Despite my recent positive article over a week ago about using the Macbook Pro, I have started to miss running a Linux desktop. I know some are going to hate hearing this, especially Mac users, but my Linux desktops/laptops always ran faster then my current Macbook Pro. I got used to 20 second or less bootups especially with Arch Linux and Ubuntu Linux. With my Macbook Pro, I know I can just close the lid to let it hibernate but at least three times, I found my Mac locking up after I opened the lid again. This means rebooting my Macbook, since upgrading Lion OSX, this can take a long time. Just a minor issue but I never had this with my Linux desktop. I just shut it down after each use. I was never a fan of hibernating in Linux. 🙂
Since I still have my quad-core desktop sitting next to my desk, I figured it may be time to get it running again. It still has issues but overall it runs fine. I miss Gentoo Linux as well but I do not have the time to maintain it. Arch Linux is great. I can run Ubuntu but I rather keep that in my Macbook Pro where I can run it inside of VirtualBox.
Lets see where I go with this…
I get stuck at an imac sometimes, its just like going from linux to windows but not as bad. At least it is *nix . But so much stuff you can adjust in linux is set in stone on OSX it really feels crippled.
Why not go the other way and run OSX in a VM. If you have accelerated graphics in gnu/linux, it might work out. That way, when OSX blows out, you can just start it again from a snapshot. Run it in full screen on one of your desktops and you get whatever ease of use OSX gives you and the stability, freedom and choice of free software. You might lose iTunes and some networking utilities but I never saw what those had over Amarok and network manager.
I’ve never been a big fan of hibernation but use suspend to ram all the time. There’s nothing like being able to pick up right where I left off in less than five seconds.
Personally, I could never get my work done in OSX. I make heavy use of virtual desktops and need the performance that comes with free software if I’m going to keep my place on the projects and work I get up to.