Comments on: There and back again. Linux to Mac

By: Mad Genius (madgenius) 's status on Friday, 13-Nov-09 01:05:01 UTC - Identi.ca

Mad Genius (madgenius) 's status on Friday, 13-Nov-09 01:05:01 UTC - Identi.ca — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:05:10 +0000

[...] http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2009/11/there-and-back-again-linux-to-mac/ [...]

By: Roy Schestowitz (schestowitz) 's status on Thursday, 12-Nov-09 14:16:13 UTC - Identi.ca

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:16:17 +0000

[...] User Dumps #Mac OS X for #GNU #Linux with #KDE4 http://www.openlogic.com/blogs/2009/11/there-and-back-again-linux-to-mac/ [...]

By: Links 12/11/2009: MythTV 0.22 Reviews, Sidux 2009-03 (?????) Released | Boycott Novell

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:53:00 +0000

[...] There and back again. Linux to Mac I now have Ubuntu 9.10 running on my MacBook Pro. Gnome-desktop, kubuntu-destop, xubuntu-desktop are all installed. I like desktop options, but prefer KDE 4. I can switch between apps, terminals, connect to the network and print. I have not seen one spinning beach ball. I am much more productive. I am so happy to have Amorok back to manage my music, and KDE to manage my desktop, and konsole as a terminal application, and, and, and… I am just so much happier. [...]

By: John

John — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:01:21 +0000

Actually, you may want to put OSX back on, just in minimal form, as it’s the only way to install firmware upgrades for the hardware. But yeah, I have a triple-boot MacBook, and the only time I boot OSX is to check compatibility issues for my KDE coding.

By: Johannes

Johannes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:58:33 +0000

Thank you for this funny review, full of humour!
Great to know that MacOS doesn’t always “just work” – so I don’t need to try it by myself!

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:36:47 +0000

The case-insensitivity is not part of Leopard, it’s part of the file system.

You can use the disk utilities to switch case sensitivity back on. :)

By: Jack Repenning

Jack Repenning — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:09:34 +0000

You don’t really give a complete catalog, of course, but it sounds like most of your discontent was troubles with stuff you installed instead of the stock stuff. The “it” that “just works,” in the slogan, is the stuff that comes with it. Stuff you put on yourself is kinda your own responsibility.

As for the rest:
– the case-insensitivity is only the file system, not the universe, and you can switch the file system to case-sensitive if you like (I do–though I agree it’s weirdly bogus that it’s insensitive OOTB)
– beachball-of-death: probably due to paging, fixable with more RAM (or less RAM demand, say by using the built-in tools instead of add-ons that bring vast extra “shared” libraries)
– WiFi woes: with you 100%

If you’re looking for a platform for all your favorite open-source tools … someone sold you a bill of goods. Surely you’ve noticed that Apple is somewhere near the extreme “closed” end of the spectrum? If you’re looking for a platform that lets you add in anything you like, configure any way you want … again, shopping in the wrong supermarket. Apple’s promise is that they’ll do it well for you; you’re not evaluating their promise if you do it on your own.