From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Jun 13 08:24:28 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7C6171065672 for ; Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:24:28 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk) Received: from smtp.infracaninophile.co.uk (gate6.infracaninophile.co.uk [IPv6:2001:8b0:151:1::1]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 02BE18FC12 for ; Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:24:27 +0000 (UTC) Received: from seedling.black-earth.co.uk (seedling.black-earth.co.uk [81.187.76.163]) (authenticated bits=0) by smtp.infracaninophile.co.uk (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id o5D8ONB5023348 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO) for ; Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:24:24 +0100 (BST) (envelope-from m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk) Message-ID: <4C1495B7.2040503@infracaninophile.co.uk> Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:24:23 +0100 From: Matthew Seaman Organization: Infracaninophile User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.6; en-US; rv:1.9.1.9) Gecko/20100317 Thunderbird/3.0.4 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <86eigdx6vl.fsf@red.stonehenge.com> <4C13320C.5090700@infracaninophile.co.uk> <20100612153813.GA53180@guilt.hydra> <4C13C737.6050400@infracaninophile.co.uk> <20100612201255.GD97434@libertas.local.camdensoftware.com> <20100612225132.GB79077@comcast.net> <20100613004939.GC54426@guilt.hydra> In-Reply-To: <20100613004939.GC54426@guilt.hydra> X-Enigmail-Version: 1.0.1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Virus-Scanned: clamav-milter 0.96.1 at lucid-nonsense.infracaninophile.co.uk X-Virus-Status: Clean X-Spam-Status: No, score=1.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,DKIM_ADSP_ALL, SPF_FAIL autolearn=no version=3.3.1 X-Spam-Level: * X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on lucid-nonsense.infracaninophile.co.uk Subject: Re: freebsd - for the win X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:24:28 -0000 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On 13/06/2010 01:49:39, Chad Perrin wrote: > What I *do* find to be of value, however, is improving the installation > process so that it is clearer what is going on at each step and improving > the efficiency of it without damaging its flexibility. I don't have any > problem with making it easier for a new user to understand and use, as > long as it doesn't interfere with the suitability for experts who don't > care about whooshing noises, 3D animations, "helpful" cartoon characters, > and the ability to use a mouse where it's not really needed. In fact, I > think the world would be a better place if more people used FreeBSD, > almost regardless of their levels of technical expertise -- as long as > the OS doesn't start catering to their demands for Clippy and spinning > logos that take three minutes to load. Exactly my thinking. Style vs substance -- all the style in the world won't help you one bit unless it's backed by real substance. Unfortunately far too few people are capable of seeing through the surface gloss of style to understand the substance beneath. Style also tends to be rather in the eye of the beholder -- one persons' "exciting and trendy" is another's "annoying and garish"; whereas substance is universal. While most FreeBSD types may not have much use for glitz and glitter, still, FreeBSD does have it's own aesthetic. It's minimal, and spare and it says "We're not going to pretend that this isn't complicated or difficult. Effort brings reward." This is something I find incredibly attractive; even after more than 10 years it is still refreshing. Cheers, Matthew - -- Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard Flat 3 PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate JID: matthew@infracaninophile.co.uk Kent, CT11 9PW -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG/MacGPG2 v2.0.14 (Darwin) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iEYEARECAAYFAkwUlbcACgkQ8Mjk52CukIzA2gCgi4bgy7yhTuSiAm2etlsn7wIY ZwgAnjKD7SNtAg2guB9pQDbXDryWt+mI =J1xx -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----