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by stock_toaster 4252 days ago
> I want others to have access to UNIX, the best OS in the world, just like I had the opportunity.

Thankfully, there are several alternative free unix-like operating systems these days. Are they are popular as Linux? Do they have as much big business/corp backing as Linux? No and No. However, if Linux implodes there are great alternatives these days. I personally use and quite enjoy FreeBSD. ymmv.

* Linux (topic of discussion) * BSD derivatives: * FreeBSD / NetBSD / OpenBSD / DragonFlyBSD * Illumos (opensolaris) derivatives * SmartOS / OmniOS / OpenIndiana * Minix * more[1]

[1]: [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_operating_systems#Unix...
1 comments
e7620 4252 days ago
I agree completely, those operating systems are great, as good or better than GNU/Linux. But with that phrase I was thinking people without prior experience, like Windows users, FreeBSD install is fairly involved for them, there's PC-BSD, but it seems to me, distros like Mint are easier for beginners and useful as a stepping stone to those OSs.
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stock_toaster 4252 days ago
I think Linux has an edge in driver support, and corp vendors -- especially for gaming with things like Steam.

I really like some of the things the pc-bsd folks are doing though. Lumina seems to be coming along nicely.

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e7620 4251 days ago
> I think Linux has an edge in driver support, and corp vendors -- especially for gaming with things like Steam.

Still, remember when using linux meant compiling the kernel ten times, editing some .c file, changing some obscure flag. And then you needed to open that .doc, .ppt or use msn messenger. You tried dual booting, but windows kept rewriting the bootloader...

Now, with VMs and tech like PCI pass-through this is just SO easy, that issue is less relevant and will result in more popularity for other OSs and a reversing of the consolidation trend.

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