Ubuntu and OS X

[MonkeyPlus]

I recently acquired a shiny new MacBook Pro, and of course it comes with Mac OS 10.5

I had been running a desktop PC with Hardy on it, so I decided to get the Mac to dual boot OS X and Ubuntu. It took a *lot* of fiddling to get it to install and boot right, and then I was unable to get the wireless connection working.

Whilst I was periodically working on this problem, I was using Mac OS X and eventually got to the point where I was quite happy using it, and removed Ubuntu.

I still use Ubuntu on my desktop (which has now become a server) and I maintain Xubuntu on my fiancees laptop, but right now it just doesn't seem to have enough of an edge over OS X to put it on my MacBook.

I am still a fan of Ubuntu. I still consider it infinitely superior to Windows and regularly help people switch over their PCs to Linux - but I really can't see the advantage of putting it on a Mac. The edge Ubuntu always had for me was its combination of a powerful foundation with a nice user interface. Mac OS X also has both of these things, and works much nicer with Apple hardware.

So the question is, what can Ubuntu really offer to a Mac user that OS X can't?

[deNoobius]

OS X is a nice OS. I'm kind of on your side on this one--I think Linux beats Windows, especially Vista, except in the area of commercial video, which is dodgy. But for a real work computer, I love my Ubuntu setup. I also like my Mac very much.

The only edge I can see for Linux is two: (1) it is free; and (2) if you like to tinker and build your own system, Linux is great. I know that you can get terminal access and write scripts for OSX; but by and large, OSX is so well thought out that there's not much for a user to modify. So I guess it depends what you want your OS for. If you want to go directly to work on projects, OSX allows you to do it out of the box, is stable, and stays out of the way. If you want to modify the heck out of your system and keep costs down, Linux is great.

Just my $.02. Good topic.

[MonkeyPlus]

OS X is a nice OS. I'm kind of on your side on this one--I think Linux beats Windows, especially Vista, except in the area of commercial video, which is dodgy. But for a real work computer, I love my Ubuntu setup. I also like my Mac very much.

Vista is just an advertising campaign for Ubuntu. I've shown people their laptops (brand new) chugging under Vista with all the visual effects turned off. Then I've installed Ubuntu, put on every fancy 3d, transparency, flame effect I can find and it has still run faster.

The only edge I can see for Linux is two: (1) it is free; and (2) if you like to tinker and build your own system, Linux is great. I know that you can get terminal access and write scripts for OSX; but by and large, OSX is so well thought out that there's not much for a user to modify. So I guess it depends what you want your OS for. If you want to go directly to work on projects, OSX allows you to do it out of the box, is stable, and stays out of the way. If you want to modify the heck out of your system and keep costs down, Linux is great.


I was given the laptop, and it came with OS X so there was never a cost choice. When 10.6 turns up though, I might reconsider.

And thats just a great criticism by the way - that OS X is too well thought out and there is nothing to do. It reminds me of the first time I turned on web sharing, went to modify the Apache configuration files to let it run CGI scripts and found it was already done for me, and felt the OS had stolen my thunder a bit.

It might be also my outlook - my first degree was in compsci, but I have since lost interest in it a bit and now moved onto doing a physics degree. My priorities as a user have shifted from fine control to being able to get things done.


Just my $.02. Good topic.

Thanks. I've been careful to avoid giving the impression its one of those "OMG Ubuntu sux bye!" threads that pop up. I really am still an Ubuntu fan but I like Mac OS X as well.

Of course they aren't that mutually exlusive - I can tunnel an X conection through SSH and run my Ubuntu apps on my Mac desktop :)

[cyberdork33]

I mostly use OS X on my iMac, but I like to tinker. and on a Mac with Ubuntu that is epecially fun :)

I also have another laptop with Ubuntu, one with Vista and Ubuntu dual booting, and an HTPC running Vista. So far, I haven't found anything better for an HTPC than Windows (especially since it itegrates with my xbox360 in the other room).

[jmax]

Anybody ever gotten sound to work in Ubuntu with Osx 10.5 ???

[cyberdork33]

Anybody ever gotten sound to work in Ubuntu with Osx 10.5 ???
This is not really relevant to this thread. You should start a new one.

Depending on the hardware you have there might be some stuff you have to do to enable the sound. There is a wiki page for your Mac.

[GeneralSunTzu]

Folks, I believe there is indeed a very big difference: Steve Jobs always tries to frogmarch you into a closed system where you can only purchase stuff from his outfit. This is his, rather successful for a while, business model.
DRM and similar stuff is the significant difference.
The moment OS X will turn to be the MPAA and RIAA's wet dream, I will wipe it off my hard disk for good and use only Ubuntu.
For an example, look at the iPhone: very nice and very close...
I am purchasing instead a Neo Freerunner, where I can boot a Debian distro and decide what I want onto my cellphone.
So yes, Ubuntu is a bit rougher and requires some fine tuning, but it is free and unfettered, unlike OS X.

[apaukalypse]

I get bored easily, thats why I made the switch...

As for me, I was once a pc user. Then my ADD soon kicked in and I decided to take on the mac world. That went all fine and dandy until about three days ago when my ADD came back. Loh and behold, I installed ubuntu on my computer yesterday. What will come after this... I will never know.

maybe Windubumacinux that is playsta-box compatible.