Windows on Linux developed

SpecOps Labs claims that by installing its bridge software on a Linux machine it runs exactly like you have a Windows OS on your system - only more reliable.

It will hit the shops by the end of the year. The price of the software, codenamed "David," has not yet been set, but will be "dramatically lower" than Windows.

In a press release SpecOps said that: "David will level the OS industries battlefield. It will free consumers from the bonds of MS Windows, and give them the freedom to use the OS of their choice."

The company name, and the military language is probably due to the fact that SpecOps (Special Ops get it?) CEO Frederick Lewis is a former member of the US military's elite Delta Force.

It was founded in July 2002 with an initial capital of US$200,000. It merged in March with a Canadian construction company decided to stop building and get into IT.

SpecOps plans to sell more than 30,000 copies of David and generate about US$1 million a year after its commercial release.

According to the company, David uses the Windows Environment Subsystem to act as its interface between Linux and the Windows programs. However no-one knows how it does this yet or if it is any better than WINE emulation. µ