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…
Luke says
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.
SaigonNezumi (Kevin) says
Agreed. Not much freedom but sometimes that can be a good thing. I decided to get Ubuntu running in VirtualBox so I can go back and forth. I just wish Lion was not so slow.
twitter says
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.
SaigonNezumi (Kevin) says
You mean run Linux on my Macbook Pro and then OSX in VM? Seems to be a bit of overkill, right?
twitter says
Yes, that’s what I mean. There’s something that freaks Mac people out when I tell them that I replace OSX with gnu/linux on used Apple hardware. If I had a newer, x86 Mac, I’d replace the hardware and try it out, though I doubt I’d run the OSX machine much. I have a cute little PowerPC version of OSX that I’d like to make work with qemu one day. All of it is low on my priority list, somewhere next to Windows 7 and Vista guests images.
It’s not more overkill than doing it the other way around. It’s more a matter of what OS is ultimately in control and which desktop you want to spend most of your time in. Given OSX’s limited multi desktop support, it would make more sense to dedicate a single virtual screen to OSX on gnu/linux than it would to try to share space on OSX. This set up is supposed to have been working a year ago. It might be stable by now but it seems to have been a difficult guest.
SaigonNezumi (Kevin) says
In about a year, I will replace this macbook pro for a faster Mac, then I will install Linux on it. Just not yet though I miss the Linux desktop. Thanks for your comments.
twitter says
Thank you for your thought provoking article. I enjoyed the conversation.
SaigonNezumi (Kevin) says
No thank you. I got to get writing open source articles again. In November I will give a presentation convincing a company to install 1500-2000 Linux desktops.