Macbook Air and Ubuntu

w1z4rd

w1z4rd

Karmic Sangoma
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I am thinking of purchasing a macbook air (as the hardware specs are pretty and it looks good)... however, the OS (OSX) is pretty useless to me, so I need something less walled like Ubuntu. Anyone know if Ill have problems installing Ubuntu on the Air?
 
The hardware is pretty standard so you should be able to do it without much hassle.
You can install bootcamp which will let you dual boot too. I wouldnt write OSX off too quickly though, its based on a linux kernel and I was quite happy with it as a linux user when I got into it a bit.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
The hardware is pretty standard so you should be able to do it without much hassle.
You can install bootcamp which will let you dual boot too. I wouldnt write OSX off too quickly though, its based on a linux kernel and I was quite happy with it as a linux user when I got into it a bit.
Click to expand...

Ive got a macbook. I hate OSX. It doesnt work for me. A bit of Darwin was built off BSD... not so much Linux. As a linux user I cant stand OSX :D Personal preference... but I would rather install Windows over OSX. However, I would prefer Linux over either so I wanna make sure it works on a Macbook Air before I go ahead and spend a lot of money... so I get what I am looking for and not another paper weight.

Is bootcamp virtualization or full duel boot?
 
Rocket-Boy said:
The hardware is pretty standard so you should be able to do it without much hassle.
You can install bootcamp which will let you dual boot too. I wouldnt write OSX off too quickly though, its based on a linux kernel and I was quite happy with it as a linux user when I got into it a bit.
Click to expand...

It's not based on linux at all. It's Darwin, which really is FreeBSD.


Anyway I am a Linux sys admin. And OS X is perfect, all my linux stuff works, but with the added benefit of
having all the OS X functionality as well. Best of both worlds.
 
phazer_ said:
It's not based on linux at all. It's Darwin, which really is FreeBSD.


Anyway I am a Linux sys admin. And OS X is perfect, all my linux stuff works, but with the added benefit of
having all the OS X functionality as well. Best of both worlds.
Click to expand...

So how well does your compiz fusion run on OSX? Guess its not in "all my linux stuff".
 
If you have your heart set on a Mac book then go for it but if you just want to run Ubuntu, maybe look at a PC laptop rather? Samsung has some good thin ones. But if you want the Mac style and have the cash then go for it.
 
phazer_ said:
It's not based on linux at all. It's Darwin, which really is FreeBSD.


Anyway I am a Linux sys admin. And OS X is perfect, all my linux stuff works, but with the added benefit of
having all the OS X functionality as well. Best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Im a linux admin too which is why I was thinking of getting one for my next laptop. Im still ok with windows for now though.
 
Ghoti have you looked at something like the asus xen or similar? some very nice stuff out there. The HP envy spectre is also seriously awesome.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Ghoti have you looked at something like the asus xen or similar? some very nice stuff out there. The HP envy spectre is also seriously awesome.
Click to expand...

Ill have a look at those, perhaps I can find another notebook with the right mix of power and prettiness :D
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Ghoti have you looked at something like the asus xen or similar? some very nice stuff out there. The HP envy spectre is also seriously awesome.
Click to expand...
Asus products definitely look good, yet I still personally think they haven't reached an equivalent build quality level to Apple (plastic internal frame, glued metal laminate, touch pad inferior quality, ...).

HP's stuff for me is an ugly design, not in the same design ballpark as Asus Xen.
ghoti said:
I am thinking of purchasing a macbook air (as the hardware specs are pretty and it looks good)... however, the OS (OSX) is pretty useless to me, so I need something less walled like Ubuntu. Anyone know if Ill have problems installing Ubuntu on the Air?
Click to expand...

Asus is way better than most others on the market IMO.

On the Apple side it btw just seems very strange that you'd want to even consider a Mac and not use OSX.

If you still however want to go Mac, then have a look at the other boot loaders which in many ways offer more flexibility than bootcamp (for example rEFit)
 
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I tried Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro and the only thing that did not work was the wifi. There is a fix for it but I could not get it working. Hopefully it will go better on a MacBook Air.
 
Buy my Sony Z series 13" Ultrabook! :) Full HD Display, 2.7Ghz Core i7, 8GBRAM, 256GB SSD, weighs less than the Macbook Air. I prefer the Macbook Air and can't keep both.
 
Sensorei said:
Buy my Sony Z series 13" Ultrabook! :) Full HD Display, 2.7Ghz Core i7, 8GBRAM, 256GB SSD, weighs less than the Macbook Air. I prefer the Macbook Air and can't keep both.
Click to expand...


Im interested. how can i contact you
 
I agree, if you are not going to use OSX, then rather get a windows based laptop. Try ASUS, they make some great laptops.
 
[)roi(];8276177 said:
On the Apple side it btw just seems very strange that you'd want to even consider a Mac and not use OSX.
Click to expand...

Not everybody likes OS X, myself included. If however I was forced to choose between OS X & Windows I would pick OS X.
 
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