Re: Desktop NetBSD needs your help

[Michal Suchanek <hramrach%centrum.cz@localhost>]

On 07/02/2009, der Mouse <mouse%rodents-montreal.org@localhost> wrote:
> > This sounds like an excellent idea.
>
>
> I disagree, actually.  It strikes me as trying to turn NetBSD into yet
>  another mass-market "desktop experience" operating system - trying to
>  beat Linux at their own game.  I believe NetBSD doesn't have the
>  resources to do more than be stuck forever playing catch-up at that;
>  we're already constantly playing catch-up for lack of resources on many
>  more fundamental questions, such as hardware support.  I also can't see
>  that we either have or will have anything to distinguish us from them,
>  no answers to the "so why should I install yours rather than theirs?"
>  question.  I think we'd be better off focusing on what we do
>  differently and well than on trying to join the UI monoculture of
>  Windows clones.  The user experience ad writes of actually isn't
>  "poor", except to the extent that different is poor; we aren't a
>  Windows/Mac/Linux clone and I think it's a mistake to try to even look
>  like one, much less turn into one.
>
>  But, of course, it's a volunteer project, and ad specifically said he
>  wasn't interested in debating the "whether" of it, so dissuading him
>  from haring off after this would be wasting both his time and mine.
>

Well, I don't think NetBSD would or should become another Ubuntu.

But there is great resistance of NetBSD as it is when trying to use it
as a desktop (or any other for that matter) system which can be
improved. And that is a good idea I think.

There is a risk that the project would focus too much on the "windows
clone" thing rather than the fundamental things that make the system
more usable not only for desktop but also for pretty much anything
else.

If you ask for the reason why to install ours rather than theirs: it
works on hardware X.

I hope that this project will make NetBSD into a viable alternative
even on hardware where other systems work. The fact is that in its
current state NetBSD is a pain to set up, use and upgrade so I prefer
Linux any day when it runs on the hardware in question.

Thanks

Michal