From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Apr 21 02:13:14 2008 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 ACA111065671 for ; Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:13:14 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from pauls@utdallas.edu) Received: from smtp3.utdallas.edu (smtp3.utdallas.edu [129.110.10.49]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 847348FC23 for ; Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:13:14 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from pauls@utdallas.edu) Received: from [192.168.2.102] (cpe-24-175-90-48.tx.res.rr.com [24.175.90.48]) (using TLSv1 with cipher DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by smtp3.utdallas.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id AD04265504; Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:13:13 -0500 (CDT) Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:13:12 -0500 From: Paul Schmehl To: Jerry Rukavina , freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Message-ID: <35F1BF4D34003AFF570D96C2@Macintosh.local> In-Reply-To: <000001c8a355$493496b0$6400a8c0@ATTALINO78QBFR> References: <000001c8a355$493496b0$6400a8c0@ATTALINO78QBFR> X-Mailer: Mulberry/4.0.8 (Mac OS X) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline Cc: Subject: Re: BSD Computers 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: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:13:14 -0000 --On April 20, 2008 7:13:19 PM -0700 Jerry Rukavina=20 wrote: > Hi, > > I can=E2=80=99t find any out of the box computers that have FreeBSD = loaded. Do > you know which computer manufactures, both laptop and desktop, which can > run FreeBSD? Do you recommend any particular models or know of which > ones are more highly regarded? What about support? I am a newbie and > would need some handholding. I will be using the computer to run a small > business and online research. I would need the regular suite of > productivity tools, hopefully an open source. I would like to punt MS. > Thanks. > FreeBSD, like all open source systems (that I know of), publishes a=20 hardware compatibility list [1] that you can consult to see if the=20 hardware you intend to purchase is supported. In general, most major=20 manufacturers' systems will work fine, although the newest systems can=20 sometimes be problematic. The reality is, hardware manufacturers develop their drivers for Windows=20 first. Linux usually has good coverage because they have a large user and = developer base. So, sometimes, you have to use Windows or Linux drivers=20 to get some specialized piece of hardware to work. One thing you might consider is getting a Freesbie CD [2] and using it to=20 test various hardware systems at a local retail outlet. That would at=20 least give you some comfort of knowing which hardware pieces work well and = which might be problematic. [1] [2] Paul Schmehl (pauls@utdallas.edu) Senior Information Security Analyst The University of Texas at Dallas http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/security/