From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Mar 1 11:41:05 2004 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 ABFEE16A4CE for ; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 11:41:05 -0800 (PST) Received: from dallypost.com (ns1.dallypost.com [12.160.224.30]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4E13743D1F for ; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 11:41:03 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from lance@dallypost.com) Received: from dallypost.com (DallyPost [127.0.0.1] (may be forged)) by dallypost.com (8.12.8/8.12.5) with ESMTP id i21L5B3h002104 for ; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:05:11 -0700 Received: (from apache@localhost) by dallypost.com (8.12.8/8.12.8/Submit) id i21L5Blx002102; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:05:11 -0700 X-Authentication-Warning: dallypost.com: apache set sender to lance@dallypost.com using -f Received: from 65.88.98.1 (SquirrelMail authenticated user lance) by www.dallypost.com with HTTP; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:05:11 -0700 (MST) Message-ID: <28912.65.88.98.1.1078175111.squirrel@www.dallypost.com> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:05:11 -0700 (MST) From: "Lance Earl" To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org User-Agent: SquirrelMail/1.4.2-1 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 Importance: Normal Subject: Installing software via ports and packages X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: lance@dallypost.com List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 19:41:05 -0000 I have been evaluating FreeBSD as a possible replacement for my RedHat web server and as a possible desktop. So far I like it except for one issue that drives me nuts. But first, my machine. I installed FreeBSD on a Pentium 250 with 512 megs of ram and about 80 gigs on the hard drive. I currently use this machine to write code and to upload/download files. I also use The Gimp for very small image editing projects. The big projects go on my faster machine. In short, I do not work it hard at all. I am connected to the Internet via Direcway satellite, which is terrible but the best option where I live. Most recently I have been running Fedora Core on this machine and running Nedit, Bluefish, the Gimp and Gftp under Gnome. I installed FreeBsd 4.9 with fluxbox. Using ports I installed Bluefish(I was disappointed to see that the most current port was an older version), Nedit, Nano, Gimp and Gftp. The ports download and compile of these programs took approximately forever plus 32 seconds. I tried installing with packages but ran into installation errors. In frustration I reinstalled Fedora. I really want to use FreeBSD. I like their philosophy and direction. I like this mailing list and the handbook is very useful. But if it takes all day to install relatively small packages, I can't wait... my time has value too. Are there any suggestions out there? Lance Earl Lance Earl DallyPost, Inc. 208-548-2721