FreeBSD for the common man(or woman) (was: upgrade 7.2 overwrites partitions)

[Neal Hogan]

> In light of this, I would really enjoy seeing a "Ubuntu" like movement
> in the FreeBSD corner.
> What I mean is that it would be nice for my mother to install and use
> FreeBSD.
> I am not saying that a Windows user should be able to feel right at home
> on a box running FreeBSD, but a computer user should.
> The problem herein, i am afraid, lies not with FreeBSD(or any other BSD
> flavour), nor with it's community, but with the computer user.
> Most computer users see an operating system(and the application they run
> most) as part of a computer.
> How many people say "My computer is broken" when µ$ Office doesn't start
> anymore.
> They don't care about which kernel they run, or which browser they use,
> they care about typing e-mail, chatting and watching youtube video's.
> (However sad it makes me that most people use less then 10% of the
> features/programs/potential/computing-power the computer came with, they
> do make sure we pay less for our components.)
> Even though I'd feel less "cool" or "nerdy" (which is basically the same
> thing ;-) ) if I'd run(or USE) the same OS as my 76 year old
> grandfather, it would be nice for him to be able to buy a computer for
> $20 less because it runs FreeBSD.
> To achieve this, there are two things that should be made easier:
> 1. Installing a basic desktop system(next to any currently installed OS)
> 2. Keeping the base system and ports up to date.
> And when I mean "easier" I mean it should be done without bothering the
> user unless you about to "rm -rf /" as root, so to say.
> Since most people never reinstall their computer, making it easier to
> install a basic desktop system won't help my 76 year old grandpa, but it
> will make it easier for unsatisfied Windows users to try FreeBSD.
> Besides, in making it easy to install a basic desktop system, comes the
> hardest part of any *nix like system: defining a basic desktop and
> collecting the basic/standard applications.
> It's hard just to pick either one Gnome, KDE or XFCE (or iceWM ;-) ) let
> alone mail-clients, internet browsers, IM, etc. etc.
> One of the advantages of using a descent operating system is the freedom
> of choice. However most users don't care!
> I am more then happy to tel anyone which e-mail client not to use (Lotus
> notes, outlook express, anyone else's neck hears standing up?), but I
> don't want to tell people they HAVE to use Thunderbird(I do tell them
> they SHOULD but that's different) or evolution etc.
> The problem is, most people don't want to make this choice either.
> And the circle of life continues.
> So basically, to make sure people will be using freeBSD (or any *nix
> operating system) it needs to be easy to install (So that
> PC-manufacturers will ship their pc's with it), a nicely filled standard
> desktop environment with lot's of youtube/chat/word process capabilities
> and "I won't bother you with it but i'm updating" functionality.
> Just some thoughts..
> I'll get back to work now...
> ...

I must say that I find this (new) thread a bit funny since it was
inspired by a guy (the OP) who has been using fBSD for many years
(over 5 . . . I can't remember the exact number).

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