From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Dec 12 05:01:32 2005 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 A882716A41F for ; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:01:32 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from chris@monochrome.org) Received: from mail.monochrome.org (b4.ebbed1.client.atlantech.net [209.190.235.180]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0635643D46 for ; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:01:31 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from chris@monochrome.org) Received: from tripel (tripel [192.168.1.11]) by mail.monochrome.org (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA61235; Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:01:21 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from chris@monochrome.org) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:01:54 -0500 (EST) From: Chris Hill To: "Matt S. Gann" In-Reply-To: <20051212040744.66038.qmail@web54201.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20051211232229.E9320@tripel.monochrome.org> References: <20051212040744.66038.qmail@web54201.mail.yahoo.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: FreeBSD starter machine 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: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:01:32 -0000 On Sun, 11 Dec 2005, Matt S. Gann wrote: > I have a few questions about FreeBSD. I am just beginning to get > into UNIX. I know a few line commands, but really want to get > familiar and comfortable with the OS. I have been intrugued by > FreeBSD for many years now, but I own a windows-based PC and am not > keen about running dual OS's. I would like to get a cheap, used, > small desktop or laptop to "tinker" with Unix/Linix and FreeBSD. > However, I know little to nothing about system requirements and/or > hardware compability. I was thinking of an old 486 or Pentium 1 to > get started. Any thoughts on what I could start with? Please press Return (or Enter) every once in a while. Your message was one long line. As for the question, I think you'd want a relatively "modern" machine to start with; in your example, I'd go with the Pentium over the 486. But either one might give you grief. I've had problems installing "late model" FreeBSD on truly ancient hardware, so I'd suggest you go with something that's not too long in the tooth. The website recommendations regarding CPU, RAM and disk space are really bare minima; in reality, you can't have too much of any of these, just as with any OS. Here's a comparison of extremes: I built my newest machine earlier this year with a 3.4GHz P4, 1GB of RAM and 160GB disk. My oldest machine dates from the late 1990s and has a 266MHz AMD K6-2, 32 MB of RAM, and 4GB of disk. The old machine works fine, but building anything is excruciatingly slow. I think you're right about not being "keen about running dual OS's" - I prefer to keep one OS per machine. Lots of people dual-boot with no problem, but it just doesn't feel right to me. Maybe it's a personal preference issue. Here's a thought: Since it's the holiday season, many retailers are offering deals on new computers. If your current Win* box is a few years old, how about upgrading to a new machine? Once your stuff is tranferred over, install FreeBSD on the old machine. At least you'll get known-good hardware (assuming everything worked before), and it will be somewhat modern since your current box is probably not more than three to five years old. Also, since the box is not brand-new, there's a good chance that the hardware is fully supported under FreeBSD - it sometimes takes a little time before the newest hardware is useable under FreeBSD, depending on what it is. Good luck, and welcome to sanity :^) -- Chris Hill chris@monochrome.org ** [ Busy Expunging <|> ]