3 files changed, 94 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/hurd/advantages.mdwn b/hurd/advantages.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff8c5560
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hurd/advantages.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+[[meta copyright="Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2008 Free Software Foundation,
+Inc."]]
+
+[[meta license="""[[toggle id="license" text="GFDL 1.2+"]][[toggleable
+id="license" text="Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
+document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
+any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant
+Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license
+is included in the section entitled
+[[GNU_Free_Documentation_License|/fdl]]."]]"""]]
+
+The Hurd is not the most advanced kernel known to the planet (yet),
+but it does have a number of enticing features:
+
+  * **it's free software**
+    
+    Anybody can use, modify, and redistribute it under the terms of the
+    [[GNU_General_Public_License_(GPL)|GPL]]
+
+  * **it's compatible**
+
+    The Hurd provides a familiar programming and user environment.  For all
+    intents and purposes, the Hurd is a modern Unix-like kernel.  The Hurd uses
+    the [[GNU_C_Library|glibc]], whose development closely tracks standards
+    such as ANSI/ISO, BSD, POSIX, Single Unix, SVID, and X/Open.
+
+  * **it's built to survive**
+
+    Unlike other popular kernel software, the Hurd has an object-oriented
+    structure that allows it to evolve without compromising its design.  This
+    structure will help the Hurd undergo major redesign and modifications
+    without having to be entirely rewritten.
+
+  * **it's scalable**
+
+    The Hurd implementation is aggressively multithreaded so that it runs
+    efficiently on both single processors and symmetric multiprocessors.  The
+    Hurd interfaces are designed to allow transparent network clusters
+    (*collectives*), although this feature has not yet been implemented.
+
+  * **it's extensible**
+
+    The Hurd is an attractive platform for learning how to become a kernel
+    hacker or for implementing new ideas in kernel technology.  Every part of
+    the system is designed to be modified and extended.
+
+  * **it's stable**
+
+    It is possible to develop and test new Hurd kernel components without
+    rebooting the machine (not even accidentally).  Running your own kernel
+    components doesn't interfere with other users, and so no special system
+    privileges are required.  The mechanism for kernel extensions is secure by
+    design: it is impossible to impose your changes upon other users unless
+    they authorize them or you are the system administrator.
+
+  * **it exists**
+
+    The Hurd is real software that works Right Now.  It is not a research
+    project or a proposal.  You don't have to wait at all before you can start
+    using and developing it.
diff --git a/hurd/documentation.mdwn b/hurd/documentation.mdwn
index 83fb9f0a..bb37a8be 100644
--- a/hurd/documentation.mdwn
+++ b/hurd/documentation.mdwn
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ is included in the section entitled
 
   * [[What_Is_the_GNU_Hurd]]
 
+  * [[Advantages]]
+
   * [[FAQ]]
 
   * <http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/docs.html>
diff --git a/hurd/status.mdwn b/hurd/status.mdwn
index a84d7c45..b4ece046 100644
--- a/hurd/status.mdwn
+++ b/hurd/status.mdwn
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-[[meta copyright="Copyright © 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc."]]
+[[meta copyright="Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation,
+Inc."]]
 
 [[meta license="""[[toggle id="license" text="GFDL 1.2+"]][[toggleable
 id="license" text="Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
@@ -8,19 +9,44 @@ Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license
 is included in the section entitled
 [[GNU_Free_Documentation_License|/fdl]]."]]"""]]
 
-The Hurd team doesn't create hurd-only releases, but instead relies 
-on a distribution done by folks from **Debian**. 
+The Hurd, together with the GNU Mach microkernel, the GNU C Library
+and the other GNU and non-GNU programs in the GNU system, provide a
+rather complete and usable operating system today.  It may not be ready
+for production use, as there are still many bugs and missing features.
+However, it should be a good base for further development and
+non-critical application usage.
+
+The GNU system (also called GNU/Hurd) is completely self-contained
+(you can compile all parts of it using GNU itself).  You can run
+several instances of the Hurd in parallel, and debug even critical
+servers in one Hurd instance with gdb running on another Hurd
+instance.  You can run the X window system, applications that use it,
+and advanced server applications like the Apache webserver.
+
+On the negative side, the support for character devices (like sound
+cards) and other hardware is mostly missing.  Although the POSIX
+interface is provided, some additional interfaces like POSIX shared
+memory or semaphores are still under development.
+
+All this applies to the current development version, and not to the
+last release (0.2).  We encourage everybody who is interested to try
+out the latest development version, and send feedback to the Hurd
+developers.
+
+
+The Hurd team doesn't create Hurd-only releases, but instead relies
+on a distribution done by folks from *Debian*.
 
 That Debian version closely tracks the progress of the Hurd 
 (and often includes many new features), 
 so little would be gained by creating an official pure Hurd release. 
 
-The Debian GNU/Hurd [[distribution|running/debian]] offers **livecds and qemu images** 
+The Debian GNU/Hurd [[distribution|running/debian]] offers *LiveCDs and QEMU images*
 to test-drive the Hurd in a real life system with access to about 
 50% of the Debian software archive. 
 
 The most recent version of the Debian port at the time of writing 
-is **Debian GNU/Hurd K16**. 
+is *Debian GNU/Hurd K16*.
 
 
 That said, the last official release of the Hurd 
@@ -34,3 +60,4 @@ already expect delays; to disappoint them in this way as
 well would be unfortunate. Moreover, it would lessen the
 possibility that they would want to try the Hurd again in the future.
 
+