October 26, 2008

Hello (Linux) World

Feeling increasingly alienated by commercial software companies and increasingly uncomfortable with my absurd level of Mac lust, I finally decided this weekend to get off the Apple train and make the switch to Linux.

Until I’m sure I’ve worked out all the kinks, I’m running a dual boot setup of Ubuntu 8.10b and Mac 0S 10.5 on my MacBook Pro. It was a pretty simple operation, which took up the better part of my Sunday morning, but not much more than that. I more or less followed the Ubuntu support community’s MacBook Pro documentation line for line, and everything more or less seemed to work. A few quick Google searches showed me how to install Skype and a few other applications that aren’t included in the main Ubuntu repositories. Aside from a couple minor annoyances (e.g. “right-click” is confusingly keyed to F12 or a two-finger trackpad click) so far I’m very happy.

In the coming weeks, once I’m sure I have everything I need off my old system, I hope to leave Apple entirely. I’m a little worried about what I’m going to do about my music; I’ve bought quite a bit from the iTunes Store. But the fact that my music is locked up in iTunes shouldn’t be a reason for sticking with Apple. It is yet another reason to leave.

Currently I’m looking at a combination of a Dell Mini 9 and either a desktop or 15″ laptop. If nothing else, I have a whole new range of hardware to ogle.

6 Comments

  1. I admire your commitment. I assume you can run every application you need in with that platform?

    I’m a Linux dabbler, but never had the guts to commit to its full time use.

  2. I’m enjoying Ubuntu eee on an Asus 1000 and will recommend that to you when you tire of the giant screen and spacious keyboard on that MBP. The 1000 has a larger keyboard & screen (larger than the little EeePC I showed you in your office a year or so ago) and goes about 4.5 hours on a charge.

  3. Awesome move. I took the leap, like you to Ubuntu with a dual boot, over a year ago. After 2 months of Ubuntu, I ditched the dual boot and I’ve never looked back.

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