From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Aug 9 12:01:04 2007 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 DA7B016A469 for ; Thu, 9 Aug 2007 12:01:04 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from apvanderveen@att.net) Received: from mtiwmhc12.worldnet.att.net (mtiwmhc12.worldnet.att.net [204.127.131.116]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9B48113C468 for ; Thu, 9 Aug 2007 12:01:04 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from apvanderveen@att.net) Received: from t60.mydomain.home (cpe-72-231-141-22.nycap.res.rr.com[72.231.141.22]) by worldnet.att.net (mtiwmhc12) with ESMTP id <2007080912010311200p85ase>; Thu, 9 Aug 2007 12:01:03 +0000 Message-ID: <46BB01FE.4030201@att.net> Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:01:02 -0400 From: "Arend P. van der Veen" User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (X11/20070803) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Latitude References: <46BA9682.7020203@ix.netcom.com> In-Reply-To: <46BA9682.7020203@ix.netcom.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: Convince me, please! 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: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:01:05 -0000 Latitude wrote: > I'm interested in changing over to FreeBSD from Windows, but I'll have > to say, you guys don't really present a forceful argument to Windows > users of how easy the switch may be. I get knee-deep in FreeBSD jargon > the second I get to your webpage. I need to see an overwhelming argument > that FreeBSD is a perfectly acceptable alternative for home desktop > users who have previously known only Windows. > > For instance, if I download and install FreeBSD, will I instantly have a > desktop windowing environment that I can navigate in while I figure out > what's going on? Will I have a browser and way to setup an internet > connection right off the bat? How will I migrate files from other > operating systems? > > I understand you guys have been around for a while, but you don't seem > to understand the monumental "fear" involved in switching operating > systems. You need to address those concerns head on from the start. I > need to see several screenshots of apps that I can use as alternatives > to what I have. > > Help me (and yourselves) out. > We migrated from Windows to Linux and then to FreeBSD. We develop and deploy web based applications using open source tools. Our goal was to find a reliable trouble-free open source operating system to standardize on. We found that in FreeBSD and have been very happy ever since we made the switch. It is one of our decisions that we never regretted. We also use the same release of FreeBSD on our development systems. That way, we develop on the same platform that deploy. We find that this helps avoid hassles when it is time to deploy an update. We do have Mac laptops to help support some applications such as Dreamweaver that are not available on FreeBSD.