Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:12:50 -0400 From: Mehmet Erol Sanliturk <m.e.sanliturk@gmail.com> To: c.hutchinson0@yahoo.com Cc: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Ways to promote FreeBSD? Message-ID: <CAOgwaMt1%2B2GTSQSmkD_AOx2d%2BjKv7Pnqb1fNQXotxeJi5afbPA@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <20120427170634.52a1675a@virus.local> References: <CAHMRaQf=M0ULOH=KnqzOXvczSM0Lb6apCoQkJegqyU3e8%2BgShA@mail.gmail.com> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1204272025080.5846@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <20120427203117.GA2055@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> <CAOgwaMv_9c_W4fek-kGhQV3B5bKv4RnEFn_6ixn2LS7qDPma6Q@mail.gmail.com> <20120427170634.52a1675a@virus.local>
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On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 8:06 PM, <c.hutchinson0@yahoo.com> wrote: > Greetings... > > On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:18:47 -0400 > Mehmet Erol Sanliturk <m.e.sanliturk@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> > > wrote: > > > > > On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 08:27:07PM +0200, Wojciech Puchar wrote: > > > > > > > >After using Linux for almost 15 years, I only recently started > > > > >using FreeBSD. I own an internet startup and was looking for a > > > > >solution for > > > > > > > > Those who need FreeBSD already use it. no need to promote. Or > > > > maybe need to promote bigger donations to FreeBSD community from > > > > big users. > > > > > > > > Those who actually need high performers and have servers that are > > > > loaded and are working not toying around - use FreeBSD. > > > > > > Not really true and kind of a poor attitude. > > > Yes. many people needing high performance already use FreeBSD, but > > > there are lots of services that could benefit from FreeBSD who are > > > not very aware of it. They may have heard the name, and even know > > > that it is an OS, but have heard it passed off as a non-entity in > > > the field and do not know better than that. > > > > > > Sure, if people take the time and come to the web site and then > > > download and use it and learn it, they know and don't need to > > > be told much. But, most others are not yet in that situation. > > > They might appreciate the help. Of course, some may be too > > > lazy or prejudiced to go through that, but many just need some > > > more information and encouragement I would guess. > > > > > > ////jerry > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > My opinion is that most important obstacle in front of FreeBSD is its > > installation structure : > > > > > > It is NOT possible to install and use a FreeBSD distribution directly > > as it is . > > > > In Linux distributions , when a distribution is installed , the > > user , NOT root , > > can use its facilities WITHOUT setting a ( large ) number of > > parameters which it is approximately ZERO . > > > > > > Contrary to this , when a FreeBSD is installed , an ordinary user can > > NOT use USB , CD/DVD , etc. , and even key board / mouse in X without > > setting MANY parameters in MANY files ( loder.conf , rc.conf , etc. > > ) . > > > > This point is a very important difficulty for the beginners and a > > really very tiring for experienced users . > > > > The first thing for FreeBSD to promote its use is to be done is to > > remedy this obstacle . > > > > > > All over the years , this fact is ignored , and left as it is , with a > > counter argument that FreeBSD is for servers . > > > > If we stick into this idea indefinitely , FreeBSD user base will not > > exceed a few with respect to number of desktop users because number > > of servers with respect to number of desktop users may be considered > > very small . Such a small user base is not sufficient supply a > > "breath" to FreeBSD to make it live . > > > > > > An important example is www.wikipedia.org which I mentioned many > > times . In yearly campaigns , they are collecting more than 15 > > MILLION US dollars as donations where average donations being around > > 5 US dollars per donation . > > > > Contrary to this , www.freebsdfoundation.org has a yearly budget less > > than HALF a MILLION US dollars . > > > > If the news I read is correct , Mozilla Foundation is getting 300 > > MILLION US dollars from Google for specifying its name in its search > > bar . > > > > > > Failure point for the FreeBSD is its usage difficulty and a small > > number of user base . > > > > Another point is that server installers are highly educated with > > respect to desktop installers and their numbers are small with > > respect to desktop users . > > > > For them , it is very easy to "harden" FreeBSD after installation if > > ever it is needed , because during installation , it is a simple > > question to ask : > > > > Will this be used as a Server ? > > > > With respect to answer to this question , even during installation a > > "hardened" FreeBSD may be installed . > > > > Another , for me , irrespective , idea is to mention PC-BSD in place > > of FreeBSD . > > > > With a more than FORTY years of computing experience , my idea about > > PC-BSD is that it is "complete failure" and mentioning it in front of > > FreeBSD is only to create another obstacle for it . > > > > Trouble for PC-BSD is that , for me , it is an untested ( as even as a > > simple installation on a bare hardware ) distribution . > > > > Thank you very much . > > > > Mehmet Erol Sanliturk > > I'm wondering if spinning up a "live DVD" desktop version, using > GENERIC, and/or Gnome/KDE might be a good option to take FreeBSD > for a test drive. That'd give new ppl to FreeBSD an oportunity to > try-before-commit. I'd envision the DVD having links on the > desktop to all the important info regarding the setup, and use of > a *BSD system -- including the pre-requisits to setup/install. It'd > give them a "hands on" experience, so they'd know in advance, what > to expect. It might also be an image that'd permit something like > dd if=/path/freebsd9-kde.img of=/dev/hd/slice||partition > While I /know/ PC-BSD offers something similar, I just thought > something geared more towards a FULL FreeBSD experience, that > includes pointers to LEARNING FreeBSD -- everything you ever > wanted to know about FreeBSD, but were afraid || too lazy to ask. ;) > > my $0.00 worth :-) > > There is such a very nice distribution : http://ghostbsd.org/ Thank you very much . Mehmet Erol Sanliturk
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