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From: Peter Mutsaers <plm@xs4all.nl>
Subject: Re: BSD vs Linux
X-Newsreader: Gnus v5.4.25/Emacs 19.34
To: dledeaux@vertexcomm.com
Sender: plm@plm.xs4all.nl
Organization: My Unorganized Home
Message-ID: <87lo5gfn6s.fsf@plm.xs4all.nl>
References: <337A4307.3BF9@vertexcomm.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 21:19:23 GMT
Lines: 52
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:41075
>> On Wed, 14 May 1997 15:56:07 -0700, David LeDeaux
>> <dledeaux@vertexcomm.com> said:
DL> I am currently a Linux user, but am considering possibly
DL> switching to FreeBSD within the near future. I am wondering
DL> though, what are the benifits of BSD over Linux?
I've switched numerous times (used to run only Linux until 1.5 years
ago) and currently have both. I clearly prefer FreeBSD in general,
but the pro of Linux is that more software is available (or faster)
such as JDK 1.1.1, Aplixware etc. Though much of Linux software can be
run under FreeBSD with the Linux emulator so that's not always a
problem (it is for the DOS emulator, alas).
Apart from that FreeBSD is nicer, because it is more stable, better
defined (consistent distribution) and much, much easier to maintain
and stay current with.
Also there is a good bug report system (for any part of the system to
a central entity) and there is very good response from the FreeBSD
developers. With Linux this depends just on the particular author of a
Linux package, since there is no core group in Linux that oversees the
whole system (distribution).
DL> My Linux box at the time, is running as an Internet gateway
DL> for about 5 other computers. As it is right now, the Linux
DL> box is set up and running great. Would I be just
DL> "reinventing" the wheel installing BSD?
Maybe. I would certainly give FreeBSD a try, but not yet erase the
Linux partition.
Also take care for this: FreeBSD comes with less tools etc. standard
installed as Linux (although this depends on the distribution of
course). The first time I installed FreeBSD I found it very bare and
spartan and immediately went back to Linux. But, there is a very nice
package system (called ports) that lets you add all those nice extra's
that often are standard in a Linux distribution.
One real minus of FreeBSD: the console is pretty lame when compared to
Linux. There is no equivalent to SVGATextmode and svgalib. No nice
high resolution text modes. So you're more forced to always work
inside X-window.
--
/\_/\
( o.o ) Peter Mutsaers | Abcoude (Utrecht), | Trust is a good quality
) ^ ( plm@xs4all.nl | the Netherlands | for other people to have
--
/\_/\
( o.o ) Peter Mutsaers | Abcoude (Utrecht), | Trust is a good quality
) ^ ( plm@xs4all.nl | the Netherlands | for other people to have