Hi Everyone is Anyone Running Linux on a Mac? If so you impressions please

[James McDonald]

On 28/12/2012 5:58 AM, Bill Campbell wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 27, 2012, James McDonald wrote:
>>    Hello All,
>>
>>    I got married 6yrs ago... in that time I've discovered that clutter and
>>    cables are bad. So I'm thinking of getting a Mac. However I wouldn't
>>    really like to experience the Mac without the option of a full Linux
>>    experience.
>>
>>    Any thoughts on what is best "Parrallels" or "VMware fusion".
> I've been using Macs as my primary desktop machines for almost a
> decade now currently on a mid-2009 15in Macbook Pro running Lion.
> This machine has 8GB RAM, which I consider a minimum for serious
> VM work.
>
> I get plenty of Linux time maintaining servers so generally use
> the Mac with lots of xterms, most email on a Linux server with
> mutt in xterms, LibreOffice, Safari, and FireFox.
>
> I have been using VMware Fusion for quite a while, and have
> several versions of CentOS, Win XP Pro, and Win 7 Pro which I use
> mostly to figure out how to do things in Windows so I can help
> clients with their systems.  From what I've seen it's pretty much
> an arms race between Parallels and VMware Fusion, with them vying
> to better each other in Windows performance.
>
> Linux performance in VMware is OK, although if I start a large
> build under Linux, it does slow things down a bit.
>
> I've also installed Yellow Dog Linux on an old PowerPC Mac, and
> am thinking about doing this on a couple of old PPC Mac Minis I
> have to play with them as utility router boxes.
>
> I really prefer the Mac for desktop stuff because it Just
> Works(TM), and I don't have to mess with it to get drivers right,
> find compatible hardware, and such.  It's kinda like cars.  While
> I raced Formula Cars for 13+ years, had a shop where worked on
> everything from race cars, Ferraris, Loti, BMWs, to VW Bugs, I
> prefer Subaru Legacy Wagons today because they work.
>
> Bill
Thanks Bill,
This is helpful. I am leaning toward VMWare Fusion because I just went 
with VMWare vSphere 5 at work...
I am now heading to the it just works side of the world because my wife 
doesn't really want to have me re-configure everything just for her to 
use it....