Ubuntu on Mac Laptops

[Al Gordon]

For those who have said "wait for Apple's intel", I should have
mentioned in the original message that I need a new laptop ASAP.  I'm
aware that Apple is coming out with Intel-based stuff soon, but can't
really wait too long to make this purchase.  I need the laptop for
work purposes.  More comments inline below.


On 1/4/06, Maximilian Gerlach <m at px0.de> wrote:
> Hi Al,
>
> > I'm considering buying a Mac laptop, either an iBook or a PowerBook
> > (depending on how much money I think I can afford to part with).  I
> > plan on dual-booting it with OS X and Ubuntu Breezy.
> Thats a nice thing but remember that intel based apple laptops will
> be out soon. You should consider waiting.
>
> > 1. Video: Is the video hardware in Apple's new *Book line fully
> > supported, with hardware acceleration, etc.?
> Only if it's ATI based (= >12") and even then sometimes not fully
> (I'm not sure since I own an nvidia  based powerbook. Thats *very*
> bad..)

That's good to know.  That's the model I was considering.  Hrm...

> > 2. Games: Will I be able to play, for example, UT 2004 or Neverwinter
> > Nights under Linux on the Power platform, the same as I can in Linux
> > on an x86?
> No chance.
> You will be able to play them under OS X but there is no way you can
> play for example NWN/x86 under Linux/PPC

I figured that this was the case, and felt pretty lame asking the
question in the first place.  Thanks for verifying.

> > 3. RestrictedFormats: Pretty much the same question as above, but for
> > libdvdcss, etc.  Will I be able to watch DVDs on an Apple laptop
> > running Ubuntu?
> Yes, you can, but you'll have problems with other codecs. No WMV, for
> example. (-> w32codecs)

Good to know.

> Best regards,
> Maxi

Thanks, Maxi, and the rest who answered.

--

  -- AL --