FreeBSD in General

[Jason Stewart]

On Wed, 2003-04-23 at 15:53, Gerald H. Kruchten wrote:
> I had the following 
> operating systems loaded up and working on this computer at once: DOS 5.0, 
> WindowsNT4.0, OS/2Warp 4, Mandrake's Linux 7.3, FreeBSD 4.2, and BeOS.

> I prefer GUI because I am not 
> a geek; never was and don't care to become one.

The fact that you run 6 different OSes on one computer pretty much
qualifies you as a geek. 

> A person's memory is made 
> to be used for more important things than to remember UNIX commands.  The 
> prospect of sitting in a nursing home in my late years endlessly repeating 
> and reciting useless UNIX commands while sitting in a wheel chair in a 
> catatonic state sends shivers up and down my spine. That thought alone is 
> repulsive. 

Give me a break. If you don't want to end up that way, then take up some
other hobbies. Life isn't all about work and computers. For me, its all
about family and my hobbies. 

> It is just that I am so frustrated with Microsoft's mode and 
> method doing of business.  I would probably feel different about it if I 
> felt that they had the most reliable and efficient product, but we all know 
> that this isn't so.  They do have the easiest operating systems to 
> use.  Though I am not a programmer, I am convinced that Microsoft is more 
> concerned about snooping into my business than they are in providing the 
> fastest and most efficient software product available.

For hating Microsoft so much, you seem to not mind giving them money
with your Windows NT, DOS 5.0, and Windows XP.

> I am looking for an 
> operating system that will smoke MS in efficiency and productivity without 
> being required to have a PHD, Master's or any other college degree to 
> operate a computer system

FreeBSD is much more efficient than Microsoft in the server arena, and
one could argue that since the uptimes are better, then as a server OS,
FreeBSD is more productive. As far as desktop OSes go, IMHO, FreeBSD, X,
GNOME, KDE, etc. aren't quite there (yet).


> 	If your going to continue having them as a retailer, rather than putting 
> out a FreeBSD v4.8 in a box, I think that you ought to get crackin' and get 
> a relatively bugless or debugged version of 5.0 out there.  The other thing 
> that I am looking for is a GUI windows emulator that will operate "ALL" 
> windows applications.  I request that because I am presently forced to use 
> a charting system that is programmed and designed only for the later 
> versions of Windows.  This is because companies that offer this kind of 
> specialized software are usually very small and simply can't afford the 
> capital costs that go with developing applications for multiple 
> platforms.  They develop applications for Windows  because most of the 
> businesses in the stock market industry still use MS operating 
> software.  It ends up being a vicious circle that leaves you guys, Linux 
> and me out in the cold.  I do like the simplicity with which one can 
> usually operate a Microsoft OS.  It's designed with the simpleton in 
> mind.  That's me.  

I wonder why you downplay your computer knowledge. First you explain how
you have tried out all of these OSes, then explain the marketing methods
behind them, then call yourself a simpleton. Something doesn't add up.

> 	I would suspect that by now, it is quite obvious from what I have written 
> that I have little or no clue as to what is required when it comes to 
> writing a software program and/or application.  But I shouldn't need to 
> have one.  All that I, the everyday customer, should have to tell you is 
> what I want.  Once having done so, most any engineer/technician worth 
> his/her salt, will readily be able to figure something out design it 
> according to those specs.

True, but there has to be a kind individual willing to donate his/her
time to the FreeBSD project. That's how Open Source works.

  I just hope that it happens before I'm returned 
> to ashes.  I would like to be able to use and enjoy a universal operating 
> system that will be able to handle anything that I load onto it and that I 
> won't have to ready manuals for the next ten years just to power up and 
> sign on.  I don't think that I am wishing for too much here.  After 
> all,  when one people of the industry told other people at seminars just a 
> few years ago that the average household would have a computer and many of 
> them two or more, the majority of people scoffed at that idea.  I say, "Go 
> for all the marbles."  But don't go so slow that we can sit here and watch 
> the snails race by or watch the paint peel.  Thankyou for your time.


Hmm.. After reading this, I get the distinct feeling that I have took a
peice of bait. What was your point? That FreeBSD is being developed too
slowly? I thought you said that developing to quickly, just to bump up
version numbers and such is equal with a crappy product?

If you are all serious about this, I would suggest that you dual-boot
Windows and FreeBSD/Linux until application developers see the light
about open source and start porting some of their products over. Run
what you can in WINE, and what you can't, run natively on Windows.

Good Luck,
Jason Stewart