> EO> I've thought about starting an internet provider.. I am
 > EO> thinking about
 > EO> using
 > EO> either Linux (probably Slackware, maybe RedHat) or
 > EO> FreeBSD, and I was
 > EO> wondering, which would be better? I heard FreeBSD is
 > EO> supposed to be
 > EO> faster
 > EO> and more stable than Linux, but there seems to be a lot
 > EO> more software and support for Linux..
 > I just got through discussing this very question with my son.
 > Here is his take on it.
 > FreeBSD is a "professional" OS, with lots of commercial
 > support, IE: you can
 > buy service contracts to have someone do your UNIX support..
So BSD would be good if you might need serious help with it?
 > RedHat Linux is packaged in a way that makes is easier for
 > beginners to learn.
 > Slackware Linux is a "gurus'" OS, with lots of bells and
 > whistles for the
 > experianced hacker..
That's what I heard..  But still, I've heard that BSD is faster and more 
stable than Linux.  Do you know if that's true?
 > My son runs Win/95 and Redhat on his system at College, and
 > we run Slackware
 > on my website/ftpsite.
 > I personally run OS/2 Warp 3 connect, and am about to upgrade
 > to Warp 4.
I have Warp 4.  I like it..  Before I had just Warp 3 red (not Connect).  I 
found that Warp 4 was faster and more stable on my system, and it has some 
neat stuff, too.  I just wish there was more software for it..  One good 
thing, though, is that there is something coming out that will be able to 
convert Win32/95/NT programs to OS/2 native (via Open32).  It will require 
you to have Warp 4, but it looks good..  They've already been able to convert 
stuff like Quake and a few commercial word-processor apps..
Eric
---
---------------