Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 21:31:06 -0500 (EST) From: Andrew Short <Ashort@concentric.net> To: FreeBSD Questions Mailing List <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.96.980623205657.24516D-100000@viking.cris.com>
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This past weekend was VERY eventful for me. I installed FreeBSD for the
first (and second and third...) time. Every single problem that I had was
the direct result of PHYSICAL hardware failure (one) or my own ignorance
or stupidity (or combination thereof). This is (as far as I can tell yet)
one _terrific_ OS.
Most of my *nix experience is playing with Linux, and I've played with
XFree86 in Linux, so I carry a VERY basic understanding from doing that,
but I have to say that _2_ things helped me SEVERELY.
1. A VERY good friend of mine provided me with a "kid-tested,
mother-approved" XF86Config file. As hardware goes, our XF86Config files
SHOULD be identical, and they are. (Same monitor, video card, trackball,
have I left out anything?) =) I had literally _0_ tweaking to do
there...actually...I am now concerned with upping the sensitivity on the
trackball because the monitor is uhhh....too big. =)
2. My ravenous appetite for reading anything FreeBSD right up to the time
I started assembling the box.
Some minor points.
1. I refuse to be beaten by this OS. It WILL work because I know it can.
So far the OS hasn't issued much in the way of a challenge. I've cut my
teeth (and a few gums) on Linux and it carries a lot of the blame for
being "difficult" for me...unfairly...because it is what I "learned the
basics" on. I banged my head on a few keyboards while trying to "grasp"
unix in general, linux, AND XFree86, on old hardware that was never meant
to run those things. (Packard <cough...sputter> Bell <wheeze...> yeah..I
_know_)
2. I built this new box around the FreeBSD OS hardware list, With few
variations (and NO violations) from the "norm". I went IDE against the
advice of most around here...works great so far)... I've seen it written a
few times (and deduced for myself) that deciding on the OS _first_ was a
really good idea. =) I HAVE to agree.
3. MOST of my frustration over the weekend was over a BRAND SPANKING NEW
hard drive that was bad right out of the box. And I am still waiting on
the manufacturer to send me a new one. Right now I am running XFree and
some other things on an old 405MB IDE drive.
4. User ppp is a terrific package. =) It is MUCH more straight forward
than kernel ppp. I may or may NOT decide to switch to kernel ppp...I
really don't have much of a problem initiating manual conenctions with
user ppp. It's that easy. =)
In closing....SO FAR...I really don't see why...in the grand scheme of
things, that FreeBSD is seen as "more esoteric" than Linux. Given the
PROPER hardware...this thing is a SNAP (pun intended? maybe...) =) The
only real "weakness" is that FreeBSD is LESS likely to be cooperative on
any given existing platform...spec the box yourself and it's been a breeze
for me. And _READ_ like your life depends on it...your computer's life
certainly does. (This is proper and sound advice no matter WHAT OS you
run).
>From what I have seen...I could support this on desktops once I became
more familiar with it. I would PREFER supporting this to Lose95 ("We need
a router in this office...guess Bobby's getting a 2nd NIC in his PC!").
And...I have one kick butt PC that was quite cheap as well.
I mean really...EXCELLENT job Core team! (and committers too!)
THANK YOU!
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Andrew Short Colossians 3:23
ashort@concentric.net http://www.concentric.net/~ashort/
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