Date: 22 Jan 2001 07:48:00 -0800 From: Steve M <slavik944@metconnect.com> To: tedm@toybox.placo.com Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: RE: FreeBSD vs linux (some venting) Message-ID: <20010122154800.29703.cpmta@c004.sfo.cp.net>
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Let me point out a few things that I've found lacking in Greg's book, One is the reference to creating a link to the /var directory and moving it to /user/var. I did that procedure *exactly*, as in to the letter. What I got was either the directory not being about to mount upon boot up. Having experienced that I decided I move /usr/var back to /var hoping it would go back to the way it was supposed to. When it mounted the contents of the directory had disappeared I unmounted it forcefully and they had reappeared. Oh well so now I dont mount it on boot up. I fiddled with /etc/fstab with no success. One other thing is setting up PPP, I've went over the suggestions in that chapter on setting it up and have not succeded in setting up my internet connection. I've tried to use kppp from my xwin only to find that my modem hangs when it attempts to initialize. I dont need to be told that it is a modem issue in this case, it is slowly dawning on me. Using ppp at the prompt, it dials out easy enough but doesnt log in. This particular issue has already been addressed by other people on this list. That and when I execute the CDplayer in xwin it complains about me not having permission.....I was in root. Ok, I will concede that I was being harsh about the lack of documentation. There is documentation but so far from what I have seen there are *minor* discrepencies. Not something I would base my judgment on if someone was wanting to convert to *nix. Regarding Linux, I own the Running Linux (cowboy on the horse book by ORielly), it pretty helpful and I'm sure there are other books I can look at to get the answer. But I dont want to spend 40-50 bucks on book after book to get an answer. I guess to rephrase my earlier 'condemming' of documentation, what bothers me is having to have to run from one source to another to find the answer. The man pages are useful but to the laymen they are in geek speak. Your's is only the second email I've read regarding this and hope that there are people who are little bit more objective than you appear to be. Don't forget that I also mentioned, what I feel is a legitamite gripe against RedHat or Linux, at one point when I was composing an email on my Linux WS my browser disappered. At the time I was composing a pretty big email. Basically what I'm trying to say is that there are places where *nix isnt the end all be all like some people would like me to belive. Just like MS wants me to belive. But dont mistake my complaints as crucifixion, when I have to choose between OS' I'm always leaning towards the *nix side. Steve M > > > > > >The *nix OS' lack sufficient documentation for the average > >user. I'm a little above the average user so I've > > What an insult! What about my book that was just > released? And what about Greg's book "The Complete FreeBSD" > that has been out longer than that? What is lacking in those > efforts? And, the bookstores are stuffed with Linux books!! > > Your not going to get a manual, bound and all > that, for the $30 distribution cost of the CDs! For that matter > you don't get a manual with Microsoft's products either unless > you spend $150 for the Resourse Kit > > > > >I'm not a geek nor do I profess to be one, I just dont have > >the time to putz around with a minor thing as > > compared to MS's way of doing something. > > > > If you took someone who has never seen, never touched a computer > before and sat them in front of a FreeBSD system, I wager it would > take just as long to train them to use it as to train them to > use Windows. MS's way only seems easier because you learned it > first. > > >But I dislike MS for their business practices if anything, > >they totally insist on doing things in such a way > > that is to pretend there is no other way besides their way. > > > > Right - because they market to one-dimensional users that are > scared if they are given 2 different ways to solve a problem, > and asked to choose the best one. > > >Thanks for letting me vent and I hope I've got this stupid > >email formatted in a readable form. > > > >FWIW, > >Steve M > > > > You do. Go ahead and vent. But, stop by the bookstore > before condemming the lack of docs. > > Ted Mittelstaedt tedm@toybox.placo.com > Author of: The FreeBSD Corporate Networker's Guide > Book website: http://www.freebsd-corp-net-guide.com To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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