Maybe someone on the hackers or x11 list can help me get going the right direction here. I can setup FreeBSD servers like the wind - tweak the kernel, you name it. So this weekend I tried to install FreeBSD 5.4 on my desktop - what a mess. I never could get anything to run, other than startx or xstart or something. I ended up once with a blank desktop (I think I typed X) and another time with the same desktop, but with 3 open windows. Anyway, I finally gave up.
Anyone have any run down on loading FreeBSD as your desktop? I am trying to go with FreeBSD because I use it for my servers, but I feel like I'm lacking a broad understanding of how Unix handles windows. I get the impression there is a server that deals with windows called X windows and then there are different desktop managers (such as KDE, Gnome, etc) - but I don't understand the interplay between them and the Kernel as it relates to how I normally see FreeBSD. I'm wondering if someone can give me an overview? I'm also wondering if I'm barking up the wrong tree. I know Mac uses Darwin, which is based on BSD. And in the past, I have loaded up Redhat and SUSE and ended up with a nice desktop - but with FreeBSD I didn't have much luck, even though I installed just about everything on the install CD's. From what I could see, there were a ton of things to configure, but I couldn't find any good documentation on setting up my monitor or what the heck was going on overall - even in my BSD books, not a lot of help. Anyway, I am wondering if maybe running SUSE or Fedora or something might be better. I'm reading one article right now that says this thing called Xandros Desktop 3 is great - so far it looks nice in the article and I may give that a try. I've been using Windows XP for my desktop for so long and am so used to so many applications on it - I think it would be difficult (at this time) to change over completely. Unless Wine really does work well enough to run some applications I can't live without (e.g. Eudora or Pagemaker, etc). Anyway, any help anyone can provide would be great? I just feel like I'm lacking a core understanding of how Windowing and desktop interfaces to the Kernel. And like I say, as much as I would like to make this all happen on FreeBSD, it seems like Linux maybe is a better choice? Anyone? Ray _______________________________________________ freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
