MacBSD/NetBSD/FreeBSD

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

MacBSD (aka NetBSD, FreeBSD; officially NetBSD/mac68k and NetBSD/macppc) is a freeware alternative to Unix and Linux. System requirements are very modest - it can run on most Macs with a 68030 CPU or later, although there are problems with Macs based on the 68LC040.

For a full, up-to-date list of supported models and features, visit the NetBSD/mac68k Machine Status page. For a quick overview, scroll down this page.

Mac Linux Mail Lists

• Max, new list especially for those getting started
• NetBSD lists for 68K and PPC Macs, NetBSD

Recent Headlines

• OS: BSD's big break?, Wide Open News, 3/12. BSD Unix is older than Linux, should benefit from merger of FreeBSD and BSD/OS as Open Source.
• OS: BSD as free as Linux, but finds few takers, ET Online, 11/22. "When Berkeley stopped funding this project, BSD fragmented...."
• OS: FreeBSD, the other Linux, Boston Globe, 8/29.
• OS: The net's stealth operating system, MSNBC, 7/21 [Slashdot]. "It's the software behind the world's most popular Web site and the world's most popular FTP site &emdash; but unless you're a geek, you've never heard of it."
• OS: FreeBSD and Linux benchmarked [Slashdot]
• OS: A tale of two sytems, Daemon News. Linux and BSD Unix compared.
• OS: Let's get more educated about FreeBSD, osOpinon, 4/20

System Requirements, NetBSD/mac68k

• 4 MB RAM required, 8 MB recommended, 16 MB preferred
• 80 MB hard drive minimum, 100+ recommended, 350 MB or larger user partition suggested
• swap partition optional, but strongly recommended; suggested at twice the size of RAM

System Requirements, NetBSD/macppc

• PCI Power Mac (NuBus models not supported)
• 603 or later CPU (601 not supported)

Models Supported, 68k

• SE/30
• Mac II: requires 68851 PMMU, compatible video card
• Mac IIx, IIcx: require compatible video card
• Mac IIci, IIvx, LC II
• Mac IIsi, IIvi: require FPU
• LC III, LC III+: require FPU
• Centris, Quadra models except 900 and 950: must have full 68040, not 68LC040, for full support
• Classic II, Color Classic, Color Classic II: no video support
• PowerBook 140-190, Duo 210-280: no video support
• Mac IIfx: currently unsupported
• Quadra 900, 950: currently unsupported

Models Supported, ppc

• Power Mac 7300, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600
• Power Mac G3 (beige)
• PowerBook 2400
• iMac
• Power Mac G3 (blue)
• Motorola StarMax 3000/240
• Power Computing PowerWave 604/120
• Umax SuperMac C500/Apus 2000

<back to Low End Mac home page>

Channels
 Power Macs
 iMac Channel
 iBook/PowerBook
 MacInSchool
Computer Profiles
 iMac
 Power Mac
 PowerBook/iBook
 Performas
 Mac Clones
 Older Macs
 Lisa • NeXT
Editorial Archive
Mac Daniel's Advice
Email Lists
LEMchat (uses AIM)
Online Tech Journal
Consumer
 advice, reviews
 guides, deals
Software
Apple History
Best of the Web
 Best of the Mac Web surveys
Miscellaneous Links
 Used Mac Dealers
 Video Cards
 Mac OS X
 Mac Linux
 Macspeak
 RAM Upgrades
About Low End Mac
Site Contacts

Support LEM

Affiliates

The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
MacMall
iResQ
ExperCom
eBay
Amazon.com
PayPal
PCMall
PC Zone
Crucial Memory

Our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For detailed price quotes and advertising information, please contactat BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.