BSD Question's.

[Ted Mittelstaedt]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
>[mailto:owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org]On Behalf Of Danial Thom
>Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 7:34 AM
>To: Michael C. Shultz; freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
>Cc: Daniel A.; Andy Sjostrom
>Subject: Re: BSD Question's.
>
>
>
>
>--- "Michael C. Shultz" <ringworm01 at gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>> On Saturday 24 December 2005 06:54, Daniel A.
>> wrote:
>> > Hi Andy,
>> >
>> > I am sorry for the trouble you have had with
>> Windows XP.
>> >
>> > I suggest that you use Linux, as FreeBSD
>> really is not targeted at
>> > people who want to use graphical user
>> interfaces.
>> 
>> In a few key areas FreeBSD is a better desktop
>> OS than Linux:  Easier to keep
>> the kernel/world and installed ports up to date
>> for example without having
>> to resort to the microsoft/Linux fixall method
>> of removing and reinstalling 
>> everything every now and again.  Your opinion
>> is correct IMO that FreeBSD
>> managers put most emphasis on FreeBSD as a
>> server and little as a desktop.
>> My guess is because donations(cash) and
>> hardware support for developers
>> come from people who want servers while people
>> who want a desktop OS tend to 
>> donate squat....
>> 
>> > The linux developers really have been trying
>> to make a valuable
>> > replacement for Windows, as they somehow have
>> experienced the same
>> > issues with Windows (And Microsoft products
>> in general) that you have.
>> >
>> > One Linux distribution in particular that I
>> think you might like, is
>> > Ubuntu. You can download it at
>> http://www.ubuntulinux.org/, or order a
>> > CD (Free shipping, free CD, you pay nothing).
>> 
>> Advertising Linux in a FreeBSD mailing list? 
>> Sounds like you may have more of 
>> axe to grind against the FreeBSD management
>> folk than a desire to offer sound  
>> advice....
>> 
>> -Mike
>
>Why not just tell the truth, which is that
>Windows XP is the best that you can do for the
>desktop, and that there is no perfect solution
>that works perfectly in every scenario? 

This ignores a very important fact: the needs of
a home user for a desktop OS are rapidly becoming
very different than the needs of a corporation for
a desktop OS.

Windows XP is the best desktop OS you can have on
the $499.99 computers that they sell with the operating
system preloaded down at Best Buy, and that are purchased
by the typical home user.

But it is a serious problem for the average corporation.
Many of them are deploying Microsoft Terminal Server
and using Winterms, or Linux systems running remote
desktop, terminal served into the TS.

In this manner they can provide the user with
access to the apps that they are trained on, such
as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. in a controlled
fashion that does not permit the user to download
the latest virus-of-the-month, or crap-up their
system with the latest screen-saver from the
Weather channel that tanks the Internet connection
every 3 minutes downloading a 1MB jpg file of the
weather in San Francisco.

Ted