Anybody ever try BSD on your PC?

[Peter Gibbons]

If you want FreeBSD, get a Mac.

I am typing on one right now.

They are fine machines but somewhat on the expensive side.
One thing that I don't like - if I wanted to upgrade my Mac Mini for example and add more memory I have to use putty knives and go through unbelievable pain. So obviously I am not going to do it.

The iMac's with their all in one design also put you at the mercy of "Apple trained technicians".
I could accept this for laptops but for desktop?

( I always have built and serviced my own hardware ... )

[benali72]

Good comments, I've learned a lot.

Yes, I can see what you all mean about BSD being for servers. I read a bit on the FreeBSD website and that was very apparent. For example, much good doc, but definitely oriented towards IT pros, not for end users or computer consumers. 

The variant I tried out, PC-BSD, is based directly on FreeBSD and is supposed to be altered in the GUI etc to be more for personal computer users than servers. Unfortunately I couldn't boot it as it had a bug. They're fixing it right now. When they get done I'll probably play around with it when I have some free time.

[lorb]

I don't buy the Mac for the BSD command-line argument, it is still a proprietary machine.  People say that, but who really means it, it's like telling your mother that video games area a good use of time because they improve hand-eye coordination.  It's an ancillary excuse for using a Mac.

[dinotech]

I have never seen a Mac be related to a video game before.  Lorb, that is a unique post in itself.  However, I don't agree entirely with it.  MacOS has been a proprietary OS until they used FreeBSD as a base.  While the majority of the code is proprietary, I have seen developer use the command line religiously.

It really isn't an argument - I can see where you are coming from - it's more of a benefit when using the MacOS.  It's like using linux with your favorite X window shell.  In this case, it's a proprietary OS for the shell.