I don't really think this is anti-linux to be honest. The truth of the matter is that Linux is much more seen by the public eye. And FreeBSD and Linux are very similar. So it helps people to understand FreeBSD by saying "it's like Linux" because people are growing familiar with Linux more and more each day. However, once you say that, you must distinguish yourself in a way that non-techs will understand. There is no better way to get a suit to understand why something is good than by saying that other large companies use it. And to be honest, I don't know any sites as large as Yahoo or Hotmail that use Linux. I'm probably wrong, maybe not. I know when I deal with suits, there is a fine line that can not be crossed when discussing a development project. If you get close to the line and not cross it, you probably just gave an excellent presentation. If you cross this line, their eyes glaze over and it becomes extremely difficult to get them back.
To sum up, I don't think this statement is anti-linux so much as an attempt to distinguish FreeBSD from Linux while still associating the two. As well as an attempt to sell (not the right word, but it's early) FreeBSD without launching into a technical rant and losing the people you are trying to sell to. NT sells very well mostly because people are familiar with the Microsoft name, not based on technical merits. FreeBSD is just trying to use this strategy and piggyback on Microsoft, Yahoo and yes, even Linux. Is this bad, I don't think so.
FreeBSD has "Linux EMU" which is actually binary compatability. So most linux bins will run just fine under FreeBSD (I only say most because I have not tried all, but have never seen a problem). I believe that NetBSD and OpenBSD also have emu but I am only 99.9% certain. Also to note, since it's binary compatability and not really "emulation" in the traditional sense (virtual machine, etc) there is no speed detriment noticable. Some things run slightly slower, some things run slightly faster. Each OS has it's strengths and weaknesses, so speed differential depends mostly on what the app does. For the most part it's not noticable regardless.
As far as having a Linux personality, most every *BSD user I know that is worth their weight in salt, tries to avoid doing Linux-type things. A lot of linux users (NOTE: not bashing OS, just making observation about users that I've seen and heard about) do things in a very linux way. Lack of regard for orderly (proper as defined by pretty much every other "flavor" of unix) filesystems and directory heirarchies is relatively common. So for that reason, a *BSD with a Linux "personality" would not be desired by most seasoned *BSD users. I myself had the linux "beat out of me" and have been part of "beating the linux out of someone" a number of times. They usually either thank me later (once they get used to *BSD and know their way around) or get frustrated quickly and go back to Linux.
On the subject of wanting a Linux with a *BSD "personality". It makes no difference to me as I doubt I'd go back to Linux even with it. I don't think it would hurt anything, but i doubt many aged linux users would happily switch, for the same reason most aged *BSD users would not switch to a Linux "personality". As far as no linux goes, we like linux. It provides lots of good press for free OSes in general as well as commercial software support.
Anyhow, not trying to bash, just trying to answer your questions/address your comments. So please take it as such.
When our parents were born (assuming your's are as old as mine) the thought of reaching space at all in our lifetimes was a faery tale. When my grandparents were born, it was doubtful that this new fangled automobile thing would ever really catch on. We should not doubt the power of science. Especially when funded properly *cough*
DWRM
Re:This should be displayed somewhere where PHB's
on
911 Calls Linux
·
· Score: 1
While I agree that 911 should have 100% reliability, I have to disagree with your use of "unusual stresses" in refernce to what 911 would put an OS through. For the most part 911 just keeps track of calls and puts people on hold until someone is ready, then transfers that person to an available operator. Calls are logged but that's nothing. So perhaps I'm missing something amazingly stressful on an OS, but I doubt 911 would even come close to the stress levels reached by say Yahoo! or cdrom.com.
It's great that 911 is recognizing something other than Win* as a viable solution, but lets not make something out of this that it's not. Neat, yes. Amazing new way of stress testing OSes, no.
Most likely cause of switch: Some techie talked them into it after a particularly frusting day of the computers being down. Possibly not even Windows related (but knowing windows, it probably was).
hrm, network went down and I think it screwed up the post. ranting on ACs and then ended up posted as an AC:(
Re:Its a slooow server again guys....
on
Slashdot Tweaks
·
· Score: 2
Interesting, undoubtedly if I posted these exact words but switched FreeBSD and Linux around, I would undoubtedly recieve a (-1, Troll) rating, and deservedly so. Perhaps the moderation problems have nothing to do with points...
More likely, they'll say "oh, Plan 9, that's the OS that brought about and..." etc. Plan 9 is a REALLY cool OS that you will never see on your desktop, but that will most likely help shape the future of OSes.
Don't mock something just because you don't understand it or because it's not the toy you like to play with for today.
Just maybe he honestly doesn't think Linux is all that great. Plan 9 is like a Ferrari, Linux is like a Model T to him. He's done the Unix thing, and has moved on. besides that, his knocks were mostly on code quality, and quite frankly, he's more than qualified to judge such.
Don't take it personal that I replied to you, there were dozens of "How can he knock the great Linux" posts that I could have chosen, I just got tired of reading them.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't really think this is anti-linux to be honest. The truth of the matter is that Linux is much more seen by the public eye. And FreeBSD and Linux are very similar. So it helps people to understand FreeBSD by saying "it's like Linux" because people are growing familiar with Linux more and more each day. However, once you say that, you must distinguish yourself in a way that non-techs will understand. There is no better way to get a suit to understand why something is good than by saying that other large companies use it. And to be honest, I don't know any sites as large as Yahoo or Hotmail that use Linux. I'm probably wrong, maybe not. I know when I deal with suits, there is a fine line that can not be crossed when discussing a development project. If you get close to the line and not cross it, you probably just gave an excellent presentation. If you cross this line, their eyes glaze over and it becomes extremely difficult to get them back.
To sum up, I don't think this statement is anti-linux so much as an attempt to distinguish FreeBSD from Linux while still associating the two. As well as an attempt to sell (not the right word, but it's early) FreeBSD without launching into a technical rant and losing the people you are trying to sell to. NT sells very well mostly because people are familiar with the Microsoft name, not based on technical merits. FreeBSD is just trying to use this strategy and piggyback on Microsoft, Yahoo and yes, even Linux. Is this bad, I don't think so.
#undef RANT
DWMR
FreeBSD has "Linux EMU" which is actually binary compatability. So most linux bins will run just fine under FreeBSD (I only say most because I have not tried all, but have never seen a problem). I believe that NetBSD and OpenBSD also have emu but I am only 99.9% certain. Also to note, since it's binary compatability and not really "emulation" in the traditional sense (virtual machine, etc) there is no speed detriment noticable. Some things run slightly slower, some things run slightly faster. Each OS has it's strengths and weaknesses, so speed differential depends mostly on what the app does. For the most part it's not noticable regardless.
As far as having a Linux personality, most every *BSD user I know that is worth their weight in salt, tries to avoid doing Linux-type things. A lot of linux users (NOTE: not bashing OS, just making observation about users that I've seen and heard about) do things in a very linux way. Lack of regard for orderly (proper as defined by pretty much every other "flavor" of unix) filesystems and directory heirarchies is relatively common. So for that reason, a *BSD with a Linux "personality" would not be desired by most seasoned *BSD users. I myself had the linux "beat out of me" and have been part of "beating the linux out of someone" a number of times. They usually either thank me later (once they get used to *BSD and know their way around) or get frustrated quickly and go back to Linux.
On the subject of wanting a Linux with a *BSD "personality". It makes no difference to me as I doubt I'd go back to Linux even with it. I don't think it would hurt anything, but i doubt many aged linux users would happily switch, for the same reason most aged *BSD users would not switch to a Linux "personality". As far as no linux goes, we like linux. It provides lots of good press for free OSes in general as well as commercial software support.
Anyhow, not trying to bash, just trying to answer your questions/address your comments. So please take it as such.
DWRM
When our parents were born (assuming your's are as old as mine) the thought of reaching space at all in our lifetimes was a faery tale. When my grandparents were born, it was doubtful that this new fangled automobile thing would ever really catch on. We should not doubt the power of science. Especially when funded properly *cough*
DWRM
While I agree that 911 should have 100% reliability, I have to disagree with your use of "unusual stresses" in refernce to what 911 would put an OS through. For the most part 911 just keeps track of calls and puts people on hold until someone is ready, then transfers that person to an available operator. Calls are logged but that's nothing. So perhaps I'm missing something amazingly stressful on an OS, but I doubt 911 would even come close to the stress levels reached by say Yahoo! or cdrom.com.
It's great that 911 is recognizing something other than Win* as a viable solution, but lets not make something out of this that it's not. Neat, yes. Amazing new way of stress testing OSes, no.
Most likely cause of switch: Some techie talked them into it after a particularly frusting day of the computers being down. Possibly not even Windows related (but knowing windows, it probably was).
DWRM
News for Linux Evangelists. Stuff that matters to them.
just a thought
hrm, network went down and I think it screwed up the post. ranting on ACs and then ended up posted as an AC :(
Interesting, undoubtedly if I posted these exact words but switched FreeBSD and Linux around, I would undoubtedly recieve a (-1, Troll) rating, and deservedly so. Perhaps the moderation problems have nothing to do with points...
You think that's bad, I live in seattle (yes, number 3 on the list) and I can't get cable or adsl right now. I'm in a suburb but not bfe by any means.
More likely, they'll say "oh, Plan 9, that's the OS that brought about and ..." etc. Plan 9 is a REALLY cool OS that you will never see on your desktop, but that will most likely help shape the future of OSes.
Don't mock something just because you don't understand it or because it's not the toy you like to play with for today.
JF
Just maybe he honestly doesn't think Linux is all that great. Plan 9 is like a Ferrari, Linux is like a Model T to him. He's done the Unix thing, and has moved on. besides that, his knocks were mostly on code quality, and quite frankly, he's more than qualified to judge such.
Don't take it personal that I replied to you, there were dozens of "How can he knock the great Linux" posts that I could have chosen, I just got tired of reading them.
JF