Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 10th Mar 2009 15:03 UTC, submitted by Reece Tarbert
If you wanted to try FreeBSD but didn't have the right hardware, or enough time to make it useful on the desktop, VirtualBSD might fit the bill: it's a VMware appliance based on FreeBSD 7.1-RELEASE and features the Xfce 4 Desktop Environment and a few of the most common applications to make it very functional right out of the box. If you're curious you can have a look at the screenshots, or proceed to the download page and grab the torrent file right away (note: VirtualBSD also works in VirtualBox 2.x as long as you create a new virtual machine and select the virtual disk from the archive instead of creating a new one).
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Member since:2006-10-08
I can only second your comment. But allow me a few additions:
"Okay, let me clarify things: FreeBSD supports a lot of hardware as long as you run it as a server and don't need fancy graphics, audio, and whatnot
Bit of a generalization there regarding hardware support. I have been running FreeBSD as my main desktop now since 2000 and in that time I haven't found it to be lacking in hardware support. "
First of all: FreeBSD isn't tied to a specific use such as "server" or "desktop". It's a multi-purpose OS which serves well in both areas. Because we're not talking about servers now, let me emphasize that I'm using it on my desktop exclusively since version 4.0 now without any problems.
Key statement for hardware support is: What hardware do you use? Did you purchase it after verifying that it is compatible to FreeBSD? It's always a good choice not to buy "Windows"-only devices because they are known for bad compatibility and lack of standard conformness.
FreeBSD generally supports all hardware that is conform to existing standards.
As with any open source operating system it pays not to have the very latest hardware as developers need time to write drivers.
You realize a certain delay in driver support, that's completely true, especially for all the fancy desktop devices such as "high end" GPUs or crappy webcams. I won't be so silly to claim the opposite. There is hardware that isn't supported at all. But then, the question is: Is this stuff even worth using at all?
Any way great to see any effort that gets people trying out FreeBSD.
Yes. But I may add that you can experience the beauty, the robustness, the speed and the features of FreeBSD best when you run it purely. :-)
FreeBSD is a great OS with high quality and a good development philosophy behind it. It's really worth trying, and I welcome every means that makes this trying more easy.
Member since:
2006-05-14
Bit of a generalization there regarding hardware support. I have been running FreeBSD as my main desktop now since 2000 and in that time I haven't found it to be lacking in hardware support.
As with any open source operating system it pays not to have the very latest hardware as developers need time to write drivers.
Any way great to see any effort that gets people trying out FreeBSD.