Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Haiku VS MenuetOS

Compare Haiku VS MenuetOS and see what are their differences

Haiku logo Haiku

Haiku is an open source OS catered specifically to the needs of personal computing.

MenuetOS logo MenuetOS

MenuetOS is an Operating System in development for the PC written entirely in 32/64 bit assembly...
  • Haiku Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • MenuetOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-05

Haiku features and specs

  • Speed
    Haiku is optimized for speed and efficiency, providing a responsive user experience with quick boot times and fast application launches.
  • Simplicity
    The operating system offers a clean and straightforward user interface, making it user-friendly and accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Lightweight
    Haiku has low hardware requirements, making it suitable for older computers and devices with limited resources.
  • Unique Architecture
    Haiku is inspired by BeOS and maintains its unique architecture, which is attractive to developers and users with an interest in alternative operating systems.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Haiku invites contributions from the community, promoting collaborative development and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of Haiku

  • Limited Software Availability
    Haiku has a smaller software repository compared to more popular operating systems, which can limit the availability of applications and tools.
  • Driver Support
    The operating system has limited driver support, which can result in compatibility issues with certain hardware components.
  • Niche User Base
    Haiku caters to a niche audience, which can result in a smaller community and less comprehensive support compared to mainstream operating systems.
  • Incomplete Features
    Some features of Haiku are still under development, and the operating system may lack certain functionalities that users expect from modern OSes.
  • Business Adoption
    Haiku is less likely to be adopted in professional and business environments due to its incomplete features and limited software support.

MenuetOS features and specs

  • Efficient Resource Usage
    MenuetOS is extremely lightweight, requiring only a few megabytes of RAM. This efficiency is due to being written in pure assembly, allowing it to run on older hardware.
  • Fast Boot Time
    The operating system features a very fast boot time, often a matter of seconds, which can be advantageous for users looking for quick access.
  • Small Footprint
    The entire OS fits on a single floppy disk, making it versatile for scenarios where storage space is limited.
  • Security and Stability
    MenuetOS, being a smaller codebase, has less surface area for potential bugs and security vulnerabilities.

Possible disadvantages of MenuetOS

  • Limited Software Support
    Due to its niche status and assembly language foundation, there's limited software available, restricting its use to a narrow range of applications.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    As it is written entirely in assembly language, understanding and developing for MenuetOS can be challenging for those not familiar with this low-level programming.
  • Minimal Hardware Support
    The OS's hardware support is limited compared to more mainstream operating systems, affecting its compatibility with modern peripherals.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    MenuetOS lacks some of the advanced features and user interfaces found in modern operating systems, which can be a drawback for general users.

Analysis of Haiku

Overall verdict

  • Haiku is a solid operating system for users interested in a minimalist, efficient, and alternative computing experience. While it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those reliant on software created for more mainstream operating systems, it excels in its niche. Its active community and ongoing development make it a project worth watching and potentially using for specific needs.

Why this product is good

  • Haiku is an open-source operating system that is designed to be fast, simple, and efficient, offering a unique user experience. It draws inspiration from the BeOS, focusing on personal computing with a clean and straightforward interface. The system is lightweight, boots quickly, and is responsive, making it an excellent choice for those who appreciate simplicity and performance. Additionally, Haiku's open-source nature allows for community-driven development and customization.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts interested in alternative operating systems.
  • Developers looking for a platform focused on simplicity and efficiency.
  • Users nostalgic for the BeOS experience.

Haiku videos

Haiku OS - What Is It?

More videos:

  • Review - Haiku L Series Smart Fan Review: "Alexa, turn on the fan"
  • Review - Haiku Smart Ceiling Fan Review

MenuetOS videos

MenuetOS 64 - OS Review Episode 86

More videos:

  • Review - MenuetOS 32 - OS Review Episode 85

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Haiku and MenuetOS)
Linux
66 66%
34% 34
Operating Systems
69 69%
31% 31
Linux Distribution
67 67%
33% 33
Design Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Haiku and MenuetOS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

MenuetOS might be a bit more popular than Haiku. We know about 12 links to it since March 2021 and only 10 links to Haiku. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Haiku mentions (10)

  • What do People here Think of QNX?
    If you go to osnews.com and do a search for QNX, you will find many articles that were written over the past 20 years that describe the features, and pros and cons of running QNX. I believe there was also an article that compared BeOS (reborn as Haiku OS, haiku-os.org) and QNX. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Eli5 How come LCARS never became a real operating system?
    I assume you know of https://haiku-os.org. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are great resources to catch up C++?
    I am in a similar position. I'm not using the very latest C++ features, but maybe this will be of use to you anyway? I decided to get started writing a native app for Haiku (http://haiku-os.org/), which you have to write in C++. So I loaded it up in a VM and started plugging away. I have always avoided CMake, but it's so popular these days that I decided to give in and get comfortable with it. Haiku is really... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What Linux Distro to Install?
    {Yes - I know what I'm about to post is NOT "Linux" ...but if you're wanting to learn something new and/or have some nostalgia for the late-90s/early-00s, read on} I absolutely LOVED BeOS back in the day Though I understand why Apple chose to buy NeXT instead of Be in the 90s, I wish they'd bought both - NeXT to get Steve Jobs and NeXT's way of managing apps (where they're all self-contained... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Does parallels or vmware or UTM allow running older versions of mac OS (like Mojave) on am M1 Mac?
    I agree with this. I can also recommend trying out Haiku OS x86 version with UTM emulation (choose between 32-bit or 64-bit OS version), because it requires very little system resources. Haiku is working on an ARM port, but it’s not ready for real-world usage yet. Source: about 3 years ago
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MenuetOS mentions (12)

  • A Modern Operating System in 1.44MBs
    Here's the link to the OS the YouTube video is talking about... http://kolibrios.org/en/ It's been around for a very long time and is actually a fork of MenuetOS... http://menuetos.net Both are very impressive feats of assembly language engineering. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Adopt your true identity
    Well, Menuet OS is not linux but assembly and very small. It will fit on a single 1.44MB diskette. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I rescued this computer and monitor from the trash. It freezes when trying to load any operating system and sometimes even at the BIOS setup. I tried reseating the CPU and RAM to no avail. How would I go about diagnosing this further?
    You have floppy disk drive. Try menuetos or any live cd to see if it hangs on those. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • whe you know your place
    You know speaking of asm… maybe menuet might be the end all best OS ever made. It does fit on a floppy with a GUI and multitasking and it can play quake. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Where do the elite assemblers live?
    MenuetOS (1) is an operating system where everything is written in assembly including the applications. 1. http://menuetos.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Haiku and MenuetOS, you can also consider the following products

KolibriOS - KolibriOS is a tiny yet incredibly powerful and fast operating system.

Xubuntu - Xubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Download XubuntuXubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Feature Tour.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

DeLicate Linux - DeLicate Linux is a free and lightweight Linux Kernel-based operating system that is intended for computers comprising of very Low RAM.

Regolith Linux - An Ubuntu-based installable Distro with a customized i3 window manager desktop interface.

SUSE Linux Enterprise - SUSE is the original provider of the enterprise Linux distribution and the most interoperable...