beachycove
Well-known member
I have not bought a computer other than an Apple-branded unit except once ... in 1988. I kid you not. Back then, the purchase was an Epson PC/XT that I needed to write a thesis on. I really, really wanted a Mac, but qua student, could not afford both it and food to eat; the Epson thus won the battle for my money.
However, I have very recently been toying with Ubuntu 10.10 on a spare Pismo, based on some recommendations re. the model that I found on lowendmac (btw, they are not accurate). The Pismo in question is a stock G3/400 with 512MB RAM and a 20GB drive, which should be enough to run the beast, but it is still far and away too slow for my liking. I had tried MintPPC before, too, but found that it is a little too Spartan — though it is admittedly faster.
I had expected, somehow, to be disappointed by Ubuntu, but quite the reverse. The look and feel of Ubuntu I really like, and with Ubuntu 11.10 out this Autumn with Gnome 3, I think I might come to like it even more. I am not a programmer/ unix/ command line kind of guy, but the Open Software principle is definitely appealing, and the more Apple takes over the world, quite frankly, the less interested I get in contributing to its triumph by purchasing too many more of its products.
I think what really turned the tide was when in Unbuntu 10.10, I tried to find my Apple LaserWriter printers, and bingo, there they were. Basically, it seems that I can as likely retain connectivity to my old gear on a Dell running Open Source as I can on Apple proprietary equipment.
So, what about it? Am I mad to make such a switch, or do I go ahead and dip my toe into the Ubuntu-waters?
And is there a mid-range i3 or i5 laptop that could be recommended for Ubuntu above a 13" Dell?
However, I have very recently been toying with Ubuntu 10.10 on a spare Pismo, based on some recommendations re. the model that I found on lowendmac (btw, they are not accurate). The Pismo in question is a stock G3/400 with 512MB RAM and a 20GB drive, which should be enough to run the beast, but it is still far and away too slow for my liking. I had tried MintPPC before, too, but found that it is a little too Spartan — though it is admittedly faster.
I had expected, somehow, to be disappointed by Ubuntu, but quite the reverse. The look and feel of Ubuntu I really like, and with Ubuntu 11.10 out this Autumn with Gnome 3, I think I might come to like it even more. I am not a programmer/ unix/ command line kind of guy, but the Open Software principle is definitely appealing, and the more Apple takes over the world, quite frankly, the less interested I get in contributing to its triumph by purchasing too many more of its products.
I think what really turned the tide was when in Unbuntu 10.10, I tried to find my Apple LaserWriter printers, and bingo, there they were. Basically, it seems that I can as likely retain connectivity to my old gear on a Dell running Open Source as I can on Apple proprietary equipment.
So, what about it? Am I mad to make such a switch, or do I go ahead and dip my toe into the Ubuntu-waters?
And is there a mid-range i3 or i5 laptop that could be recommended for Ubuntu above a 13" Dell?