It probably has a lot to do with FreeBSD having a much more focused niche. FreeBSD is really tuned primarily for servers. You can use it on your desktop, but that's not really it's main purpose. Linux on the other hand, has really branched out. It has desktop distros, server distros, embedded distros, and probably a couple other areas I haven't thought of.
You think so? I dunno, it seems to me that FreeBSD suits the desktop role really well; I use it for preference. Especially when you consider that the only OS with more packages is Debian, it makes sense that it can fit a desktop role extremely nicely.
I dunno, it seems to me that FreeBSD suits the desktop role really well
It does (I use it too) BUT only in specific environments. FreeBSD hardware support is not bad, but it is nowhere near as complete as that found in the various Linux distro's. My wireless keyboard + mouse is supported under any recent Linux distro, on FreeBSD, only the keyboard works (fixable with a unofficial ums.ko though). No support under FreeBSD for my DVB-C PCI card either.
FreeBSD hardware support is not bad, but it is nowhere near as complete as that found in the various Linux distro's.
If it's not even as good as Linux, then it must be bad. That's one of Linux's major faults, and probably the most cited reason for not using Linux. If you don't have good hardware support, you are missing out on a lot of users. Because most people aren't willing to buy a specific machine, with just the right hardware just to use your OS. I'm an avid Linux user, but even I admit that their
huh? Linux is the OS with the best hardware support you can get.
I have never installed Windows without having to get 90% of the drivers from cds or the web. With Linux otoh the hardware support became that good that youll have less trouble just buying something and see if it works than figure out what works beforehand. And whats even better: no installing drivers necessary. they all are already there.
Please name a couple of devices that dont already work in linux. I can think of only one: bisoncam. and dr
I am so fed up of reading this. Yes, Linux has more drivers installed "out of the box" than windows. Big deal. Every single piece of hardware I have ever bought came with a CD that had drivers for windows. Yes, it's a bit of pain having to install them all manually after reinstalling the OS, but you only have to do it once. It's far more of a pain to find that you shiny new toy has no working drivers for Linux.
I use Linux as my desktop OS, but I am no prepared to ignore it's shortcomings. From where I'm s
Drivers - I have a nice modern PC, but my scanner is no longer supported under Windows by the manufacturer. The drivers for XP do not work in Vista (I actually had trouble with it since XP SP1) and HP will not be releasing new drivers for Vista. Under Suse 10.3 and Ubuntu 7.04 it works fine. Why? because some other linux hackers have the same sort of scanner and reverse engineered the driver. it will probably keep on being supported and working until the SCSI interface no longer exists.
I call that better driver support. Under an opensource system the hardware can still be supported by people who still feel that that hardware has value, long after the manufacturer has abandoned the product. Take the Apple Newton and Amiga as examples for complete abandoned systems that still have an active user base.
How old is it? Because I also said seven years old or less. and SP1 was 2002, if memory serves, so it's at least seven years old if it's pre SP1.
Having said that, I do take your point. One massive benefit of open source is better support for older hardware. But that's not what I was arguing about. I explicitly excluded older hardware from my argument. What I was pointing
You don't have to be Kreskin (Score:-1, Flamebait)
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It does (I use it too) BUT only in specific environments. FreeBSD hardware support is not bad, but it is nowhere near as complete as that found in the various Linux distro's. My wireless keyboard + mouse is supported under any recent Linux distro, on FreeBSD, only the keyboard works (fixable with a unofficial ums.ko though). No support under FreeBSD for my DVB-C PCI card either.
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If it's not even as good as Linux, then it must be bad. That's one of Linux's major faults, and probably the most cited reason for not using Linux. If you don't have good hardware support, you are missing out on a lot of users. Because most people aren't willing to buy a specific machine, with just the right hardware just to use your OS. I'm an avid Linux user, but even I admit that their
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I use Linux as my desktop OS, but I am no prepared to ignore it's shortcomings. From where I'm s
Re:You don't have to be Kreskin (Score:1)
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I did explicitly say I was talking about XP.
I actually had trouble with it since XP SP1)
How old is it? Because I also said seven years old or less. and SP1 was 2002, if memory serves, so it's at least seven years old if it's pre SP1.
Having said that, I do take your point. One massive benefit of open source is better support for older hardware. But that's not what I was arguing about. I explicitly excluded older hardware from my argument. What I was pointing