Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:08:41 -0500 From: gore <koggybsd@comcast.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Horrible installer (was: Re: FreeBSD 9) Message-ID: <201201232008.42088.koggybsd@comcast.net> In-Reply-To: <5BFFDD9D-06BA-403D-9784-A430B9F55840@cox.net> References: <BLU160-W54C133B8003EF140C41EF7AE860@phx.gbl> <op.v8jjr6j234t2sn@tech304> <5BFFDD9D-06BA-403D-9784-A430B9F55840@cox.net>
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On Monday 23 January 2012 05:18:01 pm B. Kyle Adkins wrote: > I'm very new to FreeBSD but it seems to me that the installer is > pretty much ok. My only wish is that there might be a little more > info upfront somewhere, preferably in the installer somewhere, about > setting up for a dual boot. I couldn't find in the handbook, (that > may be my fault, don't know, but i finally googled the info i needed, > after thinking that I had inadvertently committed my Windows slice > into the abyss. maybe that was a good thing, but.... Heh, I remember back in the day when I FIRST got to use FreeBSD for the very first time; I bought the BSD PowerPak, complete with FreeBSD 4.0, the 4 CD-ROM set, and a 6 CD toolkit, and "The Complete FreeBSD" book 3rd edition, Which is one of the best books ever written on BSD, or any OS period. Back then, I was running my Computer, it had Windows 98 SE, dual booting with a Linux distro (I used a few and formatted a lot to try new things so it could have been any of them) and then I decided to tri-boot Windows 98 SE, Linux, and FreeBSD... To put it mildly; The BSD installer overwrote my MBR even though I said not to, and wouldn't boot Windows. So it only booted Linux and FreeBSD. I was TOTALLY new to Computers in general still, but even back then, I knew I'd stumbled upon something special. I've also had installs go bad and I couldn't boot Windows anymore either, so I know how you feel. Right now, My Wife and I have 11 computers, and all of mine are running some form of BSD (ONLY FreeBSD and PC-BSD, which is FreeBSD with a pretty pain job and some custom apps that I like) and then a Slackware 12.0 FTP Server which is just my first Computer I ever bought because it still works, and then, I have my main desktop dual booting Windows 7 and Slackware as well. Every other machine is now running some form of FreeBSD. I like that. BSD has come a long way in terms of desktop usability over the years. I mean you could use FreeBSD as a Desktop or Workstation easily, but it COULD be a little but of a pain in the butt now and then for that, as it really is aimed at Servers. These days; It's much easier I think. And I LOVE FreeBSD. I have downloaded and tried out NetBSD but I didn't ever like it. I refuse to try OpenBSD, because I hate that damned talking turnip Theo, and, if anyone remembers "unixpunx" back in the day, I still have the Live CD they made based on FreeBSD :) > IMO though, the installer should be as lightweight and spare as > possible, that is, if the engineering dudes are writing it. I would > rather see them doing their fantastic work on the OS, not on the > installer anyway. Seems to me that a full-featured GUI installer > would be a good project for the community? Actually, you could try out PC-BSD :) I'm installing 9.0 on my Laptop right now. I predict in the near future, with the rate at which PC-BSD is going, it's going to become MAJOR MAJOR COMPETITION to Linux, and even the Idiotic Ubuntu. I don't like Ubuntu... I do like Slackware and SUSE, but Ubuntu just..... I like Debian, and it's retarded cousin Ubuntu is NOT for me. I use the installation media I have for it, for the SAME purpose I use my Windows NT and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition CDs; Coffee Coasters. > from my point of view, I would rather learn how to do this by hand, > because then i would come out learning a lot more, and knowing more > about my own system. Probably be next on my agenda. I personally would like to learn that part too. However, I don't think it should EVER be a requirement. I mean, when it comes down to it, I think we could all admit, FreeBSD is the most popular BSD because it was the first one to actually try and get something out there that was installable without being a guru. NetBSD and OpenBSD are barely catching up, and I don't care; FreeBSD and PC-BSD, are becoming very quickly my main OSs these days. I used to use SUSE Debian and Slackware for most of my stuff, but anymore, I don't. BSD has, FINALLY, got something called "PC-BSD" where I can use the stability of FreeBSD, but, with then fast and easy set up of something like RedHat. I hate RedHat so I'm VERY happy Pc-BSD has come along so far. I've got versions of it going back pretty far heh. I actually have a CD / DVD case that is dedicated JUST to BSD. and it's LOADED. FreeBSD going back to 4.0, and other BSD stuff I have. All in there. And!!!! For Christmas, I got a new FreeBSD tee, hoody, and a FreeBSD CD/DVD Case. I LOVE it. I also got stickers and stuff, and ANOTHER FreeBSD PC Case thingy, and I love it. > since this is my first contact with the community, I would like to > thank the development folks properly for the awesome work that they > do, and to those who contribute to this list. If you want to thank them properly, I'd HIGHLY recommend buying some of the books! Look into "The FreeBSD Mall" and on the left hand side, you'll see a section called "Books and Magazines". Look through it, and grab a book or two. Some of the money you spend there, goes to the team as far as I know. I personally have every FreeBSD book on there except one; "The best of FreeBSD Basics" which I don't own, however, my FreeBSD book collection, takes up an entire book shelf by itself. I buy a LOT of BSD stuff. You can also donate money there as well. Even a Dollar. Every bit counts, and every bit helps. I do what I can, when I can. I lost my job a while back so I haven't been able to, but, when Christmas came a month ago; I went to my Mom's House, and had my Mom load up the FreeBSD Mall web site and, we spent a couple hundred dollars. If you're new to FreeBSD I VERY much recommend buying some books and some of the BSD Magazines!!! I can't say that enough. I got my first two issues for Christmas this past year and I LOVE them!!!! Also, you should look up Marshall Kirk McKusic, and go to his web site. On his site you can buy a DVD called "20 years of Berkeley Unix" and buy that!! It's a GREAT DVD, and it's just so awesome. It's very informative, and very funny! I LOVE him. If you're new to this, try that out of you can afford to right now :) -Allen -- BSD user
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