Introduction
AROS Research Operating System (AROS – pronounced "AR-OS") is a free and open-source multi media centric implementation of the AmigaOS 3.1 APIs. Designed to be portable and flexible, ports are currently available for x86-based and PowerPC-based PCs in native and hosted flavors, with other architectures in development. AROS, in a show of full circle, was also ported to the m68k-based Amiga 1200,[1] and there is also an ARM port for the Raspberry Pi series.
Aros.org - The main home page for AROS is https://aros.sourceforge.io/ here you can download the core base system, the source code and nightly builds of the OS.
Arosworld.org - The Main forum for Aros Community. https://arosworld.org/infusions/forum/index.php
Aros Archives - Is one of the main place for software, very similar to OS4 Depot or Aminet (Aminet also hosts Aros programs). http://archives.aros-exec.org/
Distributions
There are many different builds and pre-config setup of AROS for various platforms, below are some of the main ones to check out.
Icaros / aros one / aros broadway / aros vision / apollo os / tiny aros
IcAros
Icaros Desktop is your all-in-one solution to any Amiga-related/Aros need. It is a full operating system for x86 PC with a complete Amiga-like environment which can run on cheap, common hardware or into a virtual machine. Icaros Desktop runs Amiga software recompiled for the PC platform and even native Amiga games and applications, eventually integrating them on your desktop. Icaros Desktop turns your common PC into a full-fledged Amiga-like computer, the one you’ve always dreamt of, back in the 90s. With Icaros Desktop you can bring back the old-days fun, and enjoy a full Amiga-like experience, with today processors power and speed.
This largley regarded the best and the most well supported version of Aros and is the one that I would recommend if you want to try out Aros.
Platform: x86
Cost: Free
Development: Still in Active Development
Aros One x86 / 68k
AmigaSystem, a great user and strong supporter of Aros has developed a number of his own distribution of Aros. There a number of handy easy setup for different systems, Classic Amiga, Virtual Machine and native x86 systems. It uses afa_Os skin as its foundation of Wanderer (Workbench), and comes with a lot of handy pre-setup software/setting so you can get a good start of Amiga/Aros system.
Platform: x86 and 68k
Cost: Free
Development: Still in Active Development
https://sites.google.com/view/arosone - Aros ONE Homepage
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=97987 - Aros ONE x86
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=98062 - Aros ONE 68k
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=99043 - Afa One 1.3
Aeros / Aros Broadway
AEROS is a hybrid distribution of AROS (www.aros.org) and Linux (at the moment debian 6.0 for X86 and 8.0 for ARM is used) available for ARM and x86 systems. The main befit of this version of Aros is that it runs Aros on top of the linux system and allows the user to access and run Linux apps as if they were running on Aros. It also had a version focus of supporting the popular Raspberry Pi Platform.
Platform: x86 / Arm
Cost: 29 Euros
Development: No longer in Development (last updated 2018)
Aros Vision
This is a 68k focus version of Aros for Emulation, Vampire boards and real classic Amiga hardware. Aros Vision has a WHDLoad pre-setup and has a handy list of games and programs that are compatible with just the Aros Roms. This is a preey low key base system of Aros too, allow you the user to do the work for customising.
Platform: 68k
Development: Still in Active Development
Apollo OS
This is a 68k focus version of Aros squarely aimed at being Vampire boards official OS, largely due to many legal issues surrounding the official AmigaOS, Apollo and the Vampire team has decided to throw support to the 68K version of Aros and make there own fork of it for their Vampire systems. Currently in very early development, but this should hopefully become the best version of Aros 68k due to the extra resources, speed a Vampire board offers.
Platform: Apollo 68k
Cost: Free
Development: Still in Active Development
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Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDiXhjSIfs - Dan wood look into Aros / IcAros
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzWwUnJTZZM - System with JT looks at Icaros
Further Reading
Aros Official site - Aros homepage
Aros Archives - Aros software
Aros World - Forum / Discussion site
https://www.facebook.com/groups/42651330981 - Aros Facebook group