Linux support for Mac hardware (Re: [Techtalk] Linux Laptops)

[Maria McKinley]

Kathryn Andersen wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 27, 2005 at 07:52:14AM -0400, Elwing wrote:
> 
>>On Oct 27, 2005, at 7:39 AM, Kathryn Andersen wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Thinking about how I use my current laptop...
>>>- as a development machine for my website (which really means that I
>>> need Linux, and the same version of Linux as my server/desktop)
>>
>>what development environment are you using?  if it's simple LAMP or  
>>even python/ruby development - OS X has those either native (Apache,  
>>PHP) or through fink and darwinports)
> 
> 
> But it's a *hassle* if the two systems aren't exactly the same, because
> they will never *work* exactly the same, wheras I want to be able to
> update the mirror of my site on the laptop, check it for errors, then
> sync it with the server, and have it Just Work.  One of the reasons I
> changed over to running my own server rather than use an external
> web-host was because, even though they used Linux, they used Zeus rather
> than Apache, and I was sick and tired of having stuff that worked on my
> PC fail to work as soon as I transferred it up to the web-host.
> 
> Sure, they may have Apache, but which version?  How is it configured?
> What do I do when I've upgraded my server and the Mac is using an older
> version?  And so on.

I am have subversion running on my mac, and it required a different 
version of apache than comes on OS X, and I was able to install and 
configure the second version of apache, and just run it on a different 
port, and both versions run fine, and it has caused no problems whatsoever.

vim is also available for the mac through fink.  I have had very good 
luck with fink on the mac.  There are an amazing amount of linux aps, 
and I haven't had any trouble with them.  X11 is now pretty darn stable, 
and you can even set it up so that you can run a regular terminal (the 
native os x terminal, not an X11 terminal), and open applications 
through it, and as long as X11 is running in the background things just 
work.  It really feels much different than running X on windows, which 
feels very precarious to me.

But the main reason to get a mac, imho, is because there are some 
commercial apps that I need for work, that just aren't available for 
linux, and with the mac I get the best of both worlds.  The hardware on 
a mac is great (although it has its occasional glitches like any other 
hardware), and os X is very stable, but if you don't need to have mac to 
run certain proprietary software, I'm not sure its worth the extra $.

cheers,
maria

> 
> Wheras right now, I'm running the same (GenToo) version of Linux on both
> systems, with the same versions of everything; the main difference is
> that the server has more stuff on it and runs faster (since the laptop
> is only a Pentium III and doesn't have much memory either).
>  
> 
>>>- for doing work on when travelling (such as on the bus to work every
>>> day) which is a mixture of
>>> - perl development (which again would need Linux)
>>
>>Since when does Perl need Linux?  I run it happily on both XP and OS  
>>X with no problems
> 
> 
> True, and it would make the modules more cross-platform, which would be
> an advantage.
>  
> 
>>> - writing (which only needs an editor)
>>
>>both emacs, vi, and a host of other editors are available
> 
> 
> Vim?
>  
> 
>>>All of the above need a way to sync the contents of the laptop with
>>>the desktop.  At the moment I use unison, which does just what I want.
> 
> 
> Does Max OS X have unison?
> 
> 
>>>Is Apple hardware more stable, or is it a moving target cloaked in
>>>mystery?
> 
>  
> 
>>My friend runs PPC linux (I think debian) on his G5 (not laptop), and  
>>he has the occasional lockups and sound issues
>>The nice thing about Apple hardware is that if you're looking at two  
>>same model laptops, they're going to have the same hardware.
> 
> 
> I suspected that might be the case; so it isn't a moving target, then.
> 
> 
>>And most of the same hardware as in the other laptops.  One reason Apple  
>>hardware is so expensive - they use quality parts.
> 
> 
> Yes, a friend who uses Mac just got back to me and was saying how
> reliable the hardware is...
> 
> 
>>If, however, you  
>>want to replace one of those parts, it's not as easy as it would be  
>>on a PC laptop.  Taking apart a i/powerbook involves taking it  
>>completely apart - not just the take off keyboard that PCs tend to  
>>have.  And it's *very* obvious that you've voided your warranty if  
>>you take it apart.  But most of the parts are quality commodity parts  
>>and easily replaceable except for the opening part.
> 
> 
> I generally don't touch the hardware myself.
>  
> 
>>If you decide to go x86, I suggest Emperor Linux (http:// 
>>www.emperorlinux.com/)  Not sure if they'll ship to AU, but they pre- 
>>install Linux on a wide variety of laptops.
> 
> 
> It would be pointless: Australia uses a completely different power
> system than the US.  I can buy books from the US, but not electronic
> equipment.
> (goes and looks at website)
> Oh.  Apparently that's not a problem -- I'd just need a plug adapter.
> Hmmm.
> 
> Kathryn Andersen
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> "At least when someone's shooting at you, you know where you are."
> 	-- Ilya Kuriakin
> 		(The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair)