Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 19:56:52 -0600 (CST) From: Ryan Thompson <ryan@sasknow.com> To: Peter Leftwich <Hostmaster@Video2Video.Com> Cc: FreeBSD LIST <FreeBSD-Questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Peter heads back to M$FT WinBloze Message-ID: <20020726191815.D24203-100000@ren.sasknow.com> In-Reply-To: <20020726195011.N18019-100000@earl-grey.cloud9.net>
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Peter Leftwich wrote to FreeBSD LIST: > Dear List, I've been reading some compelling posts lately about > people giving up on FreeBSD, and may soon -- sadly -- join their > ranks! > > (There was the guy who posted about FreeBSD being great for servers > (surely) but falling short in the desktop/workstation/laptop AND > ease-of-use category. Now there's the thread about Dan wanting his > xp back. I can relate!) Having been on all three sides of this fence off and on for many years, what I have learned (and learned to accept) are these key points. For the below points, s/FreeBSD/$Z/g where $Z is just about anything you can imagine. :-) 1. FreeBSD is not for everybody. This much is obvious, and most among us realize this, and don't try to push FreeBSD on the unwilling. 2. Even for those well versed in UNIX, FreeBSD is not the solution to all computing problems. I am not at all afraid to admit that, in addition to running FreeBSD, I have (and use) several Windows machines, MacOS, SunOS, and even a token Linux box. :-) 3. While most people realize #1 pretty quickly ("this is not for me"), fewer ever realize #2, and try to do absolutely everything with one operating system. This, I have found, only leads to resentment when FreeBSD does not do something as well as another operating system. Let's face it. A pick-up truck and a Formula-1 race car are both vehicles. Professional F-1 racers don't go shopping with their race car. Even though both vehicles perform most of the same functions, and even have similar controls, it is obvious that each has advantages over the other for certain tasks. There need be no competition. Here's my own private dogma: I know which tasks I need to carry out each day. I have found which operating system fits each of my tasks best. I use the right OS (for me) for each task. The subject of many a flame war past has been "what *is* the right OS for the job"... because the answer is entirely individual. Try it. If you don't like FreeBSD as a desktop machine, go find something else that you *do* like. You won't hurt our feelings. :-) Conversely, if you *do* want to give a serious effort to try something out, I think you will find that many on these lists (myself included) will try very hard to help you. The only serious flaw in my strategy is that obviously not everyone has the resources to run several OSes concurrently. I am fortunate in that respect, but I don't expect everyone else is. If you must only choose one OS for *all* of your computing tasks, choose a general operating system that is right for you, and don't buy in too heavily to the opinions of others who have chosen the OS that is right for them. > [...] > four-ways, I blew the dust off my FreeBSD 4.3 CDROMs and installed > them by the seat of my pants, but could never get XFree86 3.3.6 > working - blank screen! As respects the problems you experienced with FreeBSD, I have not experienced these particular problems. I am sure, however, that others have. (And Lord knows each of us has experienced our own unique sets of problems over the years). If you want to overcome the difficulties you experienced, exploit these lists by asking questions (perhaps you already have). There are many bright people here who can (collectively) field just about any question that comes our way. That, IMO, is one very strong advantage we have over many other choices. - Ryan -- Ryan Thompson <ryan@sasknow.com> SaskNow Technologies - http://www.sasknow.com 901 1st Avenue North - Saskatoon, SK - S7K 1Y4 Tel: 306-664-3600 Fax: 306-244-7037 Saskatoon Toll-Free: 877-727-5669 (877-SASKNOW) North America To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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