Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 12:23:12 -0500 From: dennis@etinc.com (dennis) To: Greg Lehey <lehey.pad@sni.de> Cc: hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: FreeBSD or BSDI Message-ID: <199603061723.MAA01570@etinc.com>
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>> Julian Elischer writes... >> >>> >>> jkh writes... >>> >>>> Evaluate them both and see what you think. >>>> >>> My personal idea woudl be, "As FreeBSD is Free, you lose nothing by trying >>> it out, and if you don't like it you can then pay for BSDI. Most of what you >>> learned on FreeBSD will be relevant for FeeBSD^H^H^H^H^H^H BSDI. >> >> Only the code is free. The installation costs money. The use of the serial >> line while your trying it costs money. The time it takes to learn how to >> set up and go through the unavoidable setup problems costs money. >> The cost of time exceeds the cost of the software by a factor of 10 for >> BSDI. Its very expensive to chose the wrong product even if its free >> initially. > >Well, I understand your statements individually, and I agree with most >of them (not, a priori, with the ten-to-1 relationship between time >and money--how did you calculate that?), but I don't understand what >you're trying to say. Does this relate specifically to F[r]eeBSD? It relates to any decision. If you waste 2 weeks evaluating something that you could have reasonably decided wasn't what you wanted then the opportunity cost is 2 weeks of productivity with the right product. A top engineer's time and a T1 line to play with and other resources could easily cost over $5000.. If its your time and you'd just be watching TV otherwise then it doesnt cost that much. the fact that the product is "free" is not a selling point. If you can't be reasonably sure that its "as good" or "better" that something else then $500. to $1000. is irrelevant. Dennis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Technologies, Inc. http://www.etinc.com Synchronous Communications Cards and Routers For Discriminating Tastes. 56k to T1 and beyond. Frame Relay, PPP, HDLC, and X.25 for BSD/OS, FreeBSD and LINUX
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