From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Aug 9 05:13:41 2007 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 8951016A418 for ; Thu, 9 Aug 2007 05:13:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mkhitrov@gmail.com) Received: from rv-out-0910.google.com (rv-out-0910.google.com [209.85.198.190]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5E2A013C457 for ; Thu, 9 Aug 2007 05:13:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mkhitrov@gmail.com) Received: by rv-out-0910.google.com with SMTP id f1so280706rvb for ; Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:13:40 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=beta; h=domainkey-signature:received:received:message-id:date:from:to:subject:cc:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:content-disposition:references; b=BHbimXsWFuw4zl9lAx3fHu4VRdL1qrWXp2IKpfLtyRhY21Mk0CQ8dSd5El8flUFmuc7OKg+s3AI7LohVWAOTLRIDKCLzlCnjXBHnINby1gXyNSAikU31ThMIraiUGZ81rhMWmqArQqMvTtF6m/66TqIysT0lJHXUmvoI5BylJPc= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=beta; h=received:message-id:date:from:to:subject:cc:in-reply-to:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding:content-disposition:references; b=JYI9dOMMwk+kp+W7UxT3l52E+/ONBobEJhqzwKLKUoIX4g4ovmzeU4xf/WkrSLqK/1mbv2DA/8iJR/8+Unw8urw/7C8KMFO0KFEPH7+ZR9X0AVcDBHOcTN8GqiPkbN9qJQXf1t4iuiVo2LTuuI7H5aRjfpDhxqGDh/5BXMMAR5s= Received: by 10.143.38.6 with SMTP id q6mr56364wfj.1186636420813; Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:13:40 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.143.10.17 with HTTP; Wed, 8 Aug 2007 22:13:40 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <26ddd1750708082213k3f94e59ax8fd37228e4700f08@mail.gmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 01:13:40 -0400 From: "Maxim Khitrov" To: Latitude In-Reply-To: <46BA9682.7020203@ix.netcom.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline References: <46BA9682.7020203@ix.netcom.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Convince me, please! 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: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:13:41 -0000 On 8/9/07, Latitude wrote: > I'm interested in changing over to FreeBSD from Windows, but I'll have > to say, you guys don't really present a forceful argument to Windows > users of how easy the switch may be. I get knee-deep in FreeBSD jargon > the second I get to your webpage. I need to see an overwhelming argument > that FreeBSD is a perfectly acceptable alternative for home desktop > users who have previously known only Windows. > > For instance, if I download and install FreeBSD, will I instantly have a > desktop windowing environment that I can navigate in while I figure out > what's going on? Will I have a browser and way to setup an internet > connection right off the bat? How will I migrate files from other > operating systems? > > I understand you guys have been around for a while, but you don't seem > to understand the monumental "fear" involved in switching operating > systems. You need to address those concerns head on from the start. I > need to see several screenshots of apps that I can use as alternatives > to what I have. > > Help me (and yourselves) out. Why do you want to switch from Windows to FreeBSD? Much of open-source software is about discovery. Many people here learned how to use FreeBSD by simply spending many hours installing, breaking, fixing, and reinstalling (when fixing fails :) their systems until they became comfortable with the environment. It can be a very enjoyable process, much more so than having a manual explain how everything works. Even so, the FreeBSD handbook is, in my opinion, an excellent source of information even for those who have little prior experience with a unix-like OS. You should try reading it from the beginning to gain some background information about FreeBSD and operating systems in general. If something is unfamiliar to you, google it and see what you come up with. Remember that open-source is based mostly around volunteers who dedicate their time to create something and then give it to you for free. It is expected that you put in some of your own effort in learning how things work and why. Going back to the original question, you should have a reason for switching to FreeBSD. Don't do it just for the sake of switching. If you want to learn something new, that's a good reason in itself, but then you shouldn't be experiencing fear, as you put it. If you are not sure, why not download VMWare Server and play around with FreeBSD in a virtual machine? You still have your windows environment with a web browser and anything else you need while you learn more about this new to you OS. As others suggested, there are versions of FreeBSD that were made from ground up to be used on the desktop. Play around with those if you like, however, I can tell you from my personal experience that it is best to learn an OS like FreeBSD from ground up. Start with a simple terminal and simply follow the directions in the handbook for installing a desktop of your choice. It'll be a much more satisfying experience in the end, even if you run into a few problems while getting there. - Max