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Comment by indiecore | Hacker News Reader

I'm kind of wondering why you would use a Mac without using OSX. The only reason to have that computer is to run the OS that ONLY runs on that computer. Otherwise you can get a better computer for less money that is more flexible.

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Apple laptops are (IMHO the best, but let's say among) the best in the market. So it is no surprise that Linux users may want one but without osx.

Yep. Apple notebook notebook hardware cannot be beat. Zero contest from anyone else.

Apple [now] uses the same components as everyone else, so I'd be surprised if Apple had significantly different performance. Their construction/build-quality is clearly exceptional, though I'll be curious to see if my [incoming] Thinkpad X1 Carbon comes close.

I was primarily pointing out the construction and build quality. An Apple chassis cannot be beat =)

Do you run Linux on a macbook? If yes how is it performing?

I'm not GP, but I run Debian on an old MacBook (06 or 07 model I believe) and it's doing fine. It's also more than fast enough for my use, even the 3d effects in kde4 run fine. The battery-life is (a little? a lot?) better in OS X, but I find Linux/BSD much better for development. I used to boot OS X to run some things like Spotify and Skype, but lately more and more programs refuse to run in that old version of OS X.

In case you're not being rhetorical/sarcastic:

Linux (or any other OS) runs terribly on Apple hardware, because the hardware is intentionally designed to run OS X and only OS X. If you try to run, say, Ubuntu on a Macbook, you'll notice that you won't be able to do basic things like adjust the fan speed (it'll be turned up to the max the entire time) and the battery life will thus be horrible, not to mention that the computer will also be insanely hot.

This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware.

The only time I've ever heard of people running into driver issues these days on Linux for basic work is on Apple hardware, and that's the reason. So even if you like Apple hardware, you still wouldn't be getting your money's worth running any other OS on it.

If you want to run Linux, go for almost any other laptop on the market - you'll get better priced hardware, and the performance will be better.

"This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware."

This is entirely inaccurate. Even using the BIOS CSM ("Boot Camp") gives you full access to the hardware, and people are moving away from that to native UEFI booting.

I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (7.1, I think), and everything worked out of the box (including suspend, which historically I haven't had much luck with). Also, the fan works fine, and I get between 5 and 8 hours of battery life, depending on what I'm doing.

Although, as far as gaming performance goes, I haven't actually run any games.

I'm not really sure what you mean by "running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware."

I find that hard to believe given that Linus Torvalds develops Linux on a MacBook Air: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium...

No rhetorical at all. I've tried to switch to Linux on my macbook a couple of times with disappointing results (jumbojet fan noise, magma hot, etc).

I am looking for success stories to motivate me for the next switch.

Most of this is not true. At all.

I love my linux for developing, but no other laptops come close to touching my air when it comes to aesthetics. Which, as a hobbyist painter/photographer, does matter to me.

aesthetics is very subjective. personally I find mac laptops pretty dull and boring. they're okay. but that's that. so yeah, subjective.

It is subjective, you're right. The parent asked why ANYONE would want to run linux on a mac. My reason is because I like the look and feel of the machine. I suspect many others (but not everybody...;) are in the same camp as me.

Great hardware is worth a good amount of money.

As someone with a macpro version 1 tower, I can be heartened that I can install the latest Linux, even though apple no longer supports my machine with its OS upgrades. Its only a matter of time (and lack of security updates...) before it would be a very large well designed paperweight

Of course I'm still running snow leopard a 2 versions back OS.

I agree with the rest of the responses you are bound to receive—Apple laptops are pretty solid machines, they easily run multiple operating systems (including but not limited to the respectable OSX), I'm a nerd so "why not play with even more toys?", and I really like the feel of the keyboard.

Just because OSX only runs on Mac hardware doesn't mean that's the only reason to use it as you assume. The non-Apple competition is pretty much crap if you are looking for a high end laptop.

I'm pretty sure Linux support for a MacBook Air is pretty good, seeing how that's Linus's primary machine: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium...

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