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SkyOS comes with a decent amount of default programs included, depending on where you come from.  It has nothing near the usually fully loaded Linux Distros, but it has quite a few more when compared to the sparse Windows default install. The problem is, some important ones are missing, and some odd choices are included. Links is the only available browser, while SkyKruzer is being finished.The personal organizer/email client being worked on by Nemo (from the SkyOS forums) is still in progress and not yet available (so no email).The GIMP, Blender3d, and Bochs were included by default, when instead making them available from the Software Store would probably make more sense. I noticed that most of the GTK programs ran really slowly, though due to the beta stage these issues will most likely be smoothed out before the release.

Unfortunately, I do not have high speed access, and I forgot the password to my dialup, so I was unable to test the networking. Though this may seem fairly ironic considering I’m writing about the “networking” release, the only programs you can really test online at this time are Links and GAIM.  From reading posts in the forum, both are a bit buggy (GAIM is miserably slow) at this point, if you can manage to get your internet up and running.The SkyOS software store runs well, and from what I hear gets the job done just fine.I also read about a complaint or two with slow speeds, but I can’t confirm that.

For some screenshots of the latest WindUI, visit SkyOS.org

The SkyOS GUI, named WindUI, has come a long way and I think looks very good these days.The only problem is that not all the widgets and elements of it totally fit together yet. The scrollbars are flat, square and blank while the rest is rounded and smooth. The min, max and close buttons look washed out and are also square too. Along with those many other smaller widgets have a different “feel” when compared to the overall look (mouse over effect differences, sizing issues, jagged edges). While it might sound like I’m a being bit harsh, you also must realize that this is a beta, and that most of these problems should be fixed by the final.

SkyOS is in the same position in the “feel” department as it is in the looks.Everything is fairly snappy (excluding the GTK apps) and minus the occasional crash, everything feels stable.Some things that bothered me:

• Must click the mouse to open some submenus (ex: when you right click)
• Can’t right click on the start menu’s applications to do anything with them
• Many useful options missing from right-click menu
• Tearing and trailing
• Icon spacing in certain parts
• Start menu looks buggy in “flat” mode
• Other included themes unfinished/buggy

SkyOS is definitely maturing into a beautiful OS.  The boot screen is simple and informative, as is the login screen.The design of SkyOS could be describes as a mix between windows (GUI and API), Linux (Filesystem Structure and Applications), and Mac (Simplicity).The speed overall is great, and the focus and community are perfect. SkyOS beta8 shows many improvements and lots of hope for the future, but also feels like it’s quite a ways away from being called “commercial.”The OS is mature in certain areas, but still lacks enough supported drives and also a lot of polish.The current beta is usable but unstable, and the GUI still needs work until it reaches a level of consistency that’s high enough to be called sellable. With some more months of hard work from the SkyOS “team” we can expect a solid OS that lives up to all the controversy and excitement that circles around it.I enjoyed my trip through beta8, and without a doubt will buying the final release when it comes out.