Hi MCC
http://xdeal.shop/guidelines.php?isnt=ma27ep4c6y9x
Daniel
Two Weeks With Ubuntu Linux
How were my two weeks? Absolutely excellent! No complaints.
I got my MacBook Pro back from repair on Thursday and as of Friday evening had not yet moved the Linux workstation off the desk to return to using my Mac. Part of the reason was I just didn't want to do it in the middle of a work day - I'm using Linux litterally to do my job. I have some files on the file system that will need to get copied over to the Mac and then there are the configuration changes to my Lotus Notes client that reside inside the Virtual Box/Windows XP session I have on Linux.
I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed using Ubuntu Linux these past two weeks. Though I'm happy to get back to my Mac and the applications on it, I am a little sad to be leaving Linux as my full-time machine. Here are a few key points that I love about Linux:
1. I can run it on pretty much any hardware I want (I know it has to be supported, but the configurations of cases, laptops, etc are much larger than Apple provides).
2. It's a free operating system.
3. It's Linux, unix based OS, not Windows! :-)
4. It's stable like my Mac.
5. It's MUCH cheaper to own, not like my Mac.
6. Less dependence on DRM content, but also less content is available because of that - for example, I cannot watch shows from my Netflix account. Hulu has a desktop app for Linux and that works well, but I prefer Netflix.
7. Customizable interface! I at least want themes on the Mac! I'm tired of the same old interface on the Mac. I cannot even change the colors outside of the wallpaper. Yeah, I know there are third-party hacks that will let you do that, but they are just that - hacks. I have tried them in the past and they caused stability issues for me, so no more.
8. LOW memory footprint, not like my Mac. This thing screams with 4GB of RAM even with my workload which includes at least one Windows XP VM and sometimes two simultaneously. On my Mac I had to upgrade to 8GB of RAM. Granted, there may be a lot more running in the background on my Mac due to the large number of apps/applets. But, Linux seems to have a much smaller footprint.
Those are probably the key things I have noted and enjoy about my two weeks with Ubuntu Linux v10.10. Of course, there are pros for the Mac side too. The most powerful is the selection of apps and the quality of those apps. There are just more. But, that's not to say a fully functional and entertaining system cannot be had with a Linux install. It can. You just may find yourself relying on DOS and Windows VMs more than on the Mac.
Of course, my iTunes library, iPhone and the family iPods also play into the need for continued Mac usage. I could put all that in a Windows VM, but ... that just tastes bad even saying that. :-)
Thank You Linux Community
Well my MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.6.6 is currently in the shop for repair. My 2 year warranty with Best Buy is expiring next month, so I could wait no longer to get it in and fix the DVD/CD drive that has not been working for at least 6 months now. Yeah, I don't use it much but when I need it it's nice to have it. Those slot-loading drives by Matsushita are NOT very reliable. My son has a MacBook (aluminum) and it too has a dead slot loading drive after less than two years. Anyway, due to the excellent service Best Buy offers (read: very sarcastic and do not recommend it), my MacBook Pro will be out for 2 to 3 weeks! Just to swap a DVD drive. Yeah, Best Buy service is the worst. The only reason I went with them and not Apple Care is because there is no Apple store near me and Apple does not offer accident insurance and Best Buy does. I tell ya though, it's not worth it. I'm getting Apple Care next time and I'll just send it in or drive to Las Vegas to get it serviced (2.5 hour drive).
So, I have to work though. I just can't be without my laptop for 2 to 3 weeks. I work from home and that is what I use. Well, I'm using the company provided Dell right now. But, I can't stand Windows. So, this Dell - an old, beat up D630 with 4 GB of RAM and a 1.8GHz Dual Core processor is running Ubuntu Linux. I'm using Oracle's Virtual Box to run Windows XP for the couple apps I need. But the other apps I run from Linux. This has been working out good. With the combination of Evernote's web interface (I used that daily for work too) and MobileMe's web interface, I'm covered in that regard.
Though I am only on day three of working with Ubuntu Linux full time as opposed to my MBP and OS X, I must say I am very happy with Linux. I've always been a fan, but have never been able to really switch to it because of software and compatibility limitations in the past. Though I won't be dropping my Mac any time soon due to OS X and the awesome software on that platform, I am enjoying my little drive through Linux-land.
I'll report back after the two weeks are up ... unless it takes the full three weeks to be reunited with that awesome OS! :-)
In the meantime, a BIG thank you to the Linux community for making an awesome desktop OS. If Ubuntu 10.10 was in 2004 what it is today, then when I moved away from Windows I would have considered this option more seriously. As it stands, I can see this operating system as a no-brainer replacement for Windows users who spend most their time in email and a web browser anyway. Plus it has a lot of free apps to go with it too.
So, I have to work though. I just can't be without my laptop for 2 to 3 weeks. I work from home and that is what I use. Well, I'm using the company provided Dell right now. But, I can't stand Windows. So, this Dell - an old, beat up D630 with 4 GB of RAM and a 1.8GHz Dual Core processor is running Ubuntu Linux. I'm using Oracle's Virtual Box to run Windows XP for the couple apps I need. But the other apps I run from Linux. This has been working out good. With the combination of Evernote's web interface (I used that daily for work too) and MobileMe's web interface, I'm covered in that regard.
Though I am only on day three of working with Ubuntu Linux full time as opposed to my MBP and OS X, I must say I am very happy with Linux. I've always been a fan, but have never been able to really switch to it because of software and compatibility limitations in the past. Though I won't be dropping my Mac any time soon due to OS X and the awesome software on that platform, I am enjoying my little drive through Linux-land.
I'll report back after the two weeks are up ... unless it takes the full three weeks to be reunited with that awesome OS! :-)
In the meantime, a BIG thank you to the Linux community for making an awesome desktop OS. If Ubuntu 10.10 was in 2004 what it is today, then when I moved away from Windows I would have considered this option more seriously. As it stands, I can see this operating system as a no-brainer replacement for Windows users who spend most their time in email and a web browser anyway. Plus it has a lot of free apps to go with it too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)