Ubuntu mac ISO burned to Disc not starting up

Hello,

I've just decided to install Ubuntu because I'd really like to learn how it's used and maybe make it the default OS if I ever get to build a new computer. For now, however, I'm working on a hand-me-down MacBook Pro with OS 10.9.1. So in order to install Ubuntu, I used Disk Utility, partitioned half my hard disk for Ubuntu, after a few problems that got worked out. Then I had rEFIT installed. However, both with and without it, when I tried to boot from the disc with the ISO for Ubuntu 13 I think, it failed. It would detect the disc and attempt to start up from it. The cursor wold flash and print some text, then a purple screen with a white icon at the bottom (something like a person and a battery) would show. Then the screen goes black again with a flashing cursor for a few seconds, but after that it fails. A rectangular red block with a single character in it would show. The first time it was a purple colon, then it was a yellow a with an accent mark above it.

I later found out that there was a separate .iso for macs (it's hard to find), so I used that (the one I burned to a DVD-RW with plenty of space is ubuntu-12.10-desktop-amd64+mac.iso) but the problem persists. After I did that, first it was a purple block with nothing in it, then a red one with a yellow character again. I've tried searching for the problem online, but every one either has to do with the DVD not being bootable (not true in my case, I got that far) or something occurring after a person chose their keyboard language (I never even got that far). Does anyone know why it is failing? The DVD doesn't appear scratched or dirty, it's brand new.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I waited plenty of time for it to work the second time it went wrong, but with no dice.

Another piece of information: I tried installing Ubuntu 12.04, that didn't work either, same error. And for clarification, the box is like a highlighted box of one character, except a funny color.

Part of the problem is that apple makes it very hard to use anything but OSX. I can't help much more than pointing you to this: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-...k-on-your-mac/ it will help you make a bootable USB that your Mac can boot from. I got that far with my imac and gave to go the virtualbox way... good luck :)
scott

There is an apple user Ubuntu forum. It is under specialized support.
You will probably find better support help there.

Thread moved to Apple Users.

I'm finding this thread very informative: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1743535