Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 12:36:28 +0000 From: borehawg <bangpath@bellsouth.net> To: root@isis.dynip.com Cc: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Very Common Question Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19990219123628.0090eb80@mail.atl.bellsouth.net> In-Reply-To: <199902191310.QAA44457@isis.dynip.com>
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From what I have read in _The Complete FreeBSD_, is that BSD and it's free
variants were restricted for a long time by AT&T's lawsuit again Berkeley
Software for source code copyright violations (feel free to correct me on
any of this, btw). So for a long time, Linux and it's distributions were
the only free Unices available. By the time FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD and
4.4BSD Lite were available, Linux had a big time head start.
Yes, it is frusterating to try and explain the differences between Linux
and FreeBSD to someone who doesn't know any better. Our Network Admin at
work (we are an NT network) still refers to me as "a big Linux guy" despite
the fact that I explained to him that FreeBSD is my prefered free-Unix of
choice.
>I'm sick of it, now I hear that IBM is making some deal with Linux
>people for installing Linux on their new machines, I am very very sad,
>and very very gelous.
The reason that HP and IBM and others are porting the Linux kernel to their
platforms is actually a simple matter. If you were a large corporation,
would you rather port a kernel to your processor and still use all your
proprietary utilities and software, or would you spend the money on porting
the entire *BSD environment (including the utilities and software) to that
same processor? Definately cheaper for them to port a mere kernel, use
AIX's finger, grep, tar, etc with very little modification and let the GNU
guys do what they want to with the new port separately. IBM can now release
a Linux distro based on an Open Source kernel, and can still charge for
their propietary utilities and tech support.
>I wan to know why every time I go to a web page on the net to hunt for
>extra-portal (like extra-terresterial) software, I find the following
>Menu:
>
> Windows 95/98
> Windows NT
> OS2
> Machintosh
> Linux
>
>Is this list missing something.
Yeah, it's missing SCO Unix, which is still fairly more common than seeing
Linux on the list :-)
I still get annoyed when I buy a device of some sort that I know has a
Linux or FreeBSD driver available, but I still get a floppy disk or CD that
has drivers for OS/2, Windows, and SCO-Unix...but not Linux/*BSD.
>I am very sad, someone MUST answer these VERY VERY common questions,
>but NOT with conventional answers like:
>
>* if you are still asking which is better, you did not do your homework
>* Linux is unix-like, FreeBSD IS unix
>* Linux comes from 3 vendors, FreeBSD comes from one .ORG
>* Linux kernel is unix, while the resst is crap.
>* FreeBSD Network system is a great thing, and all ISPs are shifting to
> it.
>
>Please guys, some real, and in-depth answers.
>from a very FreeBSDish guy.
Ultimately, it boils down to a matter of personal preference (I know you
don't want to hear that). The only reason I first tried FreeBSD is that a
friend of mine (who had nine Linux boxen at home) tried it and was
extolling the virtues of FreeBSD the very next day. He still swears by it.
A co-worker of mine (a Windows-drone...er...devotee...whom I had convinced
to try FreeBSD) hated FreeBSD but is trying Red Hat Linux and loves it
*sigh*.
So, the best you can do is to spread the word and evangelize and let people
try it for themselves.
Hope that answers some of your questions.
--------------------------------------
Andrew ---> bangpath@bellsouth.net
--------------------------------------
C++? Java? Perl? To Hell with it!!
AppleSoft Basic all the way!!!
Dude!
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