FREEBSD FreeBSD 5.1

Rating:
Summary: FreeBSD is the best OS value around
Review: I have not used FreeBSD 5.1, but I've used 4.6 through 5.0 on numerous servers and workstations. It is easy to install, very easy to update and add programs, and is extremely stable. There is great support in numerous on-line communities.

Why waste your time with Linux, when a real Unix operating system like FreeBSD is around? The port system alone, which makes installing AND CONFIGURING software painless -- configuring is often a pain in Linux. The KDE desktop environment is easy to use and understand by nearly everyone.

I have used a couple of flavors of Linux, such as SUSE and Redhat, but in my opinion FreeBSD is simply a better OS -- simpler, more stable, and in most cases faster. It has a very clean design. Visit www.freebsd.org and see what it is all about. Linux is a very good operating system, but FreeBSD is simply better.

The only negative is the installation process, which is a bit dated, but easy to understand. Also, like a real Unix OS, it boots to the command line by default, rather than an x-windowing graphical interface, which is easy to set up if you wish. I have had the fancier interfaces of Linux crash often on install, but FreeBSD has loaded smoothly every time. Ultimately, what do you want -- glitz or functionality? If you want a bullet-proof OS with thousands of free add-on programs, look no further. Microsoft could learn a lot from these folks.

The OS is basically free. You're paying for the CDROMs and the official manual, which are worth it, I think. TIP -- Also buy and skim ABSOLUTE BSD and you'll know way more than you'll ever need. Just keep it on a shelf, and if you ever have a problem or a question, the answer is there.