When I was first learning (recent switcher from various Linux distros to FreeBSD), I asked the same question. The best answer I received was that FreeBSD isn't

When I was first learning (recent switcher from various Linux distros to FreeBSD), I asked the same question. The best answer I received was that FreeBSD isn't quite like Ubuntu vs RHEL vs Fedora vs Gentoo, etc. BSD is a more-direct descendant of UNIX and is an operating system, vs Linux, which is actually a Kernel. They are different philosophies, and solve slightly different problems. From a high-level "I just want to use an operating system", your basic interactions can be quite similar. The most pragmatic explanation of BSD for Linux users I've seen is here: http://www.over-yonder.net/~fullermd/rants/bsd4linux/bsd4linux1.php http://www.over-yonder.net/~fullermd/rants/bsd4linux/bsd4lin... That said, some things I like about FreeBSD that I didn't like about my favorite Linux distro, RHEL: 1) Ports (you can install packages, too, but I don't like waiting for someone to build one for me to download) 2) Clean and well-organized 3) Phenomenal documentation (RHEL isn't terrible here, I just feel more comfortable with FreeBSD's) 4) Less fancy extra features and such running out of the box (95% Personal preference, 5% security preference) 5) Less base-operating-system dependence on specific versions of languages (read: Yum/Python on RHEL) Some things that caught me off guard: 1) Ports generally come with the software's default config, not a friendly config created by a packager. This ended up being better for me in the long run, but awkward and confusing in the short term. 2) BIND is not an uninstallable package from the base distribution. 3) No htop without the Linux compatibility layer, which I don't care to install. I also haven't used FreeBSD on workstations, only on servers, so I am less demanding of comfort features than someone else may be. I hope that's somehow useful to you.