NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NORMAL USE!
I'll start by admitting that I've installed it on a virtual machine, I've used VirtualBox and created a new Windows NT 4 machine, I've found that this is the only emulation that works, at least for me. Installation was QUICK! in 30 or so seconds I have the OS installed and ready to use. Take that Vista!
First thing obviously is to try and install a browser, so using the Download utility, I've downloaded Firefox 2, I noticed that downloading is SLOW, it must have something to do with the incomplete network stack, eventually though Firefox 2 was downloaded and installed.
Firefox 2 started normally, unlike my previous experience with 0.3.4, it actually ran after the install, and didn't crash on me during the 5 minutes trial.
There wasn't much for me to try out in this alpha release, and frankly everything felt familiar, as if I were still using Windows 98, but this time the horrid Internet Explorer isn't integrated into everything. ReactOS has a proper spatial browser, and the whole GUI shell looks a lot better, as in terms of functionality and layout, not a real looker, this is no Mac OS X.
I've noticed some inconsistencies in the ReactOS Explorer, some times it feels like Windows 95 (Windows Explorer) and sometimes it feels like Windows 3 (File Manager). The good thing is, it never feels like Windows 98 (Internet Explorer).
One of the things I didn't have the chance to try was search, it is yet to be implemented, My Network Places, relaunches the desktop for some reason (SMB is not yet supported) and Folder Options in the Control Panel, doesn't launch. Another thing I've noticed is the Trash keeps thinking it is full, no matter how many times you empty it and given the fact it is empty!
Of the weirdest bugs I've noticed is whenever I create a new folder and then create a new text file, the folder is deleted, I did this repeatedly in My Documents, I've even tried creating multiple folders and renaming them, the moment I close My Documents and reopen it, or create a text file, all the folders are gone, they must have went to the big bit bucket in the sky. The even more weird part is, after a while this stopped happening, only untitled folders disappear.
A lot of the tools and bundled programs look as if they came straight from Windows, and functions just as you would expect them. Basically if you have used Windows, you need zero training to use this, everything is properly laid out, and there is multiple (4) desktops, though you can never configure it, as in you can't increase or decrease their number.
I got to admit that I'm not the best of reviewers, nor do I have any idea how to review alpha software, I'm sure I've missed a lot of things. The whole purpose of this review is to show how far ReactOS has came, and they've done a whole lot of progress, now you can install the OS without glitches, install a browser (Firefox) and a word processor (AbiWord), and they all seem to work pretty well, but there is still more left to be implemented. Overall what I've seen is really promising, I'm a fan and I wish them the best of luck.
Maybe I should get of my lazy ass, and put what I've learned as a CS major (read: null) to use!
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