Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 16:14:26 -0500 (CDT) From: BWS - Offwhite <brennan@offwhite.net> To: Peter Mutsaers <peter@mutsaers.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Switching to FreeBSD from Windows Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.21.0005291600010.93091-100000@home.offwhite.net> In-Reply-To: <87bt1pnng3.fsf@mutsaers.com>
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It is simply a matter of comfort. When the OS tells you everything, with a magical paperclip guy you get use to not having to learn something before trying to do it. Coming from DOS to Unix is one thing, but a GUI based system to a command-line heavy system which does not aspire to be a desktop system does not make for the most helpful newbie environment. If that is not what you want to hear, consider that FreeBSD is a server OS, not a desktop OS. And has been mentioned in many articles over the last couple of months, FreeBSD is trying to be positioned to be the big brother to Linux. Once someone is ready for a mature Unix-like system, they can move up to FreeBSD. Besides, if he attempts to run FreeBSD at home and cannot get PPP or any networking to work, how can he consult with this mailing list? Linux distros offer around the clock phone support for the cost of the CDs. And Linux is not all that horrible. At least it is not a MS product. As for IQ... http://www.userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/98oct/19981009.html :) Brennan Stehling - web developer and sys admin projects: www.greasydaemon.com | www.onmilwaukee.com | www.sncalumni.com Microsoft: Will you get a macro virus today? http://www.greasydaemon.com/noms/ <- Why avoid MS? On 29 May 2000, Peter Mutsaers wrote: > >> "B" =3D=3D BWS <- Offwhite <brennan@offwhite.net>> writes: >=20 > B> Going from Windows directly to FreeBSD as your first Unix > B> system ever may be very frustrating. I have been using Unix > B> systems for years and still get frustrated and stumped at >=20 > B> FreeBSD does have a GUI interface and you can install Gnome or > B> KDE which are both pretty good once you have them installed and > B> configured to suit you, but you have to do some work to get > B> them there. FreeBSD can also do sound and has decent support > B> for fonts, but not to the level as other desktop oriented > B> systems. >=20 > All are available as ports. The initial desktop interface, should you > need it, is available on installation. >=20 > B> Perhaps you would find it easier to start with Linux which does > B> strive to create a friendly desktop environment. If you spent > B> the $30 to buy a CD set at Best Buy you will also get phone > B> support to get past any problems right away. >=20 > Noooo! That might scare away some people right away from UNIX. >=20 > What is wrong with starting directly with a real UNIX? I did (coming > from Atari/DOS, 14 years ago) and many others did, especially in times > that Linux etc. didn't exist yet.=20 >=20 > Apparently you are assuming that the person is stupid/low-IQ just > because he is running Win98. You might be wrong. >=20 > For someone that can read a manual/handbook and can think, I'm sure it > is much more rewarding to directly start with the consistent and > well-documented environment of FreeBSD, even though it does somewhat > less automatic detections and magic.=20 >=20 > For generations people (with brains) started on UNIX right away > without problems. Why would that be impossible or inadvisable today?!? >=20 > --=20 > Peter Mutsaers | D=FCbendorf | Trust me, I know > peter@mutsaers.com | Switzerland | what I'm doing. >=20 >=20 > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message >=20 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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