Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:12:10 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Quartz <quartz@sneakertech.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org, Jeff Belyea <jbelyea5@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Message-ID: <20130329101210.ff3c4391.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <5154D66D.5090407@sneakertech.com> References: <CAPZObWAYQFBMvp4gVtt5TJ9kf2KGsmv12B9DC%2B2KSFhyCAzXRg@mail.gmail.com> <5154D66D.5090407@sneakertech.com>
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Sorry I have to say that, but I feel I have to comment on this: On Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:46:53 -0400, Quartz wrote: > [pc/free]bsd *can* be used as a desktop system, but it's really aimed > more at servers... FreeBSD is, per definition, a multi-purpose operating system. It can be used on servers, on desktops, on "combined forms", even on embedded. The description "desktop", as I will admit, includes the ability to do several things, such as web browsing, emailing, word processing. Someone may include multimedia, someone else may include gaming. There is no strict definition on what makes "desktop". > a lot of common desktopy things aren't covered well. Personally I'm using FreeBSD _exclusively_ (!) on the desktop since version 4.0, and I haven't missed _any_ "common desktopy thing" that is required for my daily work. So at least from my limited and very individual point of view, everything is covered fine, on my home machines, and on the several laptops I have been using. I know I'm probably doing something wrong. :-) > Based on the wording of your question it sounds like you're new to > non-windows systems. I'd suggest you look into some flavor of linux > instead (eg; "ubuntu" or "mint"): they'll be geared more towards what > you'd be looking for I think. This assumption is what PC-BSD has been invented for. :-) Honestly: I know there are several things that do not work out of the box with FreeBSD, such as specific network sets, strange electrical sheet feeders with inkpee mechanism, controlled by an unknown USB data stream, or "commodity gadgets". Problems can also occur when considering that some hardware manufacturers cripple their hardware intendedly in order to get permission to put a "Windows" advertising sticker on them. In such cases, Linux is often an advantage as they have developed means to deal with that. Still if the OP is explicitely _interested_ in running FreeBSD, what's wrong in a try first? Maybe first PC-BSD, then "normal" FreeBSD? In worst case, he would be able to download some Linux distribution (and I second your suggestions of Ubuntu and Mint, maybe add openSuSE?) and use that instead. There is no reason to stay with "Windows 8" when everything it gives you is headaches and rage attacks. ;-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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