Re: http://www.freebsd.org/marketing/os-comparison.html

On 8/30/2011 2:48 PM, Sean M. Collins wrote:
> On 8/27/11 3:32 PM, Garrett Cooper wrote:
>> Agreed. Things have changed quite a bit in the last decade.
> 
> I think that it also clashes with the positive tone that (I've
> experienced) in most of the website copy, discussions on this mailing
> list, and other parts of the FreeBSD project.
> 
> We have an awesome project, we don't really need to put down everyone
> else to make ourselves look good.
> 

I wasn't implying a putdown and I don't think Garrett Cooper was either,
he was merely pointing out that the technology in use today (Tuesday,
August 30th, 2011) varies, radically from when
http://www.freebsd.org/marketing/os-comparison.html was written way
back, sometime in the year 2000.

The comparison being called for to be updated, needn't be that type of
comparison. If in the end, FreeBSD comes out as truly and honestly
better then so be it, it turns out to be the under-appreciated underdog,
then so be it too. An argument made (by us, the FreeBSD community) to
point out the pros and cons of common OS types would undoubtedly hurt
and benefit us as a project, but it would also illustrate why FreeBSD is
good for applications A-F[1], Linux is good for A-F[1] (but for
different reasons), OS-X is good for applications A-C and Microsoft
Windows is good for A-C.

This is a volunteer project that takes in some monetary values for
certain things, but is largely a non-profit/not-for-profit organization
aimed at providing a service. Clearly and objectively defining where we
stand against our competition should be a major (but not or if not, take
your pick) a priority of the project as a whole. If no one else has done
it, then we should. Just because we can (and maybe because we should,
just because we can).

Oliver Heartmann has made some good points, but I tend to disagree with
his philosophy. Such a project as this needn't be centered around a
monetary base. This isn't a project to start mass-marketing FreeBSD to
the mindless masses, but to provide prospective to the Server OS
Communities, not to alienate someone because we think we're better. I
also disagree with his idea that 'we should let sleeping dogs lie' and
not bother to do any of this. It's something we (as a community-driven
project) should have done a long time ago.

What I do agree with in his views is that such a project should contain
some historical perspective, we should always remember where we came
from, it's a fundamental aspect to remember so we know where we are
going, but that shouldn't be the only factor, at the very basic, we also
need to know where we stand at present, not just in cold, hard,
unfeeling numbers. But a project that thrives on diversity, much as the
societies we live in. Arguments will rise, tempers will flare, people
might leave (and fork, as is their right), but FreeBSD will still be
here, no less then it was before (except in a slightly diminished
user-base for a while).

This said, everyone on these mailing lists has an experience that can be
contributed to this project[2]. It does not have to be limited to just
the FreeBSD Developers describing why we're superior to any other OS
(and it rightly shouldn't be just their opinion). In reality, it should
be a hodgepodge of opinion from every walk of life. Every person that
has participated in this discussion has had different experiences with
Microsoft products, BSD products, Apple products and Linux products. And
those opinions and experiences are what's going to count.

I think I've run out of steam for the moment ... so I shall stop here.

[1] Any X-Y definition is not meant to provide any form of clearly
defined values to any one OS but to illustrate hypothetical examples.
[2] I repeatedly defined this discussion as project because I couldn't
think of a different term to use that would aptly and/or correctly
describe this discussion.
-- 
> Chris Brennan
> --
> A: Yes.
> >Q: Are you sure?
> >>A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
> >>>Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?
> http://xkcd.com/84/ | http://xkcd.com/149/ | http://xkcd.com/549/
> GPG: D5B20C0C (6741 8EE4 6C7D 11FB 8DA8  9E4A EECD 9A84 D5B2 0C0C)
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