 12:09AM
Looks like the images are hardcoded, as well as some of the text (for the typical 'My Computer' shortcut). It doesn't look all too shabby.
Sebastian AnthonyDec 27th 2009 6:11AM
Wow :)
You win the prize! (If there was a prize... instead you just get good karma.)
I'll forward your comment to Lee -- our in-house Ubuntu MASTER.
Pepe GonzalezDec 27th 2009 10:43AM
Hmm... the menu bar and the applications menu look completely different to those shown on the screenshot in the article. Seems like the latter was taken from actual Windows...
Sebastian AnthonyDec 27th 2009 8:13PM
Darn -- I just took the screenshot from the site itself.
Surely, not a case of false advertising from Ylmf...!
Damn swarthy pirates.