Any point in getting a macbook if I will use linux?

Please no flame wars, I'm asking a real question looking for real opinions. This is not about the superiority or inferiority of any product! I don't know much about OSX having never used it, but I know both linux and OSX are based on unix.
I very much like the reported build quality of apple products but to be honest I really love ubuntu/kubuntu a lot. I haven't even booted into windows in over a month, and have no intention to in the near future, so that's of no consequence to me.
I have read that some say if you're going to get a macbook there really is no point in using linux at all. Either a mac or pc, I could dual boot with windows if necessary so that's no issue either.
So I'm just asking for opinions, no flames please. I'd really like to know as I'm on the fence on this one. I've read a lot about OSX and user opinions in general on this topic, but I can't quite seem to make up my mind. I've felt it more appropriate to post this in the apple forum, considering it is about getting a macbook or not.
What do you think?

 

if you like macbook's design/build quality and you have the money and you like linux...

it's like asking if it's worth getting PC if you're going to use linux...

 

MacBooks use EFI insetead of BIOS normally found in computers. If your Linux distro supports EFI then your good to go.

 

Interesting, thanks Corbu'.

 

It doesn't even have to support efi. Just use bootcamp to install windows xp, and then from there you could partition again for linux. I think someone I know did this but I forget how, never really bothered because I didn't care much for ubuntu at the moment.

 

Well, I know you can run linux on a mac, I guess my question is, is it worth it? I've heard good things about OSX, but I'm really happy with ubuntu and don't really need another OS.
I'm just considering a mac for it's build quality (although I'd definitely check out OSX ).

 

i would get lenovo thinkpad t series if you will only use linux most of the time.

although if u want to check os x out then macbook might make more sense.

go see one in store and see if u like em or not. i found the macbook screen to be below average.

 

True wobble. I did see one briefly in a mac store, but didn't play around with OSX. I really like the keyboard of the macbook however.
After reading the T400 review here, I'm impressed by the screen brightness of the LED. I may just get a thinkpad, that's one of the other models I'm considering.

 

If you want to run Linux, buy a notebook from a manufacturer that supports Linux on the notebook. One of the things about Linux (or Windows XP x64) is that the platforms aren't supported so that you have to run around finding drivers. Sometimes drivers aren't available at all of some piece of hardware that you have and you have to punt and find another solution like buying a USB device.

In general, it's easier to run an unsupported operating system as a VM off a supported operating system as the VM software does the negotiation of hardware services for you.

 

You can get an XPS 1330 preloaded with ubuntu for a very good price IIRC

 

If you are not going to use OSX as a primary OS, don't get a Mac. You can get a PC for cheaper, and the different keyboard layout makes using other operating systems a bit awkward. Try OSX and make a decision based on that. IMO OSX > Linux as you still have all the power of Unix, but the UI is much much nicer and OSX has better application support.

 

Agreed with Chris27. The reason many people don't recommend using Linux on a Mac is because there really isn't any reason to. Mac OS X will run Linux software natively and of course you have all of the available Mac software so you have a very large array of software choice in this situation plus the security.

It's different when people bootcamp Windows because people have certain pieces of Windows software that isn't either available for the Mac OS or they want to switch all their Windows software gradually to the Mac OS.

If you just want to run the Linux UI only and have Mac OS X to tinker with then yes, it's a waste for the reasons I mentioned above. Linux is not supported natively on a Macintosh so you will have to use virtualization software which works very well but again what would be the point?

 

1.) Buy a high quality PC 2.) Install Ubuntu 3.) Tweak the UI to make it look better. Now you have the closest thing to a Mac that isn't a Mac.

 

yea, if your going to use linux, i would reccomend a thinkpad ?t61? They are much cheaper now that the new ones are out, and they have great build quality.

 

macs are basically bsd machines anyway. You can probably download all the linux stuff you need like window managers and etc and just make it look linux anyway.

 

@dmacfour, I'm not looking to make linux look like OSX. As I said, I'm considering a mac because of their excellent build quality and reputed customer service.
Next in line is definitely a lenovo though. I admit I like the idea of having OSX available if I want it, but I'd most likely be using linux anyway.
I'm still giving this all some thought, thanks for all who replied.
@yehrulz, I definitely wont get a T61 as I'm looking for a montevina based system only. (hoping and waiting apple releases an update within the next couple months).

 

Just beware, MacBooks use crappy Broadcom wireless cards. I couldnt get wireless working at all on my Santa Rosa 13".

 

That's surprising, Lysander, did they switch to the Broadcom cards? I ran into no issues with my Merom + Napa MacBook.

 

Yeah, before Santa Rosa they used Atheros WIFI cards, which had proper Linux drivers.

 

thats just totally not true.

 

Please explain how to install Linux natively on a Macintosh? I'm not interested in hacks for bootcamp. I'm talking about fully supported and natively running just like Windows for bootcamp.

 

The term natively running refers to the instruction set as opposed to cpu instruction emulation provided by some VM software. Supported means that the manufacturer supports the platform providing drivers, software (maybe and if it is free), and maybe answering questions if you have difficulty getting the third-party software to work.

Linux does run natively on a MacIntosh as Linux runs on x86. Linux runs natively on PowerPC Macs too. Yellowdog Linux runs on Macs (I have a coworker that's used this platform combination).

It's more accurate to say that Linux is an unsupported operating system on Intel Macs.

 

I don't mean to sound harsh but I am not computer illiterate thank you. I understand the difference. My post was asking about installing Linux so it runs natively without using any special tools or hacks. So far no one has answered that. If there's no driver support then it's a waste of time.

 

There is no driver support by the vendor.

It is likely that you could find some drivers on the web and someone might even have links to websites and resources that would make getting the drivers easier. But Apple has some funky hardware that is typically hard or impossible to get drivers for making any solution a compromise. Of course the only real way to tell is to try it yourself. But you can spend a chunk of change with that approach.

 

Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro

Now I guess those Macs with Broadcom wifi cards will need to use ndiswrapper, which is a compatibility layer of sorts that lets you run Windows drivers on Linux. Not ideal... but not that big of a deal IMO. Unless you're one of those free software purist types.

 

I'm glad Windows is supported. I did unsupported stuff in the past and it was a fair amount of work doing all the hacks to get another OS up and running. One of these days, Apple will probably even support Vista x64 on the MacBook Pro.

 

Run bootcamp, partition your drive, insert Linux disk, install. Simple.

Or like connecting to enterprise networks, or running at faster than 11mb.

 

No. Power management in Linux is bad (are you using Ubuntu on a desktop?) and the Wi-Fi card is made by Broadcom.

 

Ah yes, forgot that note. Battery life is almost as bad as it is using Windows.