wifi card in MBP?

I was wondering what wifi card is in the MBP. I am speaking of the newest MBPs which have the Nvidia cards and the Intel CPU (late '08 and current '09 versions).

Also, do you think it is worth it to install a Linux OS on it? I think a dual boot of Mac OS and Linux would be interesting. But, does Linux work on it?

I found this:
http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Apple_Macbook_Pro

I think I have also read of the MBP being able to run Ubuntu as well. The wifi card is one of the few issues? But, which wifi card is in there?

Thanks for any info. I was just curious about the MBP. I also have read of Red Hat wanting to have a Linux OS made especially for the Mac. Not sure if there's any progress with that, though.

 

When the current MBPs came out, I checked one out in the store, and noticed that it had a BCM4328 (Broadcom ABGN) chip in it. I don't know if all of the models have that chip though. You can check what kind of wireless card you have by using the 'About this Mac' utility.

 

I have the Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.24) in my Unibody.

I've only tried a Live Ubuntu CD, worked great. Wifi worked just fine.

 

I'm pretty sure they all have Broadcom cards. Which, in case you're wondering, is not fond of Linux, generally speaking. It's really a shame, since Apple used to use Atheros cards, which is about as good as you can get for Linux. But Broadcom, not so much.

 

Is the Broadcom card in the MBPs a good card? Do you like it? Do you get a good connection/signal?

I think Broadcom has a bad rep because it used to be really bad at supporting Linux (i.e. there was no support, you had to use ndiswrapper) but I think they decided to support it with drivers but the question is, whether they are any good (which I don't know).

Btw, the impression that you can install a Linux OS on them is really interesting to me. The concept of having Mac OS and a Linux OS together in dual boot sounds intriguing. I don't know if it's a problem to do this but I would rather dual boot Mac OS and Linux over Vista and Linux, say. The only Windows software I need to be compatible is Office and I have read that Mac is getting good at supporting Word (docs) etc.

 

The Broadcom in the Macbook Pros is really good. I've got an awesome signal compared to other brands of laptops (not sure what they use).

Like I previously mentioned, I've messed around with a copy of Ubuntu, on a live CD I burt in a couple of minutes. Everything went great. I had Wi-Fi, I had sound, I had bluetooth, you name it.

So if you choose Ubuntu, you'll be just fine.

As far as Office goes, there's Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, and there's also the free alternatives:

Open Office:
http://www.openoffice.org/

and

NeoOffice:
http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

 

That sounds good. Very good in fact. If only they weren't so expensive although I was looking at Sony Vaio Z series not too long ago and still am. They're only slightly cheaper.

If Ubuntu works then most of the Debian-based distros that use a recent kernel and up-to-date software packages should work.

I think I just need to know how Mac Pro owners like their LCD screens. How is it for movies? Good picture/angles etc.? Has anyone who has either bought a Mac Pro or considered one compare the screen to any of the other notebooks out there that have a good rep for screens (e.g. Dell XPS and Precision laptops, perhaps? Sony Vaio LED LCD screens...or whatever is a good comparison)?

 

i have no complain about my screen. it's gorgeous..