freeBSD v. Linux -- curious.

[Cadillac84]

I recently received a 4-disc set of freeBSD 4.7 as a promo with something I bought. Right now, I don't have a spare machine to experiment with, but I will soon, and I'd like to know what to expect.

What are the principal differences between Linux and BSD? Pros and cons?

I run Linux in text mode because most of my "spare" computers have only 1 or 2 MB of vid-ram and aren't very fast (P-66 and such). So, if it is graphics that is lacking, that wouldn't have much affect on me.

But, I am really curious about whether I will learn enough to be worth the time of experimenting with it.

I've installed and used RH, Slackware, CalderaOpen, and my current fav, SuSE. Only once accidentally got SuSE installed in graphics mode and could never figure out how to get it to boot to text mode, so I just reformatted and installed again. Not that I couldn't have eventually figured it out, but it was so damnably slow on my computer that I just couldn't live with it.

Any comments (other than disparaging remarks about my intellect) are welcome. ;)

C

[andysimmons]

Almost no differences in operation...BSD has a few cool CL tools that nobody else had, but most Linux distros now have them now. It wouldn't hurt to play with it, but probably the main thing you'll learn is syntax differences.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Before asking ANYTHING else, I suggest reading this thread. (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40281) Why do I suggest that? It had run for a long, long time, debating why Linux was more popular than the *BSDs. I think you'll find some good reading about the differences in this thread.