*BSD News Article 51197


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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc
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From: dragon@boi.hp.com (The Green Dragon)
Subject: Re: Shell Menu, and other questions...
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Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 10:49:28 GMT
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Scott Teipe (edgester@news.holonet.net) wrote:
> You have got to be joking, no support for BSDI?  BSDI tech support us
> incredible! What is more supported than BSDI? Linux? jeezz A shell menu is 
> so simple to write. If you cant write a simple input menu to perform a
> function like passwd, then you have no business running a UNIX system.

As a new user to BSDi, I didn't find it "turn key" like I've heard it
advertised.  Documentation is hard to find (none of our local book stores carry
any specific BSDi books), none of the software I tried to compile would compile
simply (if at all), the "tech support" line was busy and took forever to call
back (sometimes days), and simple things like CHANGING YOUR PASSWORD didn't
work (we did apply the gaggle of patches and got the obvious bugs out).  PLUS,
a commercial UNIX coming only with a 80+ page pamphlet?  What is the phone
number for "incredible!" support?  The phone number I have just gets 
"we're busy" support.

Yes Linux.  Support and compatibility are important to me.  If I was just "Joe
Businessman" trying to set up a no-hassle, only do what is in the manual, UNIX
box, BSD would be my choice.  However, I want to be able to come up with an
idea, get the source, and have it compile and work.  On both Linux and HP-UX,
I've found VERY little I couldn't compile.

And the shell was easy to write.  I was looking for something more flashy, like
dialog boxes, and menu bars using curses, or ncurses with color support.  I do
know how to use the passwd command.  I wrote it myself, I just didn't want to
re-invent the wheel if there was one already out there.

I just expected more from a commercial OS.  This isn't a flame, but general
concern.  We still have BSDi running on 3 (soon to be 2) of our boxes.  Steer
me in the right direction, and I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

Dan T.