More than one word.

Post #295,942 by folkert 11/11/07 11:13:08 PM Reply	More than one word. Flash. Get a Mac if Flash is a requirement. Flash is a PITA sometimes on Linux. And if you're opening stuff people are sending you, it will most often Just Work on a Mac, not so on Linux. Yes, you might be able to get it to work by performing extensive configuration on Linux, but it's a lot of work. I have my Lenovo C2D T61, 4GB of memory, running x86_64/AMD64 Debian. Firefox is 64bit, Flash (32bit) is running perfectly on it. And now that Alsa stuff is sorted out, it runs fine. I've had no problems on the road with the MacBook Pro, and it's been able to connect to every wireless network I've tried. I am refuting the insinuation that Linux has problems with WiFi. 2.6.22 and Network Manager, udev, hal... etc. All works. Haven't had a lick of any problems. Yeah, I know, NOW it works, but hey what to say now. As far as sysadminning goes, I've discovered that I do much less with the Macs than when I had Linux for them to use. That said, there's still some to be done. Also, the Mac personal productivity apps are wonderful, particularly if you're doing video editing. Things are fine with update-manager. I've seen very little problems on Ubuntu stuff. And Since I am playing with laptop drives on my Lenovo, Gutsy seems to just work. Including Accelerations, HDAPS (motion sensing for hard-drive parking etc, allowing to thwap you MacBook and change desktops), connectivity just works. This machine was purchased in August. Everything works fine, 2.2GHz, 4GB of memory, lots of stuff... the only two things it doesn't have, the camera and the DRM stuff. On cost: make sure you compare similar setups. When I was looking for a desktop-like laptop, the MacBook Pro was price-comparable to equivalent machines (bluetooth, built-in camera, etc) from other vendors. I don't know how it is for a MacBook. Well, comparable MacBook Pro and T61 ... T61 $1K less, less the camera and the DRM stuff. My experiences only, YMMV, etc. Same here. -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* `PGP key: 1024D/B524687C 2003-08-05 Fingerprint: E1D3 E3D7 5850 957E FED0 2B3A ED66 6971 B524 687C Alternate Fingerprint: 09F9 1102 9D74 E35B D841 56C5 6356 88C0 Alternate Fingerprint: 455F E104 22CA 29C4 933F 9505 2B79 2AB2`
Post #295,945 by admin 11/11/07 11:35:38 PM Reply	And you're a professional sysadmin. No offense, Greg, but you tend to overlook problems with Linux because to you it's no big deal to dig in and fix it. :-) Flash... what about Shockwave? You can't run it on Linux unless you want to mess around with WINE. Ditto Authorware. Linux has made great strides, but it's still not all the way there. And again, if you're doing video editing, nothing approaches a Mac. There's also nothing resembling the WAV and MIDI applications on Linux either. You can run some stuff in VMWare, but the performance suffers drastically for that class of application -- I know, because I used to do it. Looking at T61s on NewEgg... I don't see any with 17" screens, like my MBP -- so I don't consider them to be similar machines. Comparing similar models (newegg's prices) I see that the T61 is a few hundred dollars more than the equivalent MacBook, with a slightly larger screen. I don't think the difference in cost is nearly what people seem to think it is. I am refuting the insinuation that Linux has problems with WiFi What insinuation? Another Scott thought Macs might have problems in that area. I haven't had any. Where was Linux mentioned? Like I said, Linux is great for developers and sysadmins. If you just want a family machine, my experience says Mac is better. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #295,947 by Another Scott 11/11/07 11:55:54 PM Reply	I wasn't thinking WiFi in particular. I thought "speak to basically everything out there" was more about connecting to systems and exchanging information. It reminded me of my brief adventures with Vista trying to connect to my Win2k machines. Of course that was Winders to Winders so that doesn't really apply... :-/ So, I don't think Linux has any particular problems with WiFi (war drivers use it, after all). But exchanging information with other systems might be an issue (for relative newbies like me, anyway). I hope that clears up what I was trying to insinuate from my position of limited knowledge. ;-) Cheers, Scott.
Post #295,948 by folkert 11/11/07 11:57:58 PM Reply	Bought mine straight from Lenovo, custom built. 15.4", no 17" available. 1680x1050 resolution at 15.4". Good enough for me. And yes, I guess I do marginalize those kinds of problems. And, yeah, I just wanted to make sure people are understanding that WiFi has made HUGE progress on Linux. And Yeah, I did read into your statement. Used NewEgg Memory vs Lenovo, saved $700 ADDITIONALLY. YMMV... as always. -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* `PGP key: 1024D/B524687C 2003-08-05 Fingerprint: E1D3 E3D7 5850 957E FED0 2B3A ED66 6971 B524 687C Alternate Fingerprint: 09F9 1102 9D74 E35B D841 56C5 6356 88C0 Alternate Fingerprint: 455F E104 22CA 29C4 933F 9505 2B79 2AB2`
Post #295,966 by admin 11/12/07 8:59:02 AM Reply	Mac memory is the same way. I bought an extra stick from NewEgg as well, and if (when?) I get a MacPro, I'll do the same thing with the memory and the hard drives. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."

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