Free BSD question

[Ninja_Squirrel]

Does Free BSD have a GUI or is it all command line? I went to the website and could not find what I was looking for.

[Gertrude]

Yes you can use a GUI. Most any app that work with linux will work with FreeBSD.

[Modorf]

you can install XFree86 for FreeBSD
Then you need a window manager too.

ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/4.3.0/binaries/FreeBSD-4.x/

N

[Ninja_Squirrel]

Are there any advantages going to it over Mandrake or Red Hat?

[bsh152s]

I think you may be a little confused. RedHat and Mandrake are linux distributions. Distributions are basically different sets of software with an operating system (GUI, config tools, etc.) FreeBSD is a similar yet different operating system than linux. In other words, Operating System != Distribution.

As for which is better (linux vs. FreeBSD), someone else will have to answer that. I have only minimal experience with FreeBSD.

[fatTrav]

as far as advantages...it depends on what you are wanting to do. i've used both and have found redhat/mandrake and all other linux distros are MUCH MUCH easier to config/setup/do things in than the FreeBSD.

try googling for linux bsd comparisons and searching the forums here as well. you'll find something

based on my experience, if you want a desktop, go with linux unless you really want a Unix in which case go buy a Mac. things are just easier in linux, but mebbe that is just because i know linux (redhat especially) a lot better than Free BSD

[Zoist]

FreeBSD makes the BEST server O/S but not the greatest desktop O/S.
Linux for desktops and FreeBSD for a server. Then again, Linux makes a great server O/S if you set it up properly. Slackware and Debian are the best for Linux servers.

This is just my opinion.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

I use FreeBSD as my only desktop. It can do anything that Linux can do.

I liken it to Slackware (to give it a Linux comparison). You do pretty much configure everything by hand, but you have the ports system to install packages through. There really aren't any advantages to running FreeBSD over Linux, it's mainly just a personal preference. I like the way the init scripts work, personally.

But, if you're new, cut your teeth on something like Red Hat or Mandrake. Then, once you get more comfortable, you can try any of the *BSDs.

[j79zlr]

The best thing about FreeBSD is the ports collection, provides a simple way to install pretty much anything and very simple to keep the entire system up to date, which is why it is a very good server OS.

I find it as easy, if not easier than Linux, to use.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Originally posted by fatTrav
based on my experience, if you want a desktop, go with linux unless you really want a Unix in which case go buy a Mac. things are just easier in linux, but mebbe that is just because i know linux (redhat especially) a lot better than Free BSD

I'm not trying to start some type of "my *nix is better than yours" war or anything, but I'd have to disagree with this statement. You can tune pretty much any OS to be a desktop system (look at what manufacturers did with DOS back in the day!). If you want to run a Unix as a desktop system, Mac wouldn't really be the best way to go. I mean, the hardware costs are astronomical. As nice as OS X is, Apple isn't really trying to market their systems as UNIX boxen . They're more looking for the Mac OS look and usability, coupled with UNIX stability. Besides, Mac OS is based off of FreeBSD anyways.

Don't get me wrong, I really like OS X (I have a machine running it here). But, if you're going to try and install a Linux system on your machine, it won't be that much more difficult to set up a FreeBSD machine. But, most definitely, I'd have to feel that a Mac isn't the most effective solution for running a *NIX system on your desktop.