Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 10:27:58 -0500 (CDT) From: Alec Kloss <alec@d2si.com> To: bbolden@tir.com Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: What are we writing about Message-ID: <199705091527.KAA11285@d2si.com> In-Reply-To: <33732A4C.4FF0@mail.tir.com> from Betteye Bolden at "May 9, 97 09:44:44 am"
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Betteye Bolden is responsible for: > From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri May 9 09:25:31 1997 > Message-ID: <33732A4C.4FF0@mail.tir.com> > Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 09:44:44 -0400 > From: Betteye Bolden <bbolden@tir.com> > Reply-To: bbolden@tir.com > X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; U) > To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG > Subject: What are we writing about > Sender: owner-questions@FreeBSD.ORG > X-Loop: FreeBSD.org > Precedence: bulk > I fail to understand if the service you are providing is software, > or Access to the iternet. I am not very computer literate. Could > you please get to the bottem line so that I may understand the service > which you provide. > > What are the rates? > What is the fee for software? > Is thier a charge for hits? > > you can see from my questions, that I at present am at a loss. > > Please clear up what service you provide. > > Respectfully submitted > > bb > Well, here it is in a nutshell. For more info, look through the web site at http://www.freebsd.org/ FreeBSD is a operating opearting system, somewhat similar to Microsoft Windows. FreeBSD has a different "heritage" than windows and behaves differently in many ways. FreeBSD is a varient of the UNIX operating system originally developed at AT&T in the 1970s. It provides the following features: 1) Multi-tasking: More that a single program can be running. Typically at least 30 programs are running at any time on a UNIX system. The FreeBSD system I'm using right now has 86 processes running. 2) Multi-user: UNIX supports multiple users of a computer. Each user can have private and shared files and can communicate with each other. Additionally, multiple users can use the same machine at the same time. The machine I am using right now is also being used by 1 other person. 3) Stable: Because UNIX was intented to be used by many people at the same time (often dozens or hundreds) stability and networking were high priorities. UNIX systems rarely crash and are typically left running (in business environments) for months (or years) at a time. I have only crashed FreeBSD by installing defective hardware. So, persay, FreeBSD is not providing access to the internet. FreeBSD is a operating system that is an excellent choice for connecting to the internet, with useful features like automatic redial and dial on demand. It is a very stable operating system which makes it popular with internet service providers. In terms of fees, FreeBSD is free. You can download the whole operating system from the internet (paying only whatever you pay for internet connectivity) and if you can figure out how to install it, you are set. You can also buy a two-CD set of the complete opeating system for something like $50 from Walnut Creek (see http://www.cdrom.com/). You can then use FreeBSD to create your own websites, dial in to the internet, publish books, write programs in many languages (C, C++, Scheme, LISP, fortran, smalltalk and who knows how many more), still without paying a dime for the software. All in all, it is pretty neat. However, it is not for the faint of heart or the casual user. FreeBSD (and UNIX in general) is much more for people who are interested in setting up the best computer they can, not just a functional one. Hope this helps.
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