Macbook alum. 13" and Linux - Should I buy?

I am thinking about buying a Macbook Alum. 13". But I like linux and refuse to ever switch. I really like the body and feel of it. But things I don't like are the risk of getting an old screen(as compared to the new ones), the trackpad getting in the way of typing, and the mixed issues i read with linux wifi driver. Would it be unwise to buy a Macbook just to run linux on it?

 

Well.. if you have money, then go ahead and get Macbook aluminum. If you don't have alot of money, then don't get a Mac.

What exactly do you like about Macbook's aluminum body and feel of it? If you post what you want/like in http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16
other people might be able to find a laptop with about the same body and feel for cheaper. Other laptops can be just as good as Macbook and there are many alternatives.

Here's a guide for it all of the drivers for Macbook aluminum on ubuntu if you decide to run linux.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook Aluminum

 

OS X is pretty much Linux. They are both *nix based.

 

yes, Linux is just a variant of Unix or the other way round. i suggest you stick with os x. you'll love it.

 

no, i have no interest in os x nor windows. i use linux kernel with gnu utilities and that is what i will always use. not saying os x is a bad os, i just have absolutely no interest in it. none. again, i use strictly linux and that is what i will always use.

i like the mac feel of having one piece of metal and i like the design. that is why i am wondering if i should buy it to run linux on it.

 

you could try it. there are a few users here who have done so, but be sure to monitor the temperature and also the battery life will not be as great as in os x.

 

OSX = variant of BSD, not Linux.

Linux can run on Mac hardware. YMMV depending upon which distro you run.

 

Wow, funny you should ask this question. You may get lucky. I just tried to install ubuntu 9.04 last night, and it will not boot. I'm currently investigating it to see if I can get it to work. I'm just surprised that Mac support is still so poor in ubuntu.

 

I think if you plan to do so much of R&D with your machine Windows PCs would be your best bet

 

What is R&D?

 

Research and development maybe?

 

Research and Development.

 

OS X Leopard is based on Unix.

 

Which distro/s do you normally use? Just go to the distro homepage and search for mac related problems. I'd also wonder if you get issues with the camera, the backlit keyboard, the screen light sensors and all of the mac goodies that make their hard ware nice (the auto-shutoff of HD if it falls off a desk).
If you don't get those goodies and don't want to use OS X, there would be a much cheaper PC that has most of the hardware features. Most of the benefit of buying Apple is OS X, it's really superb. Take that out of the equation, the hardware is good but not enough by itself to justify the price tag.

 

when i open my laptop, most if not all heads turn my way. this laptop has this wow factor with it.