I suppose many of us look for different attributes when we select an operating system. Some seek simplicity, while others look for performance or even specific licensing terms. Part of the problem that we face is that once we start asking the OS question, we don’t often get a clear answer. Windows is undoubtedly the 800 pound gorilla that offers the most apps and compatibility. Mac offers an elegance and an ecosystem that extends to it’s mobile device market. Linux looks to provide open source solutions, customization and enhanced performance. Then we have PCBSD, which may not be as obvious to a desktop user as Linux, but comes from a family with a long history of stability and power. But the question remains, which one to choose and why?
I have a confession at this point, I’ve always been a fan of FreeBSD. From the first time I installed it and started playing around in the system, I was hooked. But over the years as my role at work changed, hardware progressed, and Linux became more popular I found myself using any number of Linux flavors as a desktop or server. It was all good until I recently decided to upgrade my personal computer to newer hardware. After the upgrade I loaded one Linux distro after another and discovered that all of the sudden, the Linux installs were a hassle and I was having minor issues getting everything to work as expected. Since I was mainly dorking around trying to find the best fitting OS, I decided to try PCBSD 9.0. I booted up the full DVD and the installer popped up without an issue (or nomodeset boot option). I was amazed at the simplicity of the install, it saw my Nvidia card, allowed me to select extra options including picking my desktop manager, took some user info, and went on to install. When it came time to reboot into the system, I was up and running, period.
To better understand why that’s so impressive, let me give an example of another Linux install on the same box. Clean off the target disk (for some reason, this version of Linux resists wiping the disk on install) boot to installer (with nomodeset option) provide install details, and fix the “install boot loader to MBR” option before allowing it to continue. Once installed, boot to the OS (using the nomodeset option) patch, install proprietary drivers (a choice), reboot and I’m done.
As you can see, for me at least the PCBSD install process is much easier. Other things I’ve noticed since the install:
- wine seems to runs better on PCBSD (could just be my system)
- I like installing applications, etc. through the AppCafe, it gives you a nice option on currently installed items to auto-update. I still like ports too, but it’s nice to have an easier option.
- Finally, it just runs fast and smooth with my hardware.
So in a nutshell, PCBSD provides a clean an easy install, performs well on my hardware, and maintains all the beauty of FreeBSD. For me, this is the sweet spot for a desktop operating system. I realize this review isn’t very detailed, but I hope it encourages you to give PCBSD 9.0 a try. As for me, I feel like I’ve come home and I don’t plan on going anywhere soon!