Leaving Ubuntu for a Mac

[244518]

I've been using Ubuntu for two years now, and although by no means an expert, I soon became proficient in fixing problems with the help of forums.

I never considered buying a Mac, but I'm now faced with a choice between which 13" Windows 7 notebook I should purchase, and then install Ubuntu 10.04 on it. But today's 13" laptops either have terrible battery life, are overly heavy, and some of the higher-end ones feature NVIDIA Optimus which won't be compatible with Linux any time soon.

There is a number of decent 13" laptops out there... but I know that they will all have some compatibility issues with Linux. Even small things, like the speakers not muting while the headphones are plugged in... although it can be remedied with some work in the terminal, a kernal update can throw all the hours of tedious work away.

Unlike some Linux users, I do not enjoy going through forums just to get my laptop to work properly. So although I was a big fan of Linux, and will probably continue to use it on desktops that I build from scratch with fully compatible components I chose, I think buying a MacBook Pro is a far better option in terms of a replacement laptop, even when considering the high price differential. Yes, it's thousands of Rands more, but forgone frustration and time-waste should more than make up for it.

Feel free to give your comments. I've posted this both in the Linux and Mac forum, and I know there will be mixed remarks. And I fully expect someone to blame frustration and problems with Ubuntu on my lack of experience, but that person is probably someone who regards playing around in the terminal at 2am, as "fun".

I am looking at purchasing the new 13" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz, as I do not need overly powerful computing, so the very long battery life and strong light weight construction are my main purchasing points.

 

[w1z4rd]

You can probably install Ubuntu on your Mac.

What about these notebooks? http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/notebooks/0,39001749,39133705,00.htm ?

 

[244518]

I may install a small Ubuntu 10.04 partition, just to keep myself posted on the progress. Which should be interesting to watch, as Ubuntu is trying very hard to become an opensource OS X.

I did consider getting an ULV notebook (such as the ones you linked to) but then I realised that would result in me requiring to purchase a desktop, too, as although the ULV notebooks are great for travelling with, I would need an additional higher-powered computer for more demanding tasks. (For the record, a great ULV notebook on the horizon is the MSI X360).

So effectively, I'm looking to have this 13" MacBook Pro as a desktop-replacement notebook (I have a 23" monitor) that is light to travel with and offers great battery life.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

If you can afford a Mac, buy a Mac. If you own a Mac then use damn OS it is made for. OS-X can do everything Linux can, heck its BSD based.

Personally I'm looking at my options for getting a Mac. I love Linux and will always use it on my standard PCs / netbooks / etc, but Mac is the next step up.

 

[w1z4rd]

If you can afford a Mac, buy a Mac. If you own a Mac then use damn OS it is made for. OS-X can do everything Linux can, heck its BSD based.

Except run the desktops he might want, like Gnome, KDE with some Compiz Fusion added to it, as well as all the functionality and applications that come with those desktops.

I have Ubuntu and OSX on my macbook. I tend to use the Ubuntu setup and I leave Mac OSX on for the learning experience and for guests to use. I say choose the desktop and software environment that works best for you, hardware is hardware.

 

[dj_jyno]

Have you considered this? http://ts.fujitsu.com/products/mobile/notebooks/lifebook_s760.html
Datasheet: https://sp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-lifebook-s760.pdf

Pity about the Intel graphics, though.

 

[244518]

The Fujitsu you mentioned is a very good package. Although it is priced at the same level as the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook Pro seems to have a far superior build quality.

Another strong motivation for my MacBook Pro consideration is that, because I am purchasing it for my business through a distributor account, the price is somewhat below the R12999 list price. This brings the price in line with US and UK prices using a straightforward forex comparison.

 

[Tinuva]

I think you already convinced yourself that the Mac is the way to go, and honestly who can blame you. Linux is great, but it still has some way to go in my opinion. Automation to fixing/preventing problems are key, and the hardware compatibility also has some way to go until hardware vendors catch a wake up.

If I had the money, I would also get myself the Mac if my requirements were the same as in the opening post. Besides, I see a lot of work going into getting most Mac hardware to work on Linux, so you still have that choice.

 

[dj_jyno]

The Fujitsu you mentioned is a very good package. Although it is priced at the same level as the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook Pro seems to have a far superior build quality.

Seems like you have your heart set on the Macbook Pro. Just a few final points - the Fujitsu comes standard with a Core i5 CPU installed vs. the 13" Mac's Core 2 Duo, weighs 400g less, has a 16:9 aspect ratio display and a multibay with the option of a second battery.

Build quality can only be judged if you have both machines physically in front of you.

 

[phiber]

So effectively, I'm looking to have this 13" MacBook Pro as a desktop-replacement notebook (I have a 23" monitor) that is light to travel with and offers great battery life.

This is exactly how i use my macbook (13" aluminium Unibody). External display connected via displayport (screen slightly smaller) but it is a fantastic setup. When i take my laptop with me, all i do is pull out a few cables (not a big effort, was a bigger effort to remove the HP Dock) and go. The battery when portable is good, but if you are running on wifi you are going to get about 1/2 of what they say is the time u can get when portable. Getting about 3 hours now on the wifi and 5 and a bit with it off (my laptop is a 2008 version though, with intel 9400 + 2.4 and 4 gig ram). The newer batteries are a bit better. I love OS X, and everytime i use anything else i get the feeling i could be using OS X which just feels so much better.

Build quality on these aluminium macbooks are amazing. Solid machines.

 

[milomak]

i own a mbp. love it. there seems to be quite a effort to install linux on it (debian is my choice of poison). so i've just left it as is. as someone mentioned above, it is BSD so similar to linux. you can also install port and get a good number of your favourite GNU apps.

 

[MickZA]

Here's my summary of the OPs post as a non-fanatical Linux user (they're not responding to the other thread).

The OP could:

1) Purchase a laptop "designed for Windows 7" - this will obviously work and from my experience with Win 7 very nicely but for some unstated reason the OP wants to:

2) Remove Windows 7 and install Ubuntu which has a good chance of working with no fiddling but, if it does work, will:

3) Enable all updates instead of security updates only thus introducing the possibility of problems later on. Of course the OP could:

4) Purchase a copy of OS X and try to install that on the "designed for Windows 7" laptop, no prizes for guessing the likelihood of that working, or:

5) Do what they intended doing all along and run OS X on a computer designed for OS X - the Macbook Pro because:

6) The OP can get a MacBook at a discount thru the distribution channel - unlike the rest of us.

Given the foregoing I fail to see the reason to slag off Linux (& Windows 7 by omission). The OP could just have said that the MacBook is best suited for their requirements because Linux is poorly supported by laptop manufacturers - in their opinion.

 

[milomak]

The OP could just have said that the MacBook is best suited for their requirements because Linux is poorly supported by laptop manufacturers.

i have to disagree with the above. i have installed linux on many laptops with little to no problems.

 

[hawker]

I would go for the Macbook to be honest. It's solid, it's guaranteed to work flawlessly with OS-X. OSX is Unix based so you can still do most of the CLI stuff.

You can also install Ubuntu on it just as easily if you like.

 

[MickZA]

The OP could just have said that the MacBook is best suited for their requirements because Linux is poorly supported by laptop manufacturers - in their opinion.

Fixed

 

[d0b33]

I switched over a few months ago, mostly because of my disappointment with karmic, no regrets so far.

I would ditch windows for ubuntu but unfortunately that's not possible since I use it to game, but OSX is now my main OS, I do everything on it.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

I switched over a few months ago, mostly because of my disappointment with karmic, no regrets so far.

I would ditch windows for ubuntu but unfortunately that's not possible since I use it to game, but OSX is now my main OS, I do everything on it.

I cannot afford a Mac right now, so I ditched Ubuntu for the next best thing to OSX: Arch Linux

 

[Synaesthesia]

I love hackintosh.