Why use Ubuntu for Mac? Why not just Mac?

I have been looking a stable solution for me for last months...

I hav e been on Windows for years, now having Windows and Ububntu 8.04 installed on my Dell, still thinking about Mac...

I have just quite interesting talk with some IT guys, most of them use Mac professionally (some of them still saying that they miss their Ubuntu...)

I have been enjoying my Ubuntu so far, but for last days having problem with Pidgin (which stopped working, suspends on buddy list,

I am just wondering then, what is the idea of using Ubuntu on Mac`s machines if they are "so stable" as far as the system is concerned...?

So, I am writing that post just to ask THE COMMUNITY for suggestion... which is the best (stable) option then?

1- just Ubuntu (I can accept it as I need some of my Windows applications),

2- Ubuntu+Windows (I am usind patitions on my Dell, so both C:Ubuntu and C;Windows see my files on D:, although I have to show the path for Ubuntu each time... when I want to open for example an .doc file from Openoffise I get the answer that there is no such a file, then just showing the path it works..)

3- Just Mac (Apple aplications)

4- Mac +Ubuntu

I would really appreciate your help... hope that post would be of some help to others as well

Hello

I'll try to answer this group of questions the best I can. First and foremost I have used Windows (who hasn't), owned a Mac, and use just Linux now for almost 2 years now.

So, I am writing that post just to ask THE COMMUNITY for suggestion...

which is the best (stable) option then?

1- just Ubuntu (I can accept it as I need some of my Windows applications),

2- Ubuntu+Windows (I am usind patitions on my Dell, so both C:Ubuntu and C;Windows see my files on D:, although I have to show the path for Ubuntu each time... when I want to open for example an .doc file from Openoffise I get the answer that there is no such a file, then just showing the path it works..)

3- Just Mac (Apple aplications)

4- Mac +Ubuntu

Regarding 1, Ubuntu is quite stable depending on what all you have installed (beta software etc). When comparing it to my Mac experience, I feel that Ubuntu is actually more stable. I was having issues with stability when using certain application (Photoshop).

1. I am a gamer by heart and therefor, ran a duel boot machine for a while. Only used Windows for gaming. I never really had any issues with this. It might be a little more time consuming when installing. But once again, I never had any issues.

1. Just Mac, well, I use only Ubuntu for a reason. I found I did not like Apple software that well, or just that nearly all software I was using (Firefox, Thunderbird) was available in Linux. Also, the price was never nice. Always paying quite a bit more. The worst part was there were issues when trying to run software that had been ported over to Mac. I bought Age of Empires from Apple. Never ran. And WoW actually runs better in Wine then it did on the Mac.

1. As far as you can tell, I am pro-Linux. However, if you like Macs and they seem to fit you and fulfill you needs then by all means use it, but through my experiences, Ubuntu seems to fit the bill perfectly.

You can make either system more or less unstable than the other. It depends on what you do with it.

cyberdork33 said: You can make either system more or less unstable than the other. It depends on what you do with it.

I just need a stable system for general use, work (office applications, email, IM) and connecting via ssh (I love the terminal in ubuntu) to my server, sometimes surfing... nothing special,, no gaming anyway and stuff like that ,,, I have grown up from that...

mwwoj said: I just need a stable system for general use, work (office applications, email, IM) and connecting via ssh (I love the terminal in ubuntu) to my server, sometimes surfing... nothing special,, no gaming anyway and stuff like that ,,, I have grown up from that...

I'd say that it is just down to preference then really.

mwwoj said: I have grown up from that...

...holding...back...response

Hmm, well I've never owned a mac, but I know I just use Ubuntu because

A. Everything is free (don't need to go on pirating sprees anymore using Windows)

B. Stable. I've never had nay bad happen to me in Ubuntu except times where I edited a file and ended up re-installing Ubuntu.

C. It's updated quite often, so any bugs found are fixed fast.

D. Safe and secure... I never have to scan for viruses or adware etc. because it simply doesn't really exist in Linux.

E. Maintenance. What's maintenance? I dunno... only something that Windows needs I guess.

Just my two cents :)

I think this may just be a decision you must make. We can all give reasons to use Ubuntu/Mac/Windows, but in the end, it is your decision.

But the only thing I am going to say is, if you use Ubuntu in the end, why buy a Mac? There is no reason to pay the "Apple Tax" if you will be using solely Linux/Ubuntu.

Moved to recurring discussions.

toasty_ghosty said: but the only thing i am going to say is, if you use ubuntu in the end, why buy a mac? There is no reason to pay the "apple tax" if you will be using solely linux/ubuntu.

+1

Hi, I own an intel iMac and have Ubuntu installed with a dual-boot. Windows is almost completely phased out of my digital life, Hallelujah. But I'll also give you a straight answer here and it won't be popular here but here goes:

1-If you go with only Ubuntu, you are cutting your digital life's options off right at the start. Sure, there are things which you do now and Ubuntu may bit the bill presently, but a computer is a lot about growth -- having room for expansion as new technologies and as new software programs emerge. Okay Yes,... with Wine or Crossover, Linux gives you some ways of having your applications, but in my experience, you ALMOST ALWAYS settle for older versions of software - in some cases, REALLY old versions. And the newer the technology (take onCD printing, for example), the more hoops you have to jump through when you use Linux. So if there are new things which emerge down the road which spark your interest, you can only look on from a distance if you are using only Ubuntu. Sure, Linux will get there too,...just count on arriving 1 or 2 years later down the road, And I've said nothing about configuring newer hardware yet.....

2- Macs are expensive, but remember what you're getting in terms of software...programs iMovie and Garageband would easily add $75-200 extra each if you had to buy them separately. You do get a more seamless union between software and hardware with Apple.

3 - I dual-boot with Ubuntu on my Mac for fun, period. But my case is special in a way. I do music professionally, so I need quite a few pro applications to run flawlessly every day. These include Disk Label, Pro Logic 8, Flash CS3 and Dreamweaver CS3. Just for one example, my flash site file won't even open in the version which my Crossover supports (Studio MX 2004) because that version is too old.

4- In my experience, Ubuntu is stable, but it can break like any other system, depending upon what you install on it.

5 - Ironically, after all this, I still enjoy using Ubuntu and I work with Crossover at times as though I'm running scientific experiments. I've come close to getting my whole Linux system designed so that it would actually meet my present needs.....close, that is.

Good Luck !!

Apple is a company with a leader and a specific focus.

Linux is anything but.

Linux has many technological advantages, but it depends entirely upon what you need advantages in. Frankly, when it comes to the "digital lifestyle", let alone doing professional graphics and media work, hands-down Mac OS X is better suited.

What I live for -- and what I suspect many others do as well -- is the future fulfillment of the present potential for parity and then superiority of native F/OSS Linux apps with their commercial counterparts. Inkscape, Gimp, Scribus, Banshee/Amarock/Rhythmbox, F-Spot and BlueFish are in no way on par with, respectively, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign/QuarkXPress, iTunes, iPhoto and Dreamweaver. And, as has been said here many times already is that there is nothing like iLife for Linux (or, really, for Windows either).

So, again, what's important to you and what are your priorities?

toasty_ghosty said: But the only thing I am going to say is, if you use Ubuntu in the end, why buy a Mac? There is no reason to pay the "Apple Tax" if you will be using solely Linux/Ubuntu.

+2. There's no reason for anyone to buy a Mac, unless s/he intends to run software available exclusively for OS X.

I agree fully with the last post - I can see no reason to buy a Mac if you want to run linux. They are more expensive and lack a few technical refinements - I have yet to see a Blue Ray player/recorder on any Mac. They do look better (in my opinion) and *seem* to be better made, but looks can be deceptive. In the old days, I strongly preferred PPC over Intel, but of course this is moot at present (and ppc lacks GPU drivers and Flash).

On the other hand, I much prefer OS X over linux. I started another thread about this and will not beat a dead horse. Suffice to say, if I already had a Mac, the story would be completely different: I have not seen a single cogent reason to run linux on it (except for price) instead of Mac OS X 10.5..

As said above it is really annoying that Ubuntu lacks in the graphic design area. Sure there are plenty of alternatives but when you need the real program you are stuck. Illustrator can only be emulated by Wine up to 11.1 which is 5 upgrades behind the current CS4. Doesnt sound too bad? Well apparently it is "The best 2D modelling program available" (for its time) Thats well and good but when everything is 3D these days you cant use it for anything worthwhile. Saying that, i love Ubuntu and i would have to say im addicted to making everything work better. Every day i manage to make something work that hasnt worked since i switched and i learn something about how my computer works. I hate Windows for making everything so "easy", all this means is that if something goes wrong you have no idea why. Well i dont anyway. So im now looking at getting a pirate copy of Windows even though it sucks because Ubuntu cant run the software i need for Uni and Mac is too damn expensive. grrr