Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:12:37 +0300 From: Manolis Kiagias <sonicy@otenet.gr> To: mchauber@gmx.net Cc: "freebsd-questions@freebsd.org" <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Sadly, my tinker-time has run out.... Message-ID: <46DA9AA5.8030904@otenet.gr> In-Reply-To: <200709020222.21000.mchauber@gmx.net> References: <200709020222.21000.mchauber@gmx.net>
index | next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail
Michael Hauber wrote: > Hey, all... > > I've been a user of FreeBSD and OpenBSD for quite a while now. Unfortunatly, > I haven't had much time to tinker lately, and that's unlikely to change in > the near future. Sadly, I need to get an OS that my wife would be more > comfortable using and that wouldn't be as time-comsuming to make it more > comfortable for her. > > I downloaded the uberyl live CD and found that ubuntu seems to pick up on > everything I have on the laptop (as well as all the attachments), so I'm > downloading it now. > > Because I've put so much time into getting this FreeBSD install where it is > now (and because I favor the BSDs), I'm still a bit hesitant... Has anyone > here had much experience with ubunu as a desktop? Negatives/positives? > > Kind of OT, I guess... I'd just rather hear it from someone in this group > rather than the inevitable, "Oh yeah. You won't be sorry." from the ubuntu > folk (salespitches == fingernails on a chalkboard :) ). > > Thanks, > > Mike > > > PS. Yes, I've played with PC-BSD. Unfortunately, that's still more work than > I have time for. > I am working (and tinkering as you put it) with many kinds of systems: Fedora / Ubuntu as desktops, Debian as servers, FreeBSD both desktops and servers, Windows 2003 servers, XP desktops, even Vista :) To put it simply, every system has its strong points, ups and downs. For example, Windows has drivers for everything - many are crap, but they still exist - and a few applications you just can't replace with anything else. Ubuntu, the one you are considering, is based on Debian, which I consider excellent, especially for servers. But if you are coming from a FreeBSD background, Ubuntu will seem rather "restrictive" and "easy". It is an easy desktop for *NIX beginners, and it is now marketed as the Linux you will never have to touch the command line. As I recall, the default install will not even setup gcc, although the package (build-essential) is on CD. There are obviously a lot of helper apps, like automatic installation of codecs etc. but it is still Linux. If you are a power user you will need to tinker it, and there will be things missing you will need to install. Example: First time I tried to mount some NFS shares, they were taking ages. I found out it was missing the nfs-common package. Maybe a beginner does not care about it, but I consider this basic functionality and expect it to be there (or that I will be informed it is not, beforehand). I also need the compiler, kernel headers and stuff to compile kernel modules. Ubuntu seems to have a lot of ready made things, good for beginners but quite limiting for me, I have to actually rip things out to install my stuff (e.g. disable their versions of some restricted drivers to install mine). That being said, it is making an alternate, non-Windows desktop accessible to a lot of people, which I consider a good thing. Though I suggest Ubuntu to enthusiastic Linux beginners, I find it difficult to give an argument for anyone with an average FreeBSD knowledge. At home I mostly use Fedora as a Linux desktop. The part of your post I don't really understand, is what is really bothering you with your FreeBSD install. Are you missing programs / features you just can't live without? Is it something to do with the ports / packages? Installing, customizing and becoming familiar with your FreeBSD system does take some time, but this is followed by a very long effortless stable operation. Assuming a typical installation where users' needs don't constantly change, you can easily maintain a FreeBSD install with minimum hassle. And how is Ubuntu going to be any easier for your wife? Assuming you are administering the machine, a FreeBSD with a Gnome desktop will be more or less the same from the user standpoint to Ubuntu (or any other distro) with Gnome.help
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?46DA9AA5.8030904>