From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Sep 20 15:42:34 2003 Return-Path: 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 8259116A4B3 for ; Sat, 20 Sep 2003 15:42:34 -0700 (PDT) Received: from clunix.cl.msu.edu (clunix.cl.msu.edu [35.9.2.10]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 80FC143FE9 for ; Sat, 20 Sep 2003 15:42:33 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from jerrymc@clunix.cl.msu.edu) Received: from clunix.cl.msu.edu (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by clunix.cl.msu.edu (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h8KMgWOg005183; Sat, 20 Sep 2003 18:42:32 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from jerrymc@localhost) by clunix.cl.msu.edu (8.12.9/8.12.9/Submit) id h8KMgVX3005182; Sat, 20 Sep 2003 18:42:31 -0400 (EDT) From: Jerry McAllister Message-Id: <200309202242.h8KMgVX3005182@clunix.cl.msu.edu> To: sunghero@sysmatrix.net (sunghero) Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 18:42:31 -0400 (EDT) In-Reply-To: <3F6CD11F.2070105@sysmatrix.net> from "sunghero" at Sep 20, 2003 06:13:51 PM X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL2] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Free operating system for home pc X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 22:42:34 -0000 > > > I would like to find an open source operating > system to use for a personal computer. I have "WindowsXP" now, but I > feel I'd be at home with something at least a little in tune with my > personal philosophy, which "microsoft" is not.. Can anybody tell me if > there are any free open source versions available ? The computer I use > is a simple e-machine with a celeron processor (1.4ghz). You have come to the right place. Go to the FreeBSD web page and start learning. http://www.freebsd.org/ Starting on that web page there is a huge amount of material linked to tell you how to get started, download free installation ISOs, do the installations and configurations, add ports of useful additional utilities and manage the system. Start with everything under Documentation, then go to the Software section and then installation guides and release notes. At least skim everything so you have a good idea - it is too much to read in detail all at once. Then get the latest production release (currently 4.8 - soon to be 4.9 == skip the development release - 5.x for now until you are well versed) and install it. You will learn more by just doing it than all the reading, except you have to do some reading before you start. You can either buy a CD set for the nominal production cost or download the ISO for free and burn your own CD. In that case unless your net connection is really slow, just download the mini-ISO and then do the install over the net. Download the whole ports tree with it (that is just the structure, not all the source for the ports - the ports sources download when you building them).. The initial basic install is pretty easy. Most people get hung up in adding extras to their system. There are enough possibilities and variations to boggle the mind. It will take some time and effort to get over the initial hump learning the basics, but you will find that it is worth it in the long run. Have fun, ////jerry > > Thank you, > > Frank > > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >