Finding the right tool for the job

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
1

I come to the community seeking advice. I'm considering buying a MacBook - hear me out.

Firstly, I come to the 'nix community with this question because its your advice I value and want (don't care for Windows users thoughts on this). Basically, I'm asking a bunch of my fellow Linux users if they think a Mac is MY best option, or if not, any other suggestions.

I'm in systems and spend alot of time ssh'd into Linux servers and rdp'd into Windows servers. I need to be mobile, but right now I'm tied down to a desktop and what's worse is it's running Windows. Now I'm not a Windows hater, but for me - wuck findows ( as a desktop/laptop OS). It's a necessary evil in my world, but I do NOT want Windows as my on the medal OS.

So, what I really need is laptop running unix with enough power to run a windows vm reasonably well.

Now, I have an okay Lenovo, with an A10, and 16gb memory, running CentOS, and it's just not cutting it --- Not enough horsepower to run a VM well enough. Also, its wireless NIC isn't Linux supported.

So, this is why I'm considering a MacBook - UNIX terminal, vi, native ssh, working hardware out of the box, horsepower for VM(processing power), laptop, and BASH. All politics aside, it seems to me that a mac does at least as much as linux box could do (at least for me), plus has solid hardware too.

Curse me to hell, but if not for the price, I'd probably already own a MacBook.

Anyone have any suggestions before I go out and purchase a mac? Anything to consider or am I missing something? Keep in mind, virtualization, ssh, and terminal (not for "graphics", to be hip or for Facebook --- I'm in systems).

2

Why not just get a more expensive laptop and put Linux on it most of the things you need to do should run natively on Linux and find a Laptop that is well documented to be supported by Linux I'm pretty sure dells are pretty well supported. Get something with an i7 and you should be pretty solid in the virtualization department.

3

Valid point. Here's my thoughts.

Honestly, even though its 100% my fault for not researching before buying that laptop - I got burned. The laptop is nice and I'll continue to use it, but if I'm dropping $1,000+ on a laptop, there's gotta be zero risk of getting burned on hardware.

Also, if I'm spending a grand, its an added bonus to get the by-purchase only OS (Mac OSx) and then I could run Linux as a VM. Not possible the other way around.

EDIT*****

I mean if I could get the necessary power with a $500-600 laptop I think Linux might be a better option.

4

macbook isn't the top anymore - for the price you can get a mbp you can get a full fledged thinkpad - e.g. T450 or T460 ... I sear you they work great with linux and min runs ~ 10h on battery if I have the screen 50%.

What kind of heavy lifting do you inside the VM? ULP cpu's arn't mad to run heavy tasks for long times... and macbooks are prone to overheating as well (from what I get told)

5

There's a couple of system administered with windows only applications. Also, I'm a little leery of remnia (sp?) for rdp with the ruby exploits that are available and unpatched. At this time I'd rather rdp with Windows.

6

If your only using these things in the VM it's totally working... speaking for a T450s

I use rdesktop from the terminal to connect to windows. Do not know if that has similar problems as the ruby thing there.

7

If you're into linux why not look at a laptop from System76 or Entroware both are great for any linux distro you choose. They have a good track record for the hardware being up to scratch, also they offer some pretty powerful hardware that would make a macbook look like the piece of junk it really is.