Re: BSD Question's.

Michael Vince <mv@xxxxxxx> · Sat, 31 Dec 2005 17:33:46 +1100

If you want to try an different Desktop replacement OS over Windows XP I 
would say you would have better luck with something like Linspire.
But the truth is there isn't much difference at all between any Linux 
distribution or FreeBSD and when I see the latest Linux review on some 
of those so called professional OS review sites I sometimes laugh my ass 
off, heres why.
Firstly they give you screen shots of the latest KDE, this always makes 
chuckle since KDE is KDE, its the same on any OS even in Windows XP, why 
bother doing it at all, it just shows that these reviews aren't reviews 
of the OS at all rather then just reviewing free software you can 
install on anything.

Then they show you screen shots of other things such as Gaim, and 
various multimedia players, OpenOffice etc, all of them that do work in 
FreeBSD as well.
When you review an OS thats built on OTHER peoples free software you 
don't really have much to show at all.
Normally the only differences are the installer / configurator and the 
package management system. It could be RPM, debian or gentoo based.  Or 
some other system thats ultimately just as a tarball with a few text 
files in them to allow you to know what it is and its dependencies.

These are the only things that most open source based OS's have to show 
thats any different, and the day I see an "OS" review that just shows 
you there package management system and there installer/configurator 
then I know why are looking at a proper free software OS review.
I use FreeBSD as my desktop on my Laptop as its best for me because I 
connect to a lot of Unix boxes via ssh, and to me when you spend a lot 
of time dealing with Unix servers then the best way to deal with them is 
via Unix its self. (BTW when I say Unix I mean it in the generic way 
just like Apple and most non-lost people do. 
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/11/2231244&tid=130&tid=3 )
The reason I use FreeBSD as my desktop is that I believe I have the most 
flexibility via cvsup and ports, but this comes at the cost of more 
manual configuration.

I can install/upgrade the latest KDE with a simple command like below, 
and I can also easily deal with any problems it puts in front of me, but 
others can't, this would be the biggest problem for new users.

portupgrade -N /usr/ports/x11/kde3
If you not comfortable with that then you need something more auto magic 
like Linspire but face the fact you might not have an easy upgrade path 
or even have one at all.

I enjoy using the latest versions of all the free software that is 
available to a free OS such as FreeBSD or Linux and don't like being 
stuck on old versions.

Windows XP is the result of years of investment (billion $) and work at 
MS and you dont hear people complain about it nearly as much as older 
versions of Windows, this is due to a variety of reasons from the need 
for high end hardware vs stable OS.  You can even download white 
papers/benchmarks from MS saying how it takes 10million CPU cycles to 
load a single simple process over it taking 900,000 CPU cycles on 
FreeBSD and 2million in Linux and MS will explain to you why their OS is 
better then the others in every way but its always up to you.
Mike

Daniel A. wrote:
Hi Andy,
I am sorry for the trouble you have had with Windows XP.
I suggest that you use Linux, as FreeBSD really is not targeted at
people who want to use graphical user interfaces.
The linux developers really have been trying to make a valuable
replacement for Windows, as they somehow have experienced the same
issues with Windows (And Microsoft products in general) that you have.
One Linux distribution in particular that I think you might like, is
Ubuntu. You can download it at http://www.ubuntulinux.org/, or order a
CD (Free shipping, free CD, you pay nothing).

On 12/24/05, Andy Sjostrom <andy_sjostrom@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

To whom this may concern,
H-E-L-P!
LOL!
I've been online since 1992( the windows 3.1 days for me.) I'm 48 yrs.old. and also a windows XP
user.
Because of recent issue I have had with Mr. William Gates and his product.
about every 6 months I have had to overhaul my windows XP. during the last up grade I was told
that my XP product code was invaild, then when is made the repair up grades something in my
registory changed, and when that auto updater downloaded the new security patches it somehow
downloaded 2969 trojans as well.
I have decided to start the search for a new OS.
In my case the new OS must be completely 100 percent user friendly.
Please bare in mind that 100 percent means "NO CODE" writting. I'm not a programer...LOL!
I run a very small one man company at,
http://www.geocities.com/andy_sjostrom/index.html
From time to time I also like to rip and burn a CD as well,
Publish articles to my yahoo 360 blog. edit a few images from time to to time.
surf the net, copy and paste, chat with friends in my favorite yahoo chat room.
fold protiens for the fold@home project at stanford U.
(I'm on team #40154.)
I also have a logitech Clicksmart420 that the new OS must be willing to accept.
I've been doing some reading and every thing I have been able to find for OS's boils down to three
basic choices.
BSD
Unix
Linux
A windows Hybird like ReactOS.
There is one other very important thing Because I'm on a fixed income and things with me are very
tight money wise the new OS must be free.
Is there any thing you can do to help me. Such as point me in the right direction.

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Re: BSD Question's.

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