Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 00:52:40 -0400 From: beef@cybertouch.org To: chat@FreeBSD.ORG, Marty Cawthon <mrc@ChipChat.com> Subject: Re: Linux vs BSD Message-ID: <199810060452.AAA02803@beef.cybertouch.org> In-Reply-To: <Pine.OS2.3.96.981005223607.124B-100000@MRC-Tiger.chipchat.com>
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Date sent: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 23:18:40 -0400 (EDT) From: Marty Cawthon <mrc@ChipChat.com> To: chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Linux vs BSD > Hello BSDaemons, > > BACKGROUND > I frequently encounter the question "Linux vs BSD" from people who use > neither. If they have seen neither, and you want to promote FreeBSD, why would you point to another OS? A simple question, but without a simple answer. A credible answer > requires a person well versed in both systems without a 'religious' bias. > > In discussing this topic with two of my brothers it occurred to me just > how much is actually common to both systems. For example, an end-user > sees the same X11R6 in each case (recompiled for each O.S.), the same > Bash, a programmer uses the same gcc, an administrator uses the same > sendmail, named, samba, etc. If that is the case then why not compare to AIX or SCO? > > IDEA > I think a web page that lists, side by side, many of the components of a > "Linux Distribution" and that of a FreeBSD 'distribution' (and NetBSD and > OpenBSD) might be very interesting, and a useful reference for discussing > "Linux vs BSD". Such a web page would show, without bias or bashing, just > how much is in common, and just what is different. > If I were doing the marketing with FreeBSD, I would not at any initial stage, put ANYONE elses name beside FreeBSD. What you want to do is to get the NAME FreeBSD to be synonymous with UNIX. In the same way we (or most of us anyway, refer to Kleenex). This business of comparison between different systems will just lead to fights. And that is a total waste of time. I don't know how old linux is, but there are commercial apps around for it. If you happen to be good at making programs, why not spend the time to make not good, but great commercial applications for FreeBSD. Applications that are useful to companies or the general public are the second best way of getting more people to buy FreeBSD. Obviously the best way to get people to buy FreeBSD is by word of mouth. I for one have a future brother-in-law who sells networking to companies. He is from the "old school" where in University he was doing cobol. His idea of unix is "Lanny you want to still use the horse and cart when the rest of the world is driving cars"? That got me mad as hell. I have been trying to learn FreeBSD for over 2 years. As you can see from this mail, it is sent from Pegaus. The thing is, it is sent not to my isp but to my FreeBSD box sitting or purring rather, beside me here. Now I can invite him to my condo to show him what "the cart and horse can do". As I type this letter I am able to play mp3's via samba, use microsoft word7 again, via samba. Things he said can't be done with out throwing tons of hardware to a unix machine. He says he gets SCO unix for clients that need Unix systems. I want to prove to him that FreeBSD is the way to go. With cablemodems slowly taking over the isp business, as it will. The need to rely on, on-site servers, will increase. I see FreeBSD having a great share in that. Small firms will be able to have file- servers that are web servers, mail servers. With the added feature of knowing the files reside on thier premises. I am no unix guru as some people in the FreeBSD community know. But then I dont give up and die. The point is, that there are millions and i mean millions more, that know about 5% of what I know. Having said that, the ultimate success for FreeBSD and the FreeBSD community lies in both marketing and in increased ready made software/solutions. Lanny > > If the newcomer could easily see just how much is in common, they > might realize that their choice was not as critical or irrevocable as they > might think. It might help to convince newcomers that "BSD is a > 'safe' choice, as is Linux" because most of the skills you learn and use > can move immediately to the other platform. > Once convinced of that, it is possible to escape the "bandwagon shadow" > of Linux and discuss the merits and uniqueness of BSD. I think you are forgetting one thing here. The average "joe" that works at a factory. Comes home to play on his/her pc. They are not interested in the merits of either or any unix system. They want to play games, use irc, look at pics...whatever. System Administrators, academics, people involved in networking and system sales are probably far more interested in the merits of FreeBSD. > > QUESTION > Do other BSDaemons think this idea has merit? > Has it been done before? > Yeah,. Coke and Pepsi doit all the time on T.V....what is there advertising budget? Or was it Mazda and Mistubishi? I forgot. > I KNOW I WILL REGRET THIS BUT, > If there is support for this idea, I will volunteer to do it, or at > least start it, with help from others, especially those more knowledgeable > than myself. > > SUMMARY > Unlike the path with Microsoft software, Microsoft is one of the worlds greatest marketing efforts. a decision to use Linux does > not preclude somebody from moving to BSD relatively easily - or > vice-versa. > A choice in open source operating systems is a strength. It can > help both BSD and Linux. My thought is to exploit that strength, and help > people feel comfortable about choosing BSD. > > Marty Cawthon > ChipChat To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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