questions to decide

[Kevin D. Kinsey, DaleCo, S.P.]

Jerry McAllister wrote:

>>Hello, I want to install a new operating system in to my new notebook.
>>I don't want to install any microsoft operating system, and I was asking 
>>myself what operating system could I install, but I'm not sure now.
>>    
>>
>
>Well, on this list people are going to (wisely) tell you to
>install FreeBSD.   
>  
>
>>Well, some of my friends told me that I have to install Linux, but the 
>>opinions are so fragmented. Some of my friends told me that I have to 
>>use Red Hat, others that I have to try SuSE, others Debian, and some 
>>fiends told me about use Mandrake...
>>    
>>
>
>More reason to try FreeBSD.   There will be some learning effort, but
>in the end you will be happiest.
>
>  
>
>>... Some deleted
>>
>>Anyway I'm so much confused, because the only I want is install an operating 
>>system that support my notebook's hardware.
>>
>>AMD processor, Broadband network card, pcmcia and network pcmcia card 
>>conceptronic, ATI Radeon IGP card, USB, serial and parallel ports... 
>>iee ports... and all new hardware, but I can't found some drivers in 
>>one or another distribution, and sometimes, in all distro...
>>
>>I would like If you can tell me if I can install freeBSD 5.1 or newer to 
>>support full features of my notebook.
>>    
>>
>
>If you are new to FreeBSD and if all the things you need are supported
>by FreeBSD 4.9, that would be the recommended way to go.  It is the
>production release.  Only go to 5.1 for now if you really need it to get 
>support of some of your system. The 5.1 version is still a development
>version, still a little unready for complete release, though it is getting
>pretty good and will handle almost everything reliably.
>If you go to the FreeBSD home page at:
>                                       http://www.freebsd.org/
>Then click on the 'Hardware Notes' item under 'Production Release 4.9'
>and after that click on 'i386' on the next page. 
>
>You will get a long list of the hardware supported by the 4.9 release.  
>Some things have multiple names and/or a vendor may OEM the device - sell 
>something built by another company, but put their own name on it.  In that 
>case, usually you have to find out who really built the device and look 
>for that in the list because they don't always have all the names vendors 
>put on the essentially same product.
>
>Good luck,
>
>////jerry
>  
>

You might also try the freebsd-mobile list.

Kevin Kinsey