The NexentaOS project, which builds a distribution combining the OpenSolaris kernel with applications from Ubuntu, has announced a new alpha release of NexentaOS
"This release provides a fully integrated Debian/Ubuntu Dapper Drake userland, OpenSolaris core (build #40), and contains overall 11800 packages. In addition, Alpha 5 contains: Sun's Java SE 5.0 Java Development Kit (via NexentaOS APT); live upgrade; and OpenOffice.org 2.0, natively compiled on Nexenta OS."

Usually closed source binaries drivers re-distributed by hardware manufactures. This is a basic way for HW companies to supply their drivers. Unfortunetly, Linux kernel does not support it. Linux kernel interfaces are *unstable* which creates a lot of headaches for an end users especially on a Desktop.

NexentaOS has a chance to succeed on a Desktop – it supports binary-only drivers the way Windows XP does via utilizing Kernel Device Driver API interfaces, which are stable and preserved over time.

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