I've had a PB12 for a few weeks now. My background is UNIX systems programming. If I take OS X and add Apple's X11, CodeTek's VirtualDesktop, Fink, and a 3-button mouse, I approach my productivity using an open UNIX desktop (FreeBSD or Linux, x86 or PPC with X11 and Sawfish). There are naysayers out there who don't feel OS X is worthy of the UNIX label, but on the whole, I don't find it any stranger than modern Solaris. Right now, I wish I could get CUPS to work with my QMS 825 printer (acquired used for $10, and will probably keep running into the next decade if I give it half a chance).
The Linux PPC boot program "yaboot" has been updated for the 2003 hardware (PB12 & PB17), but the current Linux PPC distros don't include it yet. So I'm acclimatizing myself to OS X. It will be interesting to see what is gained or lost once I have Linux running on the PB12. I will be pleasantly surprised if X11 and Aqua ever reach really smooth integration, and I don't count on Terminal.app to ever suit my needs as well as lowly xterm. In spite of my skepticism of X11 on OS X, I do enjoy the physical design of Apple portables and admire the way lots of things work, as well as the i-Apps for the non command line users. Romain Kang Disclaimer: I speak for myself alone, [EMAIL PROTECTED] except when indicated otherwise. -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
