Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
If you want to dual-boot rEFIt http://refit.sourceforge.net/ is a great help. On 12/10/2011 02:44 PM, Glen Turner wrote: I found it to be utterly easy: Boot Favourite CD/DVD Install as usual With respect James, that has not been my experience with a 2011 MacBook Pro at all. Distribution DVDs don't even boot, standard boot loaders don't support Apple's UEFI, the kernel dies. And sure, I've got Fedora working now. But wasn't something I'd put anyone else through. Apparently the next Fedora release will work out of the box -- but that's 12 months since the hardware appeared. -Glen -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
On Sun, 2011-12-04 at 11:55 +1100, simran wrote: . is there truly nothing obvious that is a good replacement for mac users to move back to linux. Just a heads-up that installing any distribution of Linux on the current Mac hardware is a nightmare. If you are buying a computer to run Linux, don't buy a Mac. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
On 10/12/2011, at 9:00 AM, slug-requ...@slug.org.au wrote: . is there truly nothing obvious that is a good replacement for mac users to move back to linux. Just a heads-up that installing any distribution of Linux on the current Mac hardware is a nightmare. If you are buying a computer to run Linux, don't buy a Mac. I found it to be utterly easy: Boot Favourite CD/DVD Install as usual I found some things: The iMac on snow leopard gives install discs, Lion and laptops do not. Reinstall mac OSX becomes an issue Macs do heavy lifting to save power, in particular the linux throttle back makes the mac hardware run HOT. EFI bios needs hard disk and disk utils to change and setup so you really want to dual boot. (Ive not investigated EFI-grub) iMac speakers are terrid, OSX fiddles 'till they sound good So Apple is utterly evil In quest of ever more money they make nice hardware And take great care of their customers If and when you need, native word et al, native Adobe et al, and native camera utils (only RawTherapee handles .CR2 canon raw format, not ufraw and friends) are good VBOX runs my many linux systems finc and macports do a fine job of taming this alien landscape My mac runs gnome-terminal, gimp, gnuplot, mythtv, ogg audio That makes the NO a definte-maybe, have fun James-- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
I found it to be utterly easy: Boot Favourite CD/DVD Install as usual With respect James, that has not been my experience with a 2011 MacBook Pro at all. Distribution DVDs don't even boot, standard boot loaders don't support Apple's UEFI, the kernel dies. And sure, I've got Fedora working now. But wasn't something I'd put anyone else through. Apparently the next Fedora release will work out of the box -- but that's 12 months since the hardware appeared. -Glen -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
Thanks Dave, That does look like a pretty decent laptop... in your experience, is the two finger scroll working well? (and if you are familiar with a macbook pro, is it comparable to a mac). The internet reviews are not being too kind to the two finger scroll capabilities of the U36SD. simran. On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 1:01 PM, David Gillies da...@dorja.com wrote: On 03/12/11 10:44, simran wrote: wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? My day to day PC is an Asus U36SD: http://www.asus.com.au/** Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/**U36SD/http://www.asus.com.au/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/U36SD/ I've got the i5 version with a 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and am running ubuntu 11.04 currently. Its got one of those weird Nvidia Optimus hybrid Intel/Nvidia GPUs but I've disabled the Nvidia part of it and its all good. Its got 4 cores so running some sort of virtualisation is fine. It has 2 finger scrolling and the hardware has been pretty robust. Plus being thin its pretty light. The only real downside is that the viewing angle for the screen isn't the best but I've learned to live with it. And I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) My day to day usage is pretty much the same usage as you from the sounds of things and it this laptop is more than up to the task. dave. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/**mailinglists.htmlhttp://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
Hi Simran, I can't say I can complain about the touchpad and its two finger scrolling. Actually I can say that its left no impression on me at all, which can be a good thing. I can't think of any time that its annoyed or impressed on me and the only thing I think I've knowingly done with it is turn on two finger scrolling in Ubuntu. Its been a while since I've used a macbook (the newest one in my house is a Powerbook G4) so I can't really compare. While people may complain and say that it doesn't stack up to a macbook, at its price point, I think its a pretty unfair comparison and I think its a pretty decent laptop for the money (look at how much you need to spend to get a similarly spec'ed laptop from other PC manufacturers) Dave. On 06/12/11 01:01, simran wrote: Thanks Dave, That does look like a pretty decent laptop... in your experience, is the two finger scroll working well? (and if you are familiar with a macbook pro, is it comparable to a mac). The internet reviews are not being too kind to the two finger scroll capabilities of the U36SD. simran. On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 1:01 PM, David Gillies da...@dorja.com mailto:da...@dorja.com wrote: On 03/12/11 10:44, simran wrote: wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? My day to day PC is an Asus U36SD: http://www.asus.com.au/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/U36SD/ I've got the i5 version with a 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and am running ubuntu 11.04 currently. Its got one of those weird Nvidia Optimus hybrid Intel/Nvidia GPUs but I've disabled the Nvidia part of it and its all good. Its got 4 cores so running some sort of virtualisation is fine. It has 2 finger scrolling and the hardware has been pretty robust. Plus being thin its pretty light. The only real downside is that the viewing angle for the screen isn't the best but I've learned to live with it. And I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) My day to day usage is pretty much the same usage as you from the sounds of things and it this laptop is more than up to the task. dave. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
Simran, I understand... you are after true beauty.. maybe you need a fignition system: - http://hackaday.com/2011/12/04/a-keyboard-for-your-fignition/ -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
haha... indeed... would be good... although i think i'd still prefer my zx spectrum :) On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:04 AM, David Lyon david.lyon.preissh...@gmail.com wrote: Simran, I understand... you are after true beauty.. maybe you need a fignition system: - http://hackaday.com/2011/12/04/a-keyboard-for-your-fignition/ -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
umm... yeah... but doesn't run linux afaik On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:07 AM, simran sim...@dn.gs wrote: haha... indeed... would be good... although i think i'd still prefer my zx spectrum :) On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:04 AM, David Lyon david.lyon.preissh...@gmail.com wrote: Simran, I understand... you are after true beauty.. maybe you need a fignition system: - http://hackaday.com/2011/12/04/a-keyboard-for-your-fignition/ -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
On 03/12/11 10:44, simran wrote: wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? My day to day PC is an Asus U36SD: http://www.asus.com.au/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/U36SD/ I've got the i5 version with a 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and am running ubuntu 11.04 currently. Its got one of those weird Nvidia Optimus hybrid Intel/Nvidia GPUs but I've disabled the Nvidia part of it and its all good. Its got 4 cores so running some sort of virtualisation is fine. It has 2 finger scrolling and the hardware has been pretty robust. Plus being thin its pretty light. The only real downside is that the viewing angle for the screen isn't the best but I've learned to live with it. And I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) My day to day usage is pretty much the same usage as you from the sounds of things and it this laptop is more than up to the task. dave. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
I hope it's OK to share this thread since I'm checking options for buying such a laptop too. My main additional features would be - low weight (as in - Apple Air light weight) and good battery life (e.g. work at least for half a day straight without a power cord). On 3 December 2011 17:23, David Lyon david.lyon.preissh...@gmail.comwrote: HP-Envy with 8 cores are pretty nice for Ubuntu.. The hard-drives inside have a design flaw which causes them to overheat and die. SSD would fix that. I repaired one for a friend, just booted ubuntu from usb. Great! On Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 10:44 AM, simran sim...@dn.gs wrote: hi all, wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) would really appreciate the recommendation of people in this group, if anyone knows linux, it's you guys :) simran. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
Thanks for the tip David... have been reading about it after your post, and it looks like a good laptop, but people are reporting issues with the two finger scroll etc... also, it has a windows key!!! :) The design flaw you mentioned is also a deterent... not sure if i have the time to be fiddling around with hardware... just want something that works so i can develop :) i know you are a bit of a hardware master... so might not be an issue for you at all :) but for me... don't want that hassel... surprising i haven't had a flurry of responses to this thread... is there truly nothing obvious that is a good replacement for mac users to move back to linux... (in terms of the beauty of the hardware)... what i pity i buy the mac just for the hardware... overpriced... the laptop is likely to cost me $4k, but i want that extra 10% perfection... On Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 8:08 PM, Amos Shapira amos.shap...@gmail.com wrote: I hope it's OK to share this thread since I'm checking options for buying such a laptop too. My main additional features would be - low weight (as in - Apple Air light weight) and good battery life (e.g. work at least for half a day straight without a power cord). On 3 December 2011 17:23, David Lyon david.lyon.preissh...@gmail.com wrote: HP-Envy with 8 cores are pretty nice for Ubuntu.. The hard-drives inside have a design flaw which causes them to overheat and die. SSD would fix that. I repaired one for a friend, just booted ubuntu from usb. Great! On Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 10:44 AM, simran sim...@dn.gs wrote: hi all, wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) would really appreciate the recommendation of people in this group, if anyone knows linux, it's you guys :) simran. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
Just watch these new fast-boot units. I bought an MSI a few months back and it doesnt allow for booting from USB, plus it has a Syntelic, rather than Synaptic, touchpad. Doesnt play nice with Linux Mint/Ubuntu. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] advice for new laptop...
HP-Envy with 8 cores are pretty nice for Ubuntu.. The hard-drives inside have a design flaw which causes them to overheat and die. SSD would fix that. I repaired one for a friend, just booted ubuntu from usb. Great! On Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 10:44 AM, simran sim...@dn.gs wrote: hi all, wanted to ask you for some advice... i need a new laptop, and here's my needs: must have's: * SSD hard drive (or at least a quick HD) * at least 8 Gig's RAM (12-16 Gig's would be ideal) * two finger scroll on the touchpad (like macbook pro's etc have as a default) * solid robust reliable hardy hardware would really love: * beautiful 15 screen (good hi-res one with a nice looking display) * nice form for the laptop in general (aka, just looks beautiful :) ah... i've been swayed by few things apple Is there anything you can recommend? I want to stay away from apple because: * I use linux (ubuntu) for all development anyway (in a VM) * Mostly i'm just using the browser for just about everything else (email (gmail), documents (google docs), etc) * Hate the way they are chasing samsung trying to block galaxy tabs...:) would really appreciate the recommendation of people in this group, if anyone knows linux, it's you guys :) simran. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
