RE: [Fwd: BSDCon 2003 - Call for Papers]

> 
> Joshua Steele wrote:
> > Yes, it would be nice, but that deadline is going to be 
> rough...unless
> > someone already has something already planned, etc.
> > 
> > I was thinking about doing an extensive paper on the new 
> OpenBSD security
> > enhancements that are in -current right now, and will be 
> implemented in
> > the 3.3 release this upcoming spring/summer...still 
> debating on it though.
> 
> Sounds like a great idea to me.. I also was thinking about 
> these things:
> 
> >>         * Real world experiences using BSD systems
> >>         * Using BSD in a mixed OS environment
> >>         * Comparison with non-BSD operating systems; technical,
> >>           practical, licensing (GPL vs. BSD)
> >>         * BSD on the desktop
		  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I've been thinking about this for a while myself.. 

If you have been following the discussion in the -advocacy list, you 
will see that someone just recently posted something about FreeBSD
being ready for the desktop.  It had a link to an article about Linux.

Off the top of your head, what is the primary thing that has helped
Linux in it's push for desktop dominanace?  

For me, I'd say:

1. Easy of installation..  The installers tend to be pretty mindless
so even the non techie type can install something in a short
period of time.
2. Availability of software/easy to install packages.  While the
ports collection is fairly easy to use, once you learn it, most
people don't want to drop to the command line, type make install
and watch as the program is downloaded and compiled and installed.
You can use the pre-packaged software, but that requires you to use
the antiquated sysinstall program (haven't looked at sysinstall2 yet).

Now, correct me if I am wrong (which I probably am), but those, to me,
are the two biggest hurdles that the OS will have to overcome before
it will start attracting the attention of less technical people. 

I'll ask you this: How many of you ever ask a Linux person if they
have tried *BSD, and you got a response like:
"It's too hard to install, it didn't work right out of the box"
"*BSD, that's a dying OS"
"*BSD?  What the heck is that?"

-Stacy