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PC-BSD 0.5a Beta: BSD For Dummies
linuxbeta writes "PC-BSD 0.5a beta has now been released! You can download the 670Mb ISO file from our download page. This version fixes some minor bugs, and now has fully automatic network support. Screenshots available." So what's it all about? From the PC-BSD FAQ: "This OS has as its goals to be user-friendly, especially in the area of software installation and management, something that many of the *nix based distros have not yet mastered."
Yes. I admit that Darwin is a good example of a BSD based OS as a Desktop OS. But there have been many, and fairly extensive, changes to the base. Darwin may owe it's roots and much code to the BSDs, but it is not a direct derivative like this PC-BSD is. The PC-BSD is the same as FreeBSD plus a graphical installer and KDE packaged in. I have not used it yet, so there may be other diferences. From the website it seems there isn't much else.
FreeBSD: The Power to Serve!
The philosophy is interesting. It's also the first instance of something that sounds cheesey but I'd love to tack on to XP when I tortured with that: The Eye Candy Meter
But, the question is what's it for? The key thing seems to be a great sense of integration, etc. But, as far as I can tell, most of the things that someone who wants a *nix with a gui are not there. I may have missed some included alternatives, but you'll do without:
Ouch! I suspect you won't be using this to do office, web or database work for now. Complete package list/release notes here
the clock on the wall says 4 til 7