PC-BSD

Posted on

January 26, 2008 • Filed under BSD

PC-BSD “PC-BSD is a complete desktop operating system, which has been designed with the “casual” computer user in mind. It offers the stability and security that only a BSD-based operating system can bring, while as the same time providing a comfortable user experience, allowing you to get the most out of your computing time. With PC-BSD you can spend less time working to fix viruses or spyware and instead have the computer work for you.”

Origin - Home Page: USA - PC-BSD

Desktop: KDE

Price: Free to download. You may also buy Boxed CD packages from FreeBSDMall.com.

Comments: PC-BSD features a very nice GUI installer, with the choice to pre-select your application packages during an install (same feature you’ll find in virtually all distros). Per Office suites, you are presented with a choice of two full Office suites, KOffice and OpenOffice. Unlike MirOS BSD, which uses sudo to grant users admin rights, PC-BSD uses the traditional root user system.

New hardware are auto detected, and the system will auto-play DVD videos using Kaffeine media player. It also features a simple firewall, which is configurable from a GUI. Firefox is the default browser, and it’s configured to handle embedded flash media out-of-the-box. This distro features the PBI system that lets users download and install their applications in a self-extracting and self-installing format.

PC-BSD was acquired in July 2007 by iXsystems, an IT hardware provider based in San Jose, California USA. It is thus far the only BSD distro with a corporate owner. iXsystems has been pushing PC-BSD into stores - Fry’s Electronics and Micro Center stores now carry it, but we know of no PC vendor that sells PCs pre-loaded with PC-BSD.

Download/Buy: The latest stable version is PC-BSD-1.5, and it’s downloadable in two CD iso images. Boxed CD packages are sold on FreeBSDMall.com, which is also owned by iXsystems, and at all Fry’s Electronics and Micro Center stores.

Tutorials/Tips: The PC-BSD Knowledge Base is a good resource for potential users of PC-BSD.