Freebsd vs. linux

[Ramiro Aceves]

Hello Anthony

Thanks for your reply.

Anthony Atkielski wrote:
> Ramiro Aceves writes:
> 
> 
>>I use Debian as my main system and I do not agree with you. I do not
>>think that Linux distributions I use are doing more enphasis on the 
>>desktop. At least on Debian or Gentoo (the distros I know) you always 
>>have the choice (the whole OS) to install or not the X-window system.
> 
> 
> I prefer not to have to choose among three dozen different
> "distributions."  Keeping on top of releases is hard enough; having
> multiple releases of multiple distributions is a useless complication.

I think that it is better to have choices, that is why I choosed Debian 
  from among hundred of Linux distributions. Also I choosed  FreeBSD 
from the BSDs.

> 
> And Gentoo seems to pop up all too often on Bugtraq (so does Linux in
> general).

I have not played too much with gentoo, so I do not know.
> 
> 
>>They also have a "base system" concept. If you need a server you only
>>install the software you need for the server. If you want a desktop full
>>of bells ans whistles, you install the X-window System, and whatever 
>>window manager you like. I think it is the same for FreeBSD.
> 
> 
> I've never noticed anything like that during installation.  You just
> install FreeBSD, period.  You do have the choice of X or not, but
> that's about it.

When I install Debian I install the Debian base system, period. Then I 
choose to install the rest of the software. It is the same. Debian 
"required" packages are the base OS.

> 
> 
>>I asume that the Debian guys are expertise enough to put that "mix" in a
>>comprehensive, coherent,and consistent set of system programs to run 
>>under Linux kernel, as you say.
> 
> 
> Maybe, maybe not.  I don't have time to try out every distribution
> available in the world to find out which is best.  FreeBSD has proven
> itself for me, and so I run FreeBSD.  I like to keep things simple.

I agree with you, If something works, you do not need to change.

> 
> 
>>My system also never hangs and works very well.
> 
> 
> That's true of every system I have, both UNIX and Windows.  It's pretty
> much the minimum one should expect from any OS these days.

Yes, but some OSes are famous for their "blue screens"  ;-) . Well, I 
lie, I have had a full system crash both in Linux and FreeBSD.

One day FreeBSD 5.3 completely crashed when doing something in X-window 
System on an old pentium 75MHz.
Sometimes I get my Debian box crashed in my 1200 MHz AMD when I watch TV 
card in X-window and move windows (I do not know if it is a matter of 
bttv driver or X-window System bug, but it is anoying).

On the other had, when I used Windows I had daily crashes :-)


> 
>>So I agree with Nick, I think Linux and FreeBSD are two great OSes, and
>>that each one has its pros and cons. Choosing one or the other, is a 
>>matter of taste.
> 
> 
> Maybe.  I think Linux is a matter of hype, primarily.  It's amazing how
                                          ^
-----------------------------------------|
Cant find this on my english dictionary( I do not know what it means)


> many Linux users had never heard of UNIX before getting involved with
> Linux; indeed, some of them _still_ haven't heard of UNIX.  That is far
> less the case with other UNIX-like  or UNIX-derived operating systems
> (except Mac OS X).

I worked a little with Unix before I new Linux (at University). I know 
that many Linux users had never heard of UNIX, many windows users have 
never heard of Linux nor Unix, many Linux users had never heard of 
FreeBSD, but that is another story.

> 
> 
>>I although have observed that in this list, some of you hate Linux.
> 
> 
> Choosing operating systems is not an emotional issue for me, so I don't
> hate or love any OS.


I choosed Linux cause I think it was better than the windozes. I never 
heard about FreeBSD. When I knew that FreeBSD existed (reading a 
magazine), it strongly aroused my curiosity, so I am learning it to see 
if it is better than Linux. If in the future I can prove that, I will 
change, sure. In the mean time, I am playing with it.

Here in Spain, in the last two months,  I have seen two Linux magazines 
that came with FreeBSD 5.3 CDROM. That is a good thing! Sadly, I can not 
find any FreeBSD exclusive magazines. That fortunately is not a problem 
cause FreeBSD has got a very good handbook and documentation.


> 
> 
>>I have never seen insults to FreeBSD in the Debian e-mail lists.
> 
> 
> Most of them have probably never heard of FreeBSD.

That is true.

> 
> 
>>Anyway, I like both very much, I am following this e-mail list and
>>playing with my FreeBSD install in another slice to get confortable and
>>perhaps, one day, I will change.
> 
> 
> I remember when I had the luxury of being able to play with operating
> systems, instead of depending on them for productive work.  I can't
> afford that today.

I use my computer for my engineering calculations, surfing the net and 
e-mailing,  and for fun and hobbies such as astronomy and amateur radio. 
Both FreeBSD and Debian GNU/Linux seem to satisfy my requirements. 
Indeed they share most of what FreeBSD call "third party apps".

If an OS does not have the "third party apps", it is not useful for most 
of us.


Ramiro.