[olug] Linux Laptop v/s. Apple Powermac

[Craig Wolf]

OK, my turn.  I love my MAC laptop.  It is a work machine, but my next
home machine will me a MAC laptop.  OS X is wonderful, as Irish said. 
Best of both worlds.   I use my MAC laptop on my wireless setup at home
(Dlink) and at work (one is Apple and the others are Intel base
stations).  They interoperate fairly well IF you setup the base station.
 Relying on others can truly suck (Sorry, personal jab there to the guy
at work).  
Apple's are best also if you have new little ones on the way and want to
do any videos on those wonderful bundles of joy!  Imovie/IDVD are
amazing pieces of software and so easy to use, that we have 3rd-5th
grade kids doing it in our schools.   

"2.  I realize that MHz is not a true indication of processing power and
that Apple technology tends to be higher quality but how do the various
Apple processors compare to Intel/AMD processors?"

I would go with the mid-level laptop 15" screen, 1GHz processor, WITH
Superdrive (important for that IMovie/IDVD part).  $2800 is not that bad
if you compare it to a Wintel platform that can do that...oh, wait,
don't know of a Wintel laptop that can burn DVD's, do you?  This is what
you would have to spend, or more, in a desktop machine that was partly
capable of accomplishing the same task in a desktop machine IMHO.

"3.  Having never used any of the BSD's, what is their application
packaging system and how does it compare to the various packaging
systems out there?  If you've got Debian experience, how does it compare
to Debian?"
I have Fink installed but have not really played with it yet...

I do agree on buying RAM elswhere also.  

"2.  Anyone got references to places dealing in Linux Laptops? Places to
avoid?"
There are a couple of places that I think do linux sales, Reboot the
user and there is a place in Bellevue, can't remember the name
now...(Someone on the list help me out here?)

I do also have a Compaq EVO laptop that is about 6 months old with
wireless built-in.  I have linux installed but have yet to get wireless
working for lack of time and desire at this point.  I like my laptop, it
meets my basic needs for work, but if it were my money, the Apple would
be the way I would have gone.  

Hope this was of some help!

BTW:  You don't NEED antivirus software for your MAC, but Symantec does
make it.  I would recommend that if you buy the MAC laptop, you make, as
part of your overall budget, Norton systemworks.  Norton has saved my
butt on the MAC more times than I can count!

Craig Wolf
Linux Web Server Support
Backup Supervisor
Desktop/Network Specialist
402-894-6283

>>> r.a.jacobs at cox.net 03/09/03 23:50 PM >>>
Another Powermac question:

Anti-Virus Software?  Do I need to be concerned about this -- I realize
OS X is BSD based but I'm mostly wondering about how the Powermac
handles backwards compatibility (isn't OS 9 still in there somewhere?) 

Yes, classic mode (OS 9) is still there for programs that have not been
totally re-written to run under OS X.  Works really well for everything
that I have done so far with old software except Scholastic software.  

Personal note:  avoid the software from Scholastic like the plague!  As
a school district, we have spent over a half-million dollars in the last
2 years on Scholastic software and have yet to get it to function
properly.  Even after 2 visits from THEIR techs!  I would be happy to
advertise to ANYONE who would here it about their WONDERFUL tech
support(smirk), OUTSTANDING writing team (giggle), and GLORIOUS patch
writers (full on laugh)!
UGH!!


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