A Change for the Better? - NomadBSD 140R-20240126

[@fabriciochamorro2985]

Linux user here. I have an usb with nomadbsd on my keychain. Awesome OS, I preffer (and installed there) gnome. It's a great approach to test and run freebsd in my opinion. What I found curious was the package manager which Infound slow, maybe a mirror related issue, and gnome version being quite old (older that openbsd one). The rest awesome! Nice content, greetings from Argentina

[@keyboard_g]

The XFCE menu looks way better with proper padding and rounded corners. Like it stepped out of the 90’s. Getting people to try bsd is big enough hurdle. Meet them halfway with a system that looks nice and is familiar.

[@RoboNuggie]

I agree....

[@joesalyers]

I prefer XFCE to openbox simply for the creature comforts of things like screen brightness on laptops which is so much easier on XFCe compared to the Openbox of previous Nomad Releases. Openbox is fine but not the most favorable to laptop users which I think would be the majority of people using a portable OS on the go. So just the little things XFCE makes easier compared to Openbox is a plus in my book. Trackpad scrolling, easier to get to Wifi settings, and screen brightness, and XFCE pretty common for even a casual linux or BSD user who would know their way around that compared to Openbox. But I could see it being annoying to the users who have been using openbox as the default since day 1. But its a step in the right direction in my humble opinion. Widget factory is to test themeing, its been a staple in Linux for a while so you can see how a theme may effect you system and if it is going to break things or not.

[@user-mr3mf8lo7y]

The only thing I hate about XFCE is it's logo. While I am having my meal, and open browser to read papers, I don't want to remember mices.

[@joesalyers]

@@user-mr3mf8lo7y I can agree with that! Rats are nasty so they should consider a better mascot. Instead of this mouse🐁🐭they should move to this mouse🖱!

[@RoboNuggie]

@joesalyers My mind was blown Joe.... I'm not a laptop user and I hadn't thought about those arguments in favour of XFCE. Thank you my friend for opening my eyes... :-)

[@joesalyers]

@@RoboNuggie You are the best!! Keep up the amazing work!!

[@RoboNuggie]

@@joesalyers I owe a massive lot to you by helping me with audio...

[@user-mr3mf8lo7y]

Getting there. Installed and see all quite smooth experience. Thanks,.

[@mgz0305]

This timing amazes me! I also downloaded NomadBSD earlier. I too got the same error from my chosen mirror. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the desktop as my initial bootup got stuck in some infinite loop. A bit strange since I never had a problem on previous versions. I'll have to try again!

[@user-mr3mf8lo7y]

Well mirrors are something else.. If the mirror/URL is down for some reason It has nothing to do with installation.

[@danielbowman7226]

The problem with OpenBox is that if you configure it (a lot of work) to have all the features XFCE has, you get on the similar RAM usage. So what is the point? Might as well install XFCE with all the features out of the box, maintained by team.

[@jkhii]

The upgrade failure can be fixed by following the instructions on the "NomadBSD 140R-20240126 Errata" page

[@RoboNuggie]

Thank you

[@BSDJedi]

I like XFCE, so it is kind of ok. However, for a "nomad", you might be using that stick into some computers with less memory; therefore, a smaller and minimalistic desktop environment would be better, IMHO (see DSL, which in 2024 uses Fluxbox)

[@johanb.7869]

Not to nitpick, but Fluxbox is a window manager, not a desktop environment😉

[@johanb.7869]

It uses an old version of the Adapta theme which is no longer maintained. Never used Openbox. I prefer Xfce. Easy to use and very customizable. Whisker Menu has a search function that the Applications Menu has not.

[@RHTORAS]

openbox was nice and xfce is nice too xfce is easier to manage but openbox is easier to port outside linux which is the lighter one i wonder...

[@johanb.7869]

Openbox.

[@danielbowman7226]

Openbox is lighter....unless you painstakingly make it do all the stuff XFCE does - then it eats similar amount of resources.

[@JeffreyJibson]

I think the reason I would dislike a change from openbox to xfce is primarily it's a change from using only a window manager to going to a desktop environment.

[@christianmontagx8461]

My Problem with such BSD Distros is like with any Distro: They don't add any benefit to the system. Most of the time they change the cosmetic, add more bugs and new fancy non-working package managers. If you have problems with your system you are on your own (bad documentation/programmers not responding/small fanbase), which is hard when distros "hide" the config files in some unusual locations.

[@RoboNuggie]

I get where you are coming from, luckily I feel *BSD hasn't reached saturation yet... but I guess there is always the danger.

[@danielbowman7226]

I like Nomad or distros in general. Mainly because it detects and sets the hardware for me on my laptop. Just spent a few hours trying to get xorg to work on freebsd OG install - dropped intel legacy drivers or whatever.

[@johnhill2813]

I have played with all the iterations of BSD. I would love to use it all the time but it does not have any DRM ( getting Spotify to work is akin to climbing everest in slippers) and my HP printer has never ever worked under any BSD.

[@arampak]

The HP printer problem is a strange one, as CUPS works perfectly well with most if not all HP printers. Unless all of the brain of the printer is in the driver, it should work.

[@RoboNuggie]

@johnhill2813 There is the option to install Linux Browsers that work with DRM, indeed Netflix etc works quite well once it is installed/ You can choose from a number of browsers...

[@Patriots20]

Do you have an harder way ?

[@dogzdude]

Ok Boomer! Great video....thanks! Change is difficult. Like them horseless carriages! 🙂

[@RoboNuggie]

:-) Love it....

[@lee99bay]

🙋

[@zoltangaal1842]

It would help a lot if slowed down. It's Scottish, isn't it?