Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 02:09:39 -0400 From: "James Gill" <gill@topsecret.net> To: "Roy Bettle" <rbettle@criterion-group.com>, "David Kudrav" <dkudrav@eng.ua.edu> Cc: <freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG>, <kudra001@bama.ua.edu> Subject: RE: basic info on freebsd needed... Message-ID: <NDBBJDFMIMOCFNNCEKADOEEOCMAA.gill@topsecret.net> In-Reply-To: <37A52C30.6C91DF82@criterion-group.com>
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While I am certainly a big FreeBSD advocate, if you run Solaris daily, you would be interested to know that Sun gives away the OS for noncommercial purposes for the cost of the media plus shipping (I ordered a copy of Solaris7 on Monday, put $16 on my creditcard, and had it Wednsday). I won't try to compare the differences between them, I'm not knowledgeable enough to do that, but I will remind you that a computer is a tool you should use it in the way that best works for you. I don't know what Solaris will do on your 486, but FreeBSD runs great on my 486 w 16MB RAM (I'm not running any x-win business, just commandline stuff). Personally, I like FreeBSD better for nontechnical reasons, but when the only thing in your toolbox is a hammer, the whole world can become a nail... cheers, --gill -> -> David; -> -> Quick follow-up from a fellow FreeBSD newbie: -> -> Recommendation: Buy the 4-CD set from Walnut Creek -> (cdrom.com). It comes -> with an *excellent* manual for the FreeBSD newbie. -> -> Linux v. FreeBSD: First of all, this isn't really a -> competition. FreeBSD and -> Linux have different development models and objectives for -> their respective -> OSes. Linux is after the Windoze space; FreeBSD is *all* about -> reliability, -> speed and power. Fastest, most efficient IP stack in the known -> universe, by -> the way. -> -> Software?: FreeBSD software may or may not run under Linux, but Linux -> software will most likely run under FreeBSD. The -> aforementioned manual does -> an excellent job of explaining why this is (has to do somewhat -> with FreeBSD -> having been around a lot longer). -> -> OpenBSD v. FreeBSD: There are probably as many similarities as -> there are -> differences. The development model for OpenBSD centers more -> around developing -> a rock-solid security system-type OS though (although FreeBSD -> isn't exactly a -> 90-lb weekling in the security space either). -> -> FreeBSD on a 486/33?: Sure, but why? Once again, the manual -> will help you -> understand the minimum config required, etc. -> -> Windoze partition?: Sure, but again, why? -> -> Also, one of the most incredible resources I've had provided to -> me by the -> people on this list is at http://www.freebsd.org/ports/ This -> is a list of the -> more than 2,500 FreeBSD-ported apps *with explanations for -> each*. Most cool -> bookmark. -> -> ;-) -> -> Hope it helps. -> -> RAB -> -> -> David Kudrav wrote: -> -> > Hi, -> > -> > I am considering running freebsd and also considering -> openbsd, but have -> > some questions. I am fairly familiar with AIX and Solaris, -> and slightly -> > less familiar with Linux. I use AIX and/or Solaris almost -> daily, but only -> > as a user and for limited applications. -> > -> > I am looking for some sort of comparison between free and -> open bsd. What -> > are the advantages to each? Will software that runs under -> one run under -> > the other with minimum effort (recompile) or will it be more -> complicated? -> > What are the advantages of free over open? Open vs free? Freebsd vs -> > linux? -> > -> > I'd really like to start running a unix or unix like OS on my -> PII and am -> > most strongly considering freebsd, but don't feel that I know -> enough to do -> > it. Everyone I know runs Linux or Windows... -> > -> > Finally, I'd like to keep a Win98 partition, but I'm pretty -> sure that is -> > possible; please just confirm. -> > -> > Thanks, -> > -> > David -> > -> > ps, can I run freebsd on a 486/33? What is the min size hard -> disk/ram? -> > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message
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