*BSD News Article 94898


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From: Pim van der Eijk <pvde@nedernet.nl>
Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers.workstation,alt.dec,biz.dec,biz.dec.workstations,comp.sys.dec,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.openbsd.misc
Subject: Re: FS: Dec Alphastation 500/500 Must sell
Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 18:37:43 -0700
Organization: NLnet
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Donnie Barnes wrote:
> 
> 
> The people building the Linux machines *know* what works with
> Linux.  They know what works best.  They know what their customers
> want in a *nix machine.  They are best equipped to make sure you
> get something that works.  That Windows machine you buy could
> end up with some funky video card that won't work.  Gateway sold
> a good many machines with "Matrox Millenium" cards in them.  Those
> cards didn't even work with commercial X servers for a while because
> they were "special" Millenium's that were made for Gateway.  So,
> you can't trust anything other than "windows will work on it".
> Big deal.
> 
> [..stuff deleted ..]
> 
> I'm not saying using a Linux vendor is for everyone.  If you're
> joe cool and are plugged into Linux already, spec your system and
> get it at the cheapest place your conscience will allow.  If you're
> not, you should consider a Linux vendor.
> 
> --Donnie
> 
> --

I agree,  not knowing in advance whether Linux will run on some
brand or type of PC has withheld me from buying one and using Linux,
I'd love to have a UNIX clone at home, and would gladly spend some 
extra money to get a machine that's got X windows, a modem, POP/PPP, 
a sound card etc. installed and working,  spending rare free hours 
installing hardware and fixing installation problems just doesn't 
attract me, and I think this is true for many other people.  

As for OpenBSD, NetBSD, FreeBSD, the same argument holds expect for the
fact that the user base of these systems seems (?) to be much smaller
than Linux's,  although I've heard some UNIX specialists in a company
I've worked for praise NetBSD over the commercial UNIX this company was
selling.  Also,  I don't understand why there have to be three competing
*BSD projects,  the Linux gang seems better at keeping proselytes and 
dissidents involved in the main stream ..

While posting ..
Does anyone know Linux vendors (Intel or Alpha) that deliver in the 
Netherlands or neighbouring areas (Belgium, Germany) ?  The closest one 
I found so far is based in Austria,  bit expensive to drive by just to
pick 
one up ..