Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:18:51 -0500 From: <dashevil@sympatico.ca> To: <freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Re: Desktop FreeBSD Message-ID: <20040308211850.GCYK2387.tomts8-srv.bellnexxia.net@smtp.bellnexxia.net>
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> > From: Michal Pasternak <michal@pasternak.w.lub.pl> > Date: 2004/03/08 Mon AM 04:36:04 EST > To: dashevil@sympatico.ca > CC: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org > Subject: Re: Desktop FreeBSD > > dashevil@sympatico.ca [Mon, Mar 08, 2004 at 01:39:52AM -0500]: > > Joe Sixpack becomes fusterated, even angry, when he learns that HIS OS is > > the reason he can't use some program that he wants. > > That's not average Joe Sixpack. That's technically advanced Joe. > > Average J. Sixpack doesn't know what a *program* is. He just clicks icon and > request a specific action to be performed. As long as he is able to do some > basic work with documents - and, in some case, to receive some help from his > neighbour - he will be happy. > > J. S. using some desktop Linux + Gnome + Abiword will not care what it > really is, as long, as the computer acts like J. S. belives it should act. > J. S. will propably notice the difference on other computers (using, for > example, MS Windows + MS Office) - but he may still be unable to call this > "different program". > > > So, he sees, say, LINUX, as being the > > thing that is coming between HIM and being productive. > > Well... productivity. Calculate yearly downtime in a middle-sized office, > caused by virii, trojans and blue screens. > > OTOH, calculate number of curses + time needed to fix some application, that > you desperatley need, right now, but it prefers to do coredumping. I prefer > the 2nd way, because computers always been my hobby... but I don't really > suggest it for other people. > > > Second of all, I'm not sure many people who > > buy these computers fully understand what Linux is, and without that > > understanding they are getting themselves in somewhat of a jam. > > Exactly. If Joe Sickpack buys a freenix-supported printer (just set it up > with cups/apsfilter and go), he will first notice, that the supplied CD with > drivers won't work. > > > If FreeBSD is to be more appealing to Desktop users (and I mean > > Linux/techy Windows users, not Joe Sixpack. Know your market) > [...] > > The Desktop version would assume more on install, have a graphical > > installer, and let you choose GUI that you want on start (along with > > xdm/kdm/gdm). > > Hmm. > > /stand/sysinstall allows desktop environment selection, AFAIR. > > Also, I feel a bit like being a "techy" user and I'd really object any > installer setting up things for me automatically. I just prefer to do things > on my own. I think many of us do. If I'd like to have an OS, that does > everything for me, I'd choose Debian. > > Anyway, the "split" idea you proposed is quite okay, but I'd do it other > way: first, let's leave current FreeBSD "iso" or "distribution" untouched > (if it is not broke, don't fix it). > > Second: desktop-enhanced FreeBSD installation disk sounds really nice. What > exactly does forbid you or some other users from making such FreeBSD > variant? > Nothing, actually. I've been thinking about doing it for a while. > > There are a lot of Linux users who are put off by > > the FreeBSD installer/etc. > > Don't forget, that similar type of people can be put off by telling them to > read manuals. > Yea, that's true too. I think that a "Read the FreeBSD Handbook over here -> (url). It answers your question in more detail than I could." would be much better. > Take care, > -- > mp >
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