stable, secure, easy to upgrade, easy to maintain and it is really "free"(自由).

Reply your questions :

I would like to use Debian if it is better.

Reply:
It would be depended on your knowledge on Linux.
Debian is not user friendly like Rehat on Installation and application configuration - especially on Chinese input and fonts .

Documentation are poor and only a few available compare with Redhat.

You will be expected to spend sometime to learn how to config Debian to work for you.

Does Debian run similar packages as Redhat does such as OpenOffice, gimp, Apache Tomcat and iptables?

Reply :
Yes but you will need to spend sometime to learn how to configuration those application to work for you. If you already good on those application, it will be o.k.

Other down side :

Strictly on Open Source software, some common but none GPL Application were not included in the Offical Debian packages,

i.e. Sun Java , Mplayer ...etc - you have to install it by your self.

In return :

Very Stable,

Easy to install and upgrade by Apt-get,

Choice to start from small number of applications ( Redhat will install every things in the beginning but Debian is not).

Free to use.

K. M. Lau

http://www.awtrey.com/tony/foss/debianisdifferent.php

I hope this article can help you. Debian is so different in quality assurance. This makes everything different:

• Package dependency is much more robust.
• New version entering the archive is well controlled.
• All packages conform to the policy.
• It is well supported by the community.

The result is:

• A lot of packages are available, nearly double to triple of other distros.
• Since most packages are available, you don't need to download those produced by third party, which Debian cannot control.
• If you use stable releases, it is nearly guranteed to work.
• Upgrading to a new release is very easy, and well tested.

That said, it is easy to copy part of Debian into other distros, like apt-rpm, like Ubuntu. But they still cannot reproduce all the virtues.

Ubuntu makes use of Debian package.
And it releases twice a year.

Debian 3.0r5 even cannot recognise my USB device.

Why do not we use Ubuntu instead of Debian?
Because Ubuntu uses the stability of Debian packages and it keeps updated twice a year.

maybe you should read the documentation?

If you talk about 'free', 'security', 'stable', 'usability', You should rather use Debian. Gentoo's founder quited on it. *BSD are not really usable as a desktop.

Interviews between two leaders:

http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinfrastructure/2005/06/16/linux-bsd-uni...

http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/06/09/2128249

An article of about why enterprises embrace Linux more than BSD
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19558.html

One of the BSD user's website:(interesting):
http://www.linuxisforbitches.com/bsdvlinux.php

I can open the link with no problem, may be too busy traffic at your moment.
Its seems that BSD user is more offensive than Linux user as well as their leader after watching above links. Actually, even FreeBSD and OpenBSD will attack each other if you visit their site.

But I feel sorry to those try to attack Linus and Linux which show their igorance to the software developing history. Free Software, OpenSorce and GNU Project, don't think we can enjoy these today without Linus and Stallman (and other important dedicated person in OpenSource World)

Linux----is a masterpiece of Linus working together with "worldwide" computer experts for "no return" with "Free" perspective. What a beautiful story and great respective behind Linux system. Although it is a Unix like system, administration tool is borrowed code from 4.3BSD, kernal design is completely original.

4.3BSD---is just a improved Unix System V in Bell Laboratory by few scientists with paid just for researching....and the system is "not free"

FreeBSD------don't think it is come from 4.3BSD, actually it borrowed code from Linux in return when designing.

OpenBSD-----less secure but run faster than FreeBSD, quite like linux focus on "OpenSource Concept", however, just trying to imitate Linux community.

Microsoft Windows-----Don't think that it was invented by Bad Guy Bill Gates. "Windows concept" is actually originated from Apple Computer Inc's genius Steve just stolen by Bill Gate. Bill Gate knew "Window" OS because he pretended to be cooperating with Steve in software development on his profound Window platform . This made him could get a touch on it . On the other hand , Bill Gate such a theif and betrayor serectly cooperate with IBM and design a window-like OS for all IBM computer system as fast as possible before the Apple window installed computer system launched. And then he was success and became rich. (all Copyright, 'Not Free 'concept is cruely implemented by Bill Gate in this OS: one software can only run in one machine as if you have a TV, you cannot share it to your family, if you have 5 members , you should buy 5 TV for each. Such cruely copyright agreement if implented in daily life, how terrible would our world be?)It is very shameful for him to make a copyright on his window which is stolen from other people product.

After Steves, Netscape was the second victim. It made a very great success in browser business on window platform while internet is more and more popular. Greedy Bill Gate try to ( this time is not "steal", but "rob") force all window OS have his own internet explorer by 'free' and try to prevent netscape run on his machine. The ending of Netscape is bankrupt and forced to be bought and reformed by Mozilla. That's why so many people hate Bill Gates and so much virus were made attack MS product.

Comparing with Linus, if he made Linux a copyright software, he no doubt would be very rich. That why he is such a honor and remarkable person. That's why i like linux other than BSD (not to mention windows) but not the reason of which performance is better. Moreover, there is still no signifiance proof that Linux or BSD which is better. If it has, i think the difference is very minor.

I use redhat / fedora because
1/. it support more hardware configuration, therefore if you are new to linux, success in install redhat is higher than others.
2/. more book on redhat is avaliable than others, though some people prefer to read the electronic version, but I prefer the printed one, it is good for staying in the bookshelf, save time in printing the manuals.
3/. I do not compile sources for update need recompile again.

Debian should be good in server,(a server should not have monitor, keyboard like the desktop, server should be keep or stack in cabinet).

My opinion is use redhat/fedora in 1st time encounter, installation or area you don't know for redhat is friendly to hardware. Suse is easy to config, after familiar, you can choose any other distribution.