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Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.com!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!olivea!inews.intel.com!mwilley From: mwilley@pcocd2.intel.com (Mark Willey - PCD) Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions Subject: Your comments, please: intro to free unices Date: 4 May 1994 18:09:29 GMT Organization: Intel Corporation Lines: 80 Sender: mwilley@pcocd2 (Mark Willey - PCD) Distribution: world Message-ID: <2q8ocp$7vp@inews.intel.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: fiw206.fm.intel.com Originator: mwilley@sedona Hi, all. I've prepared a text file that I send to people when they ask me about free unix for personal computers. I confess my ignorance to both FreeBSD and Linux, but want to provide the facts in a brief overview to newbies. So, if you've got a minute, please look over this attachment and drop me a line with your suggestions. I'm trying to keep it objective, informative, and brief. Here's to the future of free and freely available software! ----CUT HERE---- Mark's quick n' dirty intro to FREE UNIX for PC's. The purpose of this document is to make you aware of what's out there and give you a glimpse at what you can expect from these OSes. It's NOT a comprehensive analysis of them. This just tells you what's out there and tells you how to learn more... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are three free UNIX operating systems for personal computers. Two are very similar and based on BSD UNIX. The other has been completely written from the ground up and closely approximates POSIX, and therefore feels more like SYSV. The two BSD versions are NetBSD and FreeBSD. More information can be had on these two OSes by reading the 386bsd USENET newsgroups (comp.os.386bsd.*) The SYSV-like OS is known as Linux. You can learn about it by reading the linux USENET newsgroups (comp.os.linux.*). Once you dabble into these newsgroups, get the FAQs, etc, you'll be ready to make a decision about which OS is for you. Go to the FTP site and grab it, or order the CD-ROM. Strengths of NetBSD, FreeBSD: - NetBSD runs on Mac, PC, HP300, Amiga, and more! - Based on BSD code - Good, solid networking code - still experimental - you can make a difference - Can run most UNIX programs easily, just make n' play. - Has the X Window System available - MS Windows emulation is in the works - available on CD-ROM - COMPLETELY FREE Strengths of Linux: - Based on POSIX - Lots and lots of users - still experimental - you can make a difference - has DOS emulation - Can run most UNIX programs easily, just make n' play. - Has the X Window System available - MS Windows emulation is in the works - available on CD-ROM - COMPLETELY FREE If you've got any more questions or want clarificatoin, or found this blurb to be totally useless, send me email so I can make it more informative for the next person who asks. (You're inquiry 5000...) ;-) More permanent address: willeyma@sage.cc.purdue.edu ----CUT HERE---- Thanks a bunch, and all the people who get the file will thank you too! ;-) Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Willey Ask me about FREE UNIX+X11R5 for Intel PC. 916-356-5477 I speak for myself, not Intel. mwilley@pcocd2.intel.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Willey Ask me about FREE UNIX+X11R5 for Intel PC. 916-356-5477 I speak for myself, not Intel. mwilley@pcocd2.intel.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------