Although if I ended up running Linux on it I would be paying a lot more for (at best) comparable hardware shrink-wrapped in the pretty box. If that is all, then I guess I feel rehabilitated :-).
I am really thinking here whether OS X is worth the stab, or will I feel caged once I abandon the freedom of Linux. It seems you've partially answered my question, and I thank you for that! Thank you very much for your honest reply! Ivica Ico Bukvic, composer & multimedia sculptor http://meowing.ccm.uc.edu/~ico > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:linux-audio-dev- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 1:42 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] New powermacs? > > > Hi all, > > > >[snip - mac news - ] > > > > Please don't get me wrong. I am still in favor of Linux, obviously due > > to its open architecture. But at the same time I am becoming a bit weary > > of having to "hack" my advanced audio settings rather than use > > user-friendly tools. That, coupled with still anemic direct vendor hw > > driver support has really made me pay closer attention on Macs (as scary > > as that sounds). Yet, I feel such a sense of accomplishment when my > > Linux purrs just right with my desktop being uniquely configured and > > tailored to my needs. After all, I am a geek. :-) And the inner struggle > > goes on... > > > > Anyone care to comment or (please) dissuade me from potentially making a > > costly mistake? ;-) > > > > Well, i'm messing with a used iBook G3/500 right at the moment. > OS X does look nice, and the few OS X audio apps i demo'd are solid. > > And, dual-booting w/Debian unstable was dead easy to do, i have OSS audio > working jest fine with the built-in set, and i'm hoping to do ALSA > via USB audio soon, which will be kewl. > > I like the hardware platform. The display is noticeably better than most > Intel laptops, certainly better than the used ones i was comparing to. > The Firewire Just Worked, right from the Debian install kernel. > I've been using it with a IDE -> firewire disk carrier. > The unit is solid. The built-in audio is okay, my model > has no real inputs (built-in mic) - you would definately be using USB or > firewire for Real Work. Using Open Firmware at boot instead of BIOS is > sweet. With Linux, performance is fine, even with the 500mhz chip. > > The OS X on the other hand, is noticeably slooower than Linux (2.4.21 + > 2.5.72 > kernels ), especially at reboot. And the Mac world is insanely closed, > it actually surprized _me how little choice you have with OS X - near as > i can figure, you buy most everything from Apple, pay a bunch more money > than a comparable M$ product, or suffer. > And since they are _not a huge monopoly, they seem to have little shame > about being closed - i was very amused by the way they attempt > to corral the first-time user into signing up for .Mac (Apple's version of > MSN) during the OS X install, iTunes also. > > The main thing-that-makes-me-nutbar is the keyboard layout. That's > fixable with X, and you can set up keymappings with sysctl for some > Mac-specific things. Main installation pain is the Mac version of fdisk, > which is....terse. > > So in conclusion, i'd say the iBook + external converter (USB/fire) > would make a fine Linux audio laptop. > Get a decent sized disk, and you can dual-boot with OS X, and that > will motivate you to run Linux again. :) > cliffw > > (PS - http://www.penguinppc.org - is a good start point for Mac links) > > > > Ivica Ico Bukvic, composer & multimedia sculptor > > http://meowing.ccm.uc.edu/~ico > > > >
