Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 23:58:48 +0000 From: John Murphy <jfm@blueyonder.co.uk> To: "Bluezmo" <bluezmo@earthlink.net> Cc: newbies@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Hmm Message-ID: <0njk7v8tqbl7812t37qq4nsodqbrgmgs6t@4ax.com> In-Reply-To: <JMEAJACIKMIJMPNGDNNJOEGHCAAA.bluezmo@earthlink.net> References: <JMEAJACIKMIJMPNGDNNJOEGHCAAA.bluezmo@earthlink.net>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
"Bluezmo" <bluezmo@earthlink.net> wrote: >I've been tussling with installing & implementing FreeBSD 5 on a laptop = for >about 2 weeks now. The initial install took 4 days (which I expected = given >I knew nothing about BSD) & I've whittled down the install time to >approximately 45 minutes from a DOS partition. I reinstalled because = not >all my hardware functions. You've done well to persevere with a 5.0 install on a laptop, as your = first =46reeBSD experience. >Yesterday my buddy who recommended I try BSD as an alternative to Linux = came >over & we attempted the install of BSD 4.7 because it was "stable". I = had >hoped that we would be able to configure a PCMCIA ethernet card on the = front >end of the install by checking the conflicts & punching in the ports & = IQ's >documented by Windows (laptop, dual booted). We tried using the FTP = site >but the card didn't function. I tried the same paradigm for the CD ROM = with >the same results. 4.7 would be a better install for anyone who would consider themself a = newbie. The subscribers to FreeBSD-questions have more experience of the 4 = branch, so you would be more likely to get valid answers to technical questions. >OK, rather than suffer the anticipated wrath of the BSD community by = posting >to an inappropriate area, I have several questions about this = experience. Your fears are, IMHO, unfounded. Though you're wise to ask first, and = it's exactly the type of question that's on topic here. >I joined the newbie group because I am a newbie & will want to ask = questions. Great, but your technical questions should be asked on -questions. You probably won't get flamed even if your question is a FAQ or is well covered in the handbook; especially if you mention you're fairly new. >I've read until my eyeballs are swimming with "inuxes" & am slightly >frustrated because I simply want to learn the OS rather than search >newsgroups for the appropriate forum. When I click the link >http://www.freebsd.org/search.html , to search, a redirect shuttles me = to a >message that the link doesn't function. So, I'm posting here because my >concerns are newbie concerns. Hopefully, someone will take the time to >comment. That page is at http://www.freebsd.org/search/search.html Where is the link you clicked? You should inform the appropriate = webmaster if there's a broken link somewhere. I often use the amazing google machine to search FreeBSD questions = archive: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=3Den&lr=3Dlang_en&group=3Dmailing.free= bsd.questions >1) If I don't find specific hardware listed in the hardware list, does = that >mean the drivers aren't available period? People expound on the = advantages >of open source code being ultimately customizable. In short, if the = drivers >aren't available for a device, and the kernel can't be configured, what = can >be done (if anything) to get the device to function? I've heard rumours that some FreeBSD developers will work for hardware = almost ;) but it amazes me how much hardware is well supported. Perhaps the very = worst hardware is less likely to be of interest to the developers. Also, it = would depend on the "inux" friendliness of the manufacturer. But I'm a newbie,= so don't quote me. You'll get a better answer on -questions. >2) Given the scenario (and post discussion with other "inux" users) it = has >been suggested that I try Linux initially to get my feet wet in the = "inux" >environment. My buddy says to stick with BSD. I'd definitely go with your buddy. But it mostly depends what you're trying to achieve... >In the endless documentation I've perused, mention was made of Open & = Net BSD. >My perception was that those flavors maybe better suited to my goals. >Frankly I don't know & want to gather some feedback. Some say OpenBSD is the securest thing since Fort Knox, and others that = NetBSD will run on your toaster! The latter works well on some odd 486s I have, = where =46ree won't. Using NetBSD a little helps me appreciate the familiarity = of Free. Though some of the differences are interesting... I never thought I'd have _free_ access to such quality software. >So, if someone is out there & cares to perhaps elaborate, it would be >appreciated. I have several computers, Windows & Macintosh & want to = learn >UNIX. You will have a lot of fun. Can you run OS ten on that Mac? (Though you should perhaps not state the "UNIX" word so loudly. But = that, as they say, is another story.) Good luck. John. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?0njk7v8tqbl7812t37qq4nsodqbrgmgs6t>