So as a technology / operating system junkie, one OS I have never got to play with is Leopard. Solaris, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu, Windows 95-XP — used them all. I actually have absolutely no urge to see what Vista is about, but I am curious about OS X just because it’s something new / fun that I wouldn’t know yet. Unfortunately that curiosity, from my perspective, still costs $600 minimum to itch. I am aware the resale value is good, so if I hated it I could resell, but that would still be a pain.
I would love to try a mac, but logically I am not coming up with reasons why it is a good idea. Here is the values going into the equation:
- Hardware Compatibility: Currently Ubuntu works on all of my hardware out of the box, with 3d acceleration
- Coding: I create Symfony web apps (php based), and code in: python, perl, c / c++
- Virtual machines: I enjoy provisioning virtual machines. These would not *have* to run on the mac
- System management: I manage a massive amount of linux systems
- Dual head: I have multiple monitors in use at any given time. These can all be configured using xrandr
- UI Toolkit Nazi: All of my apps must use the same toolkit, I can’t stand UI elements being different (gtk only right now)
- OS License: I have 5 Ubuntu desktops between work / home, this sounds costly for OS X
I guess I am trying to figure out: What can I actually do better / easier on OS X? I know the big trend these days is TextMate, but once we get past that, what does Mac offer?
Related posts:
#1 by ghindo on June 23, 2008 - 7:40 pm
Quote
There’s always OSx86.
#2 by Marc on June 23, 2008 - 8:24 pm
Quote
I’m far from being an OS X fan, but your needs seem rather simple/already fitting for an OS X-based solution.
1. Hardware compatibility: You haven’t yet specified your needs here
2. You can code in all those languages using OS X
3. You can run virtual machines on the Mac
4. You can manage systems
5. You can go dual-head, quad-head, whatever you want
6. UI toolkit consistency – well, OS X has always been good at this.
7. You can get a family license that’s not terribly expensive, for up to 5 machines, I think.
If you really like Linux or FOSS already though (as I do), you will probably find the Mac aesthetic lacking. It immediately feels like you’re boxed in unless you start paying for things. You start having to use shareware again, which feels weird. Your friends start noticing your computer and make snide remarks about it.
If you’ve never owned one before though, and you have the money, why not give it a try.
#3 by Eric on June 23, 2008 - 8:58 pm
Quote
1. Considering you have to buy an Apple computer to get the OS to begin with (unless your in a playful mood, in which case search macworld and clone and see what you get) this shouldn’t be a problem (unless you mean peripherals, in which case, since OSX is built on many of the same technologies as Linux/*BSD, if they run on Ubuntu 99.9% chance they will run on Mac)
2. Coding I am not so familiar with, but another poster commented on this so I won’t any further
3. In terms of virtual machines you have a few options. Parallels and VMWare Fusion are the big two commercial ones, both run you about $90 (US or Canadian), but there is always OpenBox, which apparently is much more stable with its most recent release. All of these (to my knowledge) support both Windows and *nix
4. Can’t really speak to, but the command line and ssh are still there if that helps
5. In terms of multiple monitors, you will only really be limited by the number your video card can support, but even the wimpiest MacBook can power a 23″ Apple Cinema Display
6. If you plan on coding for Mac, unless you want to use X11, you are confined to basically one UI toolkit. But since X11 is an option, I don’t see why you couldn’t continue to produce GTK apps, or if push comes to shove, do it in a VM
7. Here again, the limiting factor will be hardware, not software licenses. So, in this regard, every mac you buy will come with leopard, though you are correct in that upgrading will set you back some cash, though the other poster is correct in that there are 5 packs available at a discount.
I probably sound like quite the Mac FanBoy, which isn’t far off, but the reason I love it so much is that it represents a great compromise with FOSS. You get the beauty and the brains, all in one package, and it is (by all accounts) ridiculously easy to run most *nix applications on Mac with the right tools. If you have the cash, I say grab a MacBook with an extra large hard drive and go nuts!
#4 by Andy on June 23, 2008 - 10:30 pm
Quote
Marc and Eric – I think the point is that OSX doesn’t offer anything that he doesn’t already have. The assumption is that OSX already has these 7 things and we are looking for the areas that it provides things that aren’t already in Ubuntu.
#5 by qhartman on June 23, 2008 - 11:28 pm
Quote
Well, I can’t convince you. I tried what I called “the great OS X experiment” a few years ago. I bought an iBook and everything was shiny and glassy. And it was good. After using it a couple of months I realized though that I was using all the same applications I would have been using in Linux, except that they were harder to install and maintain. This was due to a lack of native packages for many of them and the relative immaturity of Fink at the time, and may be better now, but in the end OSX just didn’t have anything to offer that I needed.
I will start a new job soon where most people are using Macs and the owner asked me to tell him what kind of computer I wanted. I thought long and hard about getting a Macbook, but ended up requesting tonight a Thinkpad with Suse pre-loaded on it. Ultimately using Linux will meet my needs better than (or at least as well as) OS X, and even if Suse is not my distro of choice, buying something with Linux on it from the factory has some political weight that I can get behind.
#6 by Lynoure Braakman on June 24, 2008 - 3:14 am
Quote
Funny, I’m not even an active OS X user… However, if you like making/remixing music, GarageBand is supposedly good and comes by default, no need to change the kernel or anything.
#7 by ssam on June 24, 2008 - 4:21 am
Quote
I am not sure if this is still true, but a few years ago the consumer macs would only do mirroring on external monitors, not spanning. this was a restriction imposed in the graphics card firmware.
#8 by Bert Van de Poel on June 24, 2008 - 4:39 am
Quote
Perhaps you should save yourself some money and check out osx86project.org and osx86leo4all.wikidot.com
I love it and it works perfectly after some tweaking now, if you need help go to IRC or PM me on the insanely mac forum (I’m Bhack BTW)
#9 by Jonas on June 24, 2008 - 7:23 am
Quote
As far as I’m concerned, MaxOS X has the same advantage over Linux that Windows has: more commercial/proprietary apps available. That’s an advantage for some but somehow I don’t see it being a factor in your decision…
Oh, and maybe a more well, integrated desktop out-of-the-box. Is somewhat related to the UI nazi point. Linux can become a mess if you mix and match too much from a toolkit point of view but since you’ve made a point about only using gtk apps that is not likely to make a difference in one way or the other.
But hey, the advantage of having access to MacOS X as well is to avoid OS myopia. I wouldn’t call that a good enough reason to buy a new computer for though…maybe find an older one second-hand? My old PPC-based mac is running MacOS X 10.4 just fine and I got the computer for free.
Altternatively, use the Hackintosh method.
#10 by JGJones on June 24, 2008 - 8:09 am
Quote
I’ve got a Macbook. It was Tiger (10.4). Couldn’t stand it due to a single desktop (1280×800 resolution is limited) so I immediately switched to Ubuntu although back then, did have to tweak it to get it to work.
Leopard (10.5) came out. With a spare CD, I installed that onto the Macbook. Much better as it does support multiple desktop (on single screen). However in a month of solid use, I switched back to Ubuntu Hardy now.
OSX does suspend vastly much better than Ubuntu…no contest. However in everything else…I find I am much more productive on Ubuntu and with Compiz, things such as “Expose” is done better on Ubuntu etc. Furthermore the tools etc I use are better on Ubuntu.
OSX is a very good operating system. You will certainly like it. However it have nothing that I can’t get on Ubuntu – for my own use that is. My wife use OSX on her Macbook Pro, as she use photoshop a lot, but does prefer Ubuntu so she often borrow my laptop when not using Photoshop (no she will not do dualboot!).
So if there isn’t any tool that you cannot get on Ubuntu but can on OSX, there is no point in spending money on getting OSX.
#11 by Jerome G. on June 24, 2008 - 9:56 am
Quote
I wouldn’t want to try to convince you, but I’d like you to try it out is if you can do in OS X what you can do in any Linux distro and probably more. Since you know most of the GNU tools then you can get them in OS X too. But the “more” is the catch here. As a hardware/software bundle, a macbook can’t be beat (with iLife and stuff).
But that’s just me. As a server guy, it doesn’t matter much to me if I’m using OS X or Linux. As long as I get remote access and can port my stuff then I’m golden
#12 by Ash on June 24, 2008 - 10:01 am
Quote
OS X has a (commercial) program available called OmniFocus. That in my opinion is worth the price of a Mac. Interestingly, all the alternatives that come close to being as good are also OS X only programs. The closest any open source software gets is Chandler, which as of version 0.7.7 still sucks.
Also, OS X “Spaces” are much better on OS X than any Linux workspace or virtual desktop system.
Plus OS X is just plain fast/smooth. No seeing windows tear and/or jump about when dragging them, or when resizing them. Transitions and animations are smooth. Suspend is close to instant… and it works.
#13 by Phil on June 24, 2008 - 1:42 pm
Quote
I was offered a Macbook Pro when I started my current job. I used it for about a week before wiping it for Ubuntu.
Seems like really the only advantages are really good suspend and better media editing tools. But you have to put up with a really inflexible WM, a broken virtual desktops implementation, and a really horrid package manager (macports) and serious vendor lock-in.
If you’re just interested in playing around on the OS, borrow a friend’s and look for ideas to reimplement in a Free environment.
#14 by Matthew on June 24, 2008 - 1:57 pm
Quote
I bought a MacBook a week ago. The user interface looks very nice, but it’s VERY inflexible compared to any of the Linux desktops – I’m normally a KDE user and I am struggling to get going with it. Also, it doesn’t have a nice easy application menu like most desktops I’ve used. I also find installing anything a pain compared to using apt-get.
It is a great OS and Apple get a lot right. But ultimately I don’t think there’s much it can do that Ubuntu can’t. If I can’t get on with my install, I may switch it to Kubuntu or another distro.
#15 by John on June 25, 2008 - 6:30 am
Quote
I just love the look and feel of the 24″ iMac and the lack of messy cables. I love the built from aluminium keyboard with USB ports on it, but then I think when it comes time to upgrade, I will have plumped out over $3000 for this kit, and when I want to move on, I can’t even use the monitor.
However the 3.2GHz 24″ with 4GB RAM and the ATI graphics card would run openSuse and Linux easily.
I’d probably just treat OSX like I do windows on the PC’s I buy. leave it there, boot and patch every six months or so, and play with it when I’m bored.
Apart from Quicktime I really cant think of anything OSX can do that I don’t already do on any of my free OS’s.
#16 by Ross Peoples on June 25, 2008 - 8:47 am
Quote
My humble opinion is, unless there is something you absolutely need to run on a mac, stick with FOSS. I am currently running a quad-core xeon Mac Pro with 8GB ram. It came with 10.4 (Tiger), which I used for a while until Leopard came out. I played with Leopard for a couple of weeks and realized I was jumping through hoops to do things that could easily be done with Ubuntu.
The main advantages of OS X over Ubuntu are ProTools, Avid, and the system administration tools. Backing up and restoring a hard drive to/from an image is the easiest thing to do on a mac. This is something Linux and Windows fall short on. But other than those few things, I find Linux to do everything I need with ease.