From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Apr 6 14:09:38 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B8CE816A401 for ; Thu, 6 Apr 2006 14:09:38 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@redry.net) Received: from kentucky.ucd.ie (kentucky.ucd.ie [193.1.169.102]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9C04843D77 for ; Thu, 6 Apr 2006 14:09:33 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from freebsd@redry.net) Received: from conversion-daemon.kentucky.ucd.ie by kentucky.ucd.ie (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2 (built Dec 2 2004)) id <0IXB00B010DD6U00@kentucky.ucd.ie> (original mail from freebsd@redry.net) for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:09:32 +0100 (IST) Received: from [137.43.111.203] by kentucky.ucd.ie (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2 (built Dec 2 2004)) with ESMTPS id <0IXB004YQ0NVBP00@kentucky.ucd.ie>; Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:09:31 +0100 (IST) Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:09:31 +0100 From: eoghan In-reply-to: <20060406140436.GA10773@gothmog.pc> To: Giorgos Keramidas Message-id: <4435211B.3060407@redry.net> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT References: <000001c65907$42db76c0$6401a8c0@thomas> <20060406094921.478b5cc3.wmoran@collaborativefusion.com> <20060406140436.GA10773@gothmog.pc> User-Agent: Thunderbird 1.5 (Windows/20051201) Cc: Tom , freebsd-questions@freebsd.org, Bill Moran Subject: Re: Help? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 14:09:38 -0000 Giorgos Keramidas wrote: > On 2006-04-06 09:49, Bill Moran wrote: >> "Tom" wrote: >>> I am just looking at Free BSD as a Windows alternative. I >>> have a home workgroup that I am out growing and wanting to do >>> more with, but don't want to give MS any more Hundreds of hard >>> earned dollars. >>> >>> My first question is where can I find a site that will list >>> all approved or thoroughly checked out hardware to build a >>> "box" (motherboards, and the like). I don't have the time, or >>> patience to get into major software conflicts or bugs. I want >>> to follow a A to B to C box build and software setup. Is there >>> someone (or more) to guide me through the process? Is there a >>> website with complete and accurate information on it? Is there >>> a "BSD for idiots" instruction book that's current? Is there a >>> BSD project team working with manufactures and touting their >>> successes? Help! >> Don't use FreeBSD. I know this will be an unpopular post on >> this list, but you've said a number of things that tell me that >> you will be unsuccessful with FreeBSD: >> 1) You don't seem to have any Unix experience >> 2) You're coming from a Windows world >> 3) You don't have time or patience >> >> #3 is particularly important, given #1 and #2. FreeBSD _will_ >> take you some time to understand. It _will_ take some time and >> effort to get it working the way you want. Since you are >> totally new to it, it _will_ require patience. >> >> If you don't have time or patience to learn right now, you're >> setting yourself up for failure. When you do have some time >> and patience, we'll be happy to help you through your learning >> curve. If you're looking for a fast, easy fix, you're not >> going to find it by switching operating systems to something >> you know nothing about. >> >> I've seen a number of people bash Linux and the BSDs because >> they wanted a simple, cheap solution to Windows and did not >> have the time or patience to work through the learning curve. >> Unless I've misinterpreted your email and you do have some Unix >> experience, this is not a good time to make the switch. > > No, this post shouldn't be unpopular on this list. > > * It was written in a clear, non-confrontational, civilized tone. > * It explains why making the switch to FreeBSD may turn out badly. > * It also makes it very clear that time and effort _is_ required. > > Tom, please read carefully what Bill Moran has written. Even if > I tried, I would probably fail to put it all in better words. > > Then, if you decide that you _have_ the patience and time to > switch, feel free to ask any question about FreeBSD here :) > > - Giorgos Yes, I agree. Although I had the luxury of having two machines, the other being a mac, so I could play with unix on that. I also dumped windows on my pc and decided on freeBSD. At first, I had trouble installing and configuring it. But with some time and this list I am up and running and get more and more comfortable with it each day. So if you have a spare pc lying around, try it out on this first till you get comfortable, and then go for it. Eoghan