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Here's a link to its user guide:
http://docs.pcbsd.org/guide/

This will give you more idea about it.

Mostly just BSD kicks ass.

I use OpenBSD exclusively on a couple systems and dual boot OpenBSD on a couple others, but I gave up on Linux and have quit using it, already erased it from my main desktop system, but will try to answer.

BSD & Linux differences:

Each BSD is developed and maintained by its own group - kernal, filesystem, centralized ports, system libraries, instead of getting different parts from different people.

The BSDs are much more command line focused and is not interested in developing anything to be user friendly. People will help, but they do expect you try to be independent, they will not hold your hand every step of the way through.

In BSD you can upgrade to the new release from source, there is no need to erase it and install the new release

For a more thorough list, have a look here http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/articles/explaining-bsd/comparing-bsd... Plus can just to a quick Linux BSD search for more list of differences

You make it sound as if BSD was only for expert and people who knows allot of stuff to begin with.

Funny, because on PC-BSD, the first thing you read is :
"PC-BSD is a free operating system with ease of use in mind. Like any modern system, you can listen to your favorite music, watch your movies, work with office documents and install your favorite applications with a setup wizard at a click."

If this is true, it should be easier to use than a simple command line.

Don't really see what OpenBSD has to do with the subject at hand - but it's 01:30, I don't feel like going to sleep, so I'll bite...



Oh really?
Should I really count the number of non-OpenBSD packages in the OpenBSD ports tree?
Heck, do you have any idea how many GNU GPL packages are on your system right now?
... Oh, and since when did NIH syndrome became a virtue?



Which given the BSD distribution at hand (PC-BSD.. AKA BSD for the masses)... Oh, never mind.



Just like Slackware, Gentoo and at least 200 different Linux distributions... what else is new?
... Then again, no idea what this could be considered a winning feature. Necessity? Sure... but advantage?



Lets see.
Fedora, Ubuntu, SUSE, Mandriva, ... [insert favorite distribution name here] ... Slackware, Gentoo.

While I hate upgrading (both my Linux and my BSD boxes) - seldom did I see a distribution that doesn't support previous-version upgrade.
Heck, most of them support automated-off-the-net upgrade.



So, you're switching to FreeBSD, strait from your original OpenBSD comment, that had little to do with the actual subject. I'm impressed.

- Gilboa "Should I really point out that NetBSD != OpenBSD != FreeBSD?" Davara

Ok so thats all the negatives...any positives?

actually the only thing that would interest me from that list is the in-place upgrade -which debian (and derivatives) has been able to do for years now...and upgrading via binary packages is a hell of a lot quicker than upgrading from source...anyone have a spare couple of days while your pc compiles all your software?

i would think that linux sharing resources and libraries etc amongs all the various distros is a big plus since everyone contributes and everyone benefits.

each to their own - my answer to the kubuntu (or other linux distro) user is that if you're happy with your linux distro and the direction linux is taking, then BSD will probably not be for you...

"The BSDs are much more command line focused and is not interested in developing anything to be user friendly. People will help, but they do expect you try to be independent, they will not hold your hand every step of the way through."

uh, that's PC-BSDs only purpose, to make FreeBSD user friendly. The BSds have all the same desktop environments as Linux, and most of the same capabilities. I used FreeBSD for a desktop for a few years, and while initial setup was a bit of work, it was the most stable desktop I have ever used. There is also excellent documentation.

As far as being more "command-line focused" once your DE is setup, it is no more "command-line focused" than Linux.

"In BSD you can upgrade to the new release from source, there is no need to erase it and install the new release "

You can do that with Linux too, I recently when from Etch to Lenny.

Not so. There's quite a bit of cross-pollination between the different BSD's.



Eh, I dunno about that. In some ways yes, in some ways no. Most developers do use X, ya know.



I dont see how this is different from Linux.

I'm a fan of BSD and Linux but I have to tell you that it is way way easier to upgrade a linux install from one version to the next.. at least on Debian based distros.

You can actually update Dapper Drake directly to Hardy Heron.. a skip of about 3 years. On the other hand I've had to endure hours of 'fun' simply moving from FreeBSD 6.2 to 7.

Not trying to start a flame war, but I would like to defend the misconception that you cannot do in Linux what you can in BSD.

The amd64 release will be out shortly, according to Kris Moore.