Unless you're a programmer or sysadmin, the learning curve isn't worth
it. Go with what you know and get the paper done. The differences
between the various *nix systems to Joe Average user are pretty minor
compared to what you're really trying to accomplish. (i.e. write
papers, read email, surf the web, process lab data, etc.)
Knowing that in BSD v4.3, the amount of RAM devoted to the file cache is
established at boot time and is not dynamic is kinda interesting to
fellow geeks. The number of times that it has actually mattered in 20+
years of programming? Once.
Rene
Richard Lawrence wrote:
Hi everyone,
I'm wondering if anyone has relatively recent experience using both
Debian (or some derivative) and FreeBSD, and if they might like to
give me some thoughts on the relative merits of each. I'm not looking
to start a holy war here -- just looking for an informed opinion. I
have used Debian and derivatives since I came to the free software
world, but I have never used any of the BSDs.
The back story is this: I have just started a graduate program at
Berkeley, and I am putting a desktop machine together (via parts
acquired from Craigslist), which I anticipate will be my main work
station for writing papers and such. I am most interested in having a
minimal, efficient, and stable system, since I am running on slightly
older hardware. I guess I have an institutional curiosity in the
BSDs, and I like the idea of learning a new system (particularly one
with such excellent documentation). On the other hand, I know Debian
well enough that I could install it tomorrow and still have time to
write the paper I have due Thursday. Is it worth the learning curve
to stray from Linux land?
Richard
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René Churchill [email protected]
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