From: Michael Mueller <muellerix@...>
Date: 2004-07-22T17:22:01+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] FreeBSD <-> Debian

> HI Michael,
> what do you think about FreeBSD in general? I am about using FreeBSD too,
> but don't exactly know the (dis-)advantages especially in contrast to
> Debian.
> What I am looking for is a personal view (and not 'theoratical'  handbook
> stuff).

To make it short: I love it :-)

I'm not using it as a server but as a workstation both at home and @work.
I was always quite satisfied with woody on both my boxes but was since I'm
not willing to use the old software woody provides (e. g. kde 2.2) I was
using lots of backports. 
First I switched at home and after using it at home for about half a year, I
switched at work too last week :-)

The imho coolest thing of FreeBSD ist the strict separation between base
system and Ports. I'm using 4.10 stable - let's say that's somehow like
using Debian woody - but I can always install the lates software like kde
3.2.3, ruby 1.8.1 etc....
One thing to consider is, that if you want new versions, you nearly always
have to compile them by yourself... in the case of ruby no big deal, but
when you want to compile kde or openoffice you can easily keep your box
occupied the whole night or more...
I'm using it on a celeron 1100 and it's ok to do such things at night....
but it wouldn't dare to compile big programs on let's say an P2-300...

However FreeBSD when compared to linux lacks supports for some new
hardware.. AFAIK there is no USB 2.0-support in the 4.X STABLE Line... But
since I don't have any fancy Multimedia-equipment I don't care..

HTH
Michael