Thinking about getting a mac...

[Fzang]

That is, if my parents will let me >_>

But I was wondering if there's any linux distro that works out of the box on a mac?

[ilrudie]

Just curious but why would you spend the extra money for mac hardware if you want to run Linux?
As for your question it would probably depend on what mac you got. Macs have different hardware depending on the type (MacPro, MacBook...) and the revision and that hardware may or may not have good open source support. A small change like the wireless chip maker is totally seamless to OSX users but may give you fits if the chip in your mac has bad open source support.
Ubuntu has very good hardware support and a good community so if your mac has some odd hardware (I think the chances are pretty good it will) you can always get help working around this.

[coffeecat]

I don't think I would be as downbeat as the previous poster about Mac hardware. It's all pretty standard hardware these days. As far as I know the wireless chipset is always Atheros - this is one area where Apple doesn't jump around from one chipset manufacturer to another. Atheros is more tricky to set up in Ubuntu than other wireless chipsets, but there are plenty of threads on this forum to tell you how. And Atheros is just opening up its drivers to the Open Source community, so watch Atheros support get better in future Linux releases.

Also, why not check out The Apple Users (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328) forum here?

Another idea for you. You can run Linux in a virtual machine on an Apple Mac. I run VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org/) on my MacMini and Ubuntu and some other distros run very well as guest OSs in it. Only one drawback, and this is true of all VMs: you can't get 3d effects. This is because the virtualising software sets up a virtual vesa graphics thingummy. ( :? ) So no compiz and wobbly windows I'm afraid. :(

[NilsHG]

if you want OSX and all the mac exclusive stuff... get a mac and use a mac.
if you want a fancy dekstop/notebook and run Ubuntu as OS you are way better of looking elsewhere. you can save a couple of hundred bucks that way.

[ilrudie]

I didn't mean to say its not standard hardware but there are different levels of open source support for different pieces of "standard" hardware. nvidia provides nice drivers for linux but its not totally seamless. All I wanted to point out was that out of the box mac support will depend on what exact hardware his mac has. I did not mean to suggest that it was somehow much more complicated than buying a windows pc and putting linux on it.

[NilsHG]

I did not mean to suggest that it was somehow much more complicated than buying a windows pc and putting linux on it.

but buying a computer without an operating system or even with windows (most come that way) will definitely be cheaper than getting a mac, just to run linux on it.
only get a mac if you need OSX and want to use it as the primary OS. otherwise there are way better options for your money.

none of this applies, if money is no issue. then just go and buy what ever you like :lolflag:

[ilrudie]

but buying a computer without an operating system or even with windows (most come that way) will definitely be cheaper than getting a mac, just to run linux on it.
only get a mac if you need OSX and want to use it as the primary OS. otherwise there are way better options for your money.

none of this applies, if money is no issue. then just go and buy what ever you like :lolflag:

+1 get the mac only* if you want OSX. Otherwise you can save money by shopping elsewhere.

*As a side note I think Apple makes laptops that are absolutely 100% superior to all the competition so if you are getting a laptop I always suggest looking at Apple even if you are not interested in OSX. For the most part it WILL cost more but to me it is worth it for the extra quality.

[Fzang]

I didn't say "I'm going to use it for running linux only", did I?

OS X is awesome as well, I want the best of both worlds! Also, the mac is teh k00l lookz and givez respectz

No, but seriously, I love OS X as well

[NilsHG]

Also, the mac is teh k00l lookz and givez respectz


nobody will respect you if you talk like that

[Fzang]

Nobody respected me to start out with

*sob*

[Joeb454]

I don't think that's true, having read the thread. People have posted their opinions on Mac's, and it seems fair.

[Fzang]

Hmm... I've been checking other computers

The others may have stronger specs, but they are also bigger, they cost roughly the same

This one is perfect size for school as well...

Today I've reinstalled mandriva twice (and one time yesterday) because my curiousity messed up some system stuff :) lol, oops

I think OS X will be just fine >_>

[mips]

I think you have already decided to buy a Mac before you even posted here asking for opinions.

If it was my money I would buy a Thinkpad.

[handy]

When my iMac eventually dies, I doubt very much that I will replace it with an Apple product.

The hardware limitations are too much for me to live with. I like to be able to easily replace components & upgrade graphics cards as the need arises.

The aluminium iMac is built like a big notebook computer with more hardware access limitations than a normal - non-Apple - notebook has.

This site proves my point. (http://66.196.80.202/babelfish/translate_url_content?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodawarisan.com%2Fimac_2007 _mid%2Fimac_2007_mid_01.html&.intl=us)

Can you imagine what Apple would charge to replace a broken 24" screen glass?
If I broke mine I would get a glassier to cut me a new piece & then I'd come up with another way to hold it in place, perhaps still using the Apple magnets.

[MikeTheC]

but buying a computer without an operating system or even with windows (most come that way) will definitely be cheaper than getting a mac, just to run linux on it.
only get a mac if you need OSX and want to use it as the primary OS. otherwise there are way better options for your money.

none of this applies, if money is no issue. then just go and buy what ever you like :lolflag:

+1 for cost/benefit comment

Having read your posts, Fzang, the only thing I can suggest is that, as far as supportability is concerned, you would generally have the best of all worlds on a Mac laptop, since you can natively run Mac OS X, Linux, and that certain other OS-which-shall-not-be-named.

[Sorivenul]

The hardware limitations are too much for me to live with.
+1, handy. Even on the MacBook I owned, the hardware limitations were difficult.
I replaced my fancy piece of machinery with a non-Apple product and life is much better for me now.
Great link, by the way.

[swisscow]

I had a macbook pro then downsized it to a macbook as I was travelling a lot. After 6 months got bored so came back home to linux. OSX for me worked but it just wasn't fun.

[handy]

...
Great link, by the way.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. :-)

Apart from DRM & EULA, Apple are masters of creating hardware that locks out the OWNER of the hardware, or at least they have so often made things very difficult for us to get in to our hardware.

The rubbish you have to go through to get into the alu' iMacs is somewhat scary. Or it certainly would have me very concerned the first time I removed the glass. Which in reality is very likely quite strong... Maybe... Hopefully?

I expect in the coming years I will have need to remove the glass & replace a drive or something, so I'll find out then I guess. :-)