Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 21:22:19 -0600 From: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> To: Dru <genisis@istar.ca> Cc: "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@zippy.cdrom.com>, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: desktop, was linus on BSD Message-ID: <3734FF6B.6A737C3A@softweyr.com> References: <Pine.BSF.4.10.9905081825510.22924-100000@genisis.istar.ca>
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Dru wrote:
>
> On Thu, 6 May 1999, Jordan K. Hubbard wrote:
> <snip>
> >
> > Do I see people out there who are finally willing to *do the work* of
> > making FreeBSD a credible desktop solution or do I simply see the
> > usual array of faces wondering when it's going to happen by sheer
> > magic? :-)
>
> Please don't shoot me for my newbie enthusiasm, but I've personally never
> encountered negativity regarding FreeBSD's desktop. I've found at the
> grassroots level, preferably with those who've never even heard of BSD, if
> you show them how to install and configure their systems, Windows and
> Linux soon go out the Window (excuse the pun). Windows because BSD does
> not crash, need to be rebooted every 15 minutes, and does not eat up
> valuable resources to accomplish a simple task. Linux because it is so
> hard to secure (nmap is always an eye opener) and the fact that Freebsd
> ports are so disgustingly easy to install; no RPMs (I think that's the 3
> letter acronym that causes Linuxites to rip out their hair in handfuls) to
> coax into working.
>
> People who have never had an intimate relationship with an OS soon fall in
> love with and speak glowingly about FreeBSD. Once their desktops are
> happy, show them the advocacy sites and the bigwigs running FreeBSD, and
> they're hooked for life.
I think one of the big differentiators between "desktop" users of
FreeBSD and Linux is that many FreeBSD users never wanted a damned PC
in the first place. FreeBSD makes a pretty crufty PC, but a fine UNIX
workstation. For those looking for a workstation, installing XFree86
and {window manager of choice, WindowMaker for me} makes workstation
enough, especially so now that one or two competent word processors
and at least one usable spreadsheet are available for the typical
"productivity" applications.
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
http://www.softweyr.com/~softweyr wes@softweyr.com
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