Well FreeBSd is still not up and running but it's scaled back to the point where at least there are no errors when starting X Windows.

I am starting to appreciate the elegance of FreeBSd compared to Linux though, and the package mangement is a delight, compared to RPM at least.

Of course, just as I start to play with one OS option Apple announce a new drop-dead gorgeous PowerBook with a 17" Screen - now that really puts the cat among the pigeons.

Spend a fortune on the hardware and you can have the best looking hardware on the planet, FreeBSD (sort of), X Windows, Fink (and all that compatible software) plus a trouble-free life!

Yaaayyy!! An article on Slashdot plus moderator points, all in one day.

Not only has my genius been recognised but I can pass judgement on those who would do me wrong.

HaHaHaHA ...

Well finally got there - FreeBSD up 'n' running! We have X-Windows, we have Gnome, we have no applications to run 'cause it's such a minimal installation.

The real question is whether to persist with it now or just go down the 'simpler' Linux root. I say simpler purely because you can build up a system in an hour or so and have nearly everything working quickly. Did this tonight with Mandrake 9.0 and played around with Evolution, Sane and The Gimp and was well impressed by them all. Maybe one day soon I won't have to use Windows to carry out film scanning!

So it's getting near the Christmas holidays. Two weeks off and time to play with a new OS.

The search for the one, continues....

This time it's FreeBSD because it is cheap to try and a lot cheaper that the hardware to run OS X.

The installation goes well and I even manage to get the basic triple-boot partitioning working without destrying Windows (no real loss) and BeOS. Then it all goes tits-up when it comes time to setup X Windows. My Voodoo 3500 AGP is now beginning to look like a liability as there seems to be little information available on running BSD with the card. Googling around for a solution is not too helpful, usenet is useless and freebsd.org doesn't have much to add.

Feeling good shouldn't be this much hard work. Still, two weeks remain to sort this out.