Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 21:25:46 +0200 From: Lars Engels <lme@freebsd.org> To: Mike Remski <mremski@comcast.net> Cc: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Ars Technica article on FreeBSD new user experience Message-ID: <20200420192546.GO50566@e.0x20.net> In-Reply-To: <9bc85f04-ed38-4d5a-bec3-551079cdcb2b@comcast.net> References: <CAPyFy2AVfEzey0%2B9-b8ZS1uyn8ODOoNhCHY7fHp2uc9ASiw%2BnA@mail.gmail.com> <QB1PR01MB3649C0BF47DD657D625BCB79DDC10@QB1PR01MB3649.CANPRD01.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM> <9bc85f04-ed38-4d5a-bec3-551079cdcb2b@comcast.net>
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On Fri, Apr 10, 2020 at 03:09:30AM -0400, Mike Remski wrote: > On Thursday, April 9, 2020 5:39:45 PM EDT, Rick Macklem wrote: > > Ed Maste <emaste@freebsd.org> wrote: > > > Jim Salter has an article in Ars Technica discussing his experience > > > with FreeBSD 12.1 as a desktop: > > > https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/04/not-actually-linux-distro-review-freebsd-12-1-release/ > > > > > > There are some points in there that might involve misunderstanding, > > > but there are also a number of real issues raised about the experience ... > > Since this is a public mailing list, I'll repost here... > > > > One thought here that I'll throw out (I have no idea if others have suggested > > this before)… > > What about creating a separate release for desktops/laptops that installs > > X Windows etc from a simple installer "out of the box"? > > --> To keep it simple, don't try to support all hardware, just stuff that is widely > > available and already well supported by the drivers in FreeBSD. > > Obviously amd64 only plus a few widely available display chip sets that work > > well, etc and so on... > > > > If it doesn't support the hardware someone has, then they can go the regular > > release/install route. (It would be nice to maintain an up to date list of what > > hardware it supports, but it might be easier to just have it start up live CD > > style and then see if the hardware it needs is there. > > --> Sorry, can't do this display chipset to that sound chip or... > > > > Just an idea, rick > > ps: I am not volunteering to help do this. I run FreeBSD on laptop/desktop > > systems, but bare bones. No X Windows... > > Something like what old PCBSD did? How about FuryBSD as a starting point? Joe Maloney is layering either XFCE or KDE > (2 different ISO/install media) on top of a FreeBSD install, so out of the box, the install gives you FreeBSD with > either XFCE or KDE. > > Disclaimer: I've been using FreeBSD with X as a daily driver for a long time and honestly never found it that > difficult to set up. Hardest was when everything started to need the drm-kmod bits, but once I understood what I > needed to do, it's not been an issue. There's also NomadBSD[1] which comes with a pre-configured Openbox desktop, Firefox and other GUI programs and sensible defaults. It's a bootable live USB system but there's also a installer included. [1] https://NomadBSD.org/
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