i would take a look at sager and system76 based machines. in addition some of the dell laptops work very well with Linux. On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM, Josef Lowder wrote: > Based on the very positive and enthusiastic comments from so many > people (including several of my good plug friends), I recently > purchased a 15" Macbook, thinking that it might be "the way to go." > > While the Mac is a very appealing product in many ways with many > outstanding features, I have finally come to the conclusion that the > disadvantages (to me) far outweigh the positives.  So I am now > thinking of selling it and looking for something more sensible in the > real world.  Therefore, once again, I am seeking input from the > collective wisdom of this esteemed group. > > The simple, but (to me) major drawbacks of the Mac (not to mention > their proprietary impositions that seem to be even worse than M$), are > as follows: > > 1. The keyboard layout that forces that screwy Mac/Apple X key on > users in lieu of simply using the CTRL key ... and then positioning > that weird mac key in such a terribly awkward place. > > 2. Putting the "FN" key where the "CTRL" key should be (and is on > every other computer keyboard) is really stupid.  Bottom-farthest left > is the *only* place (from an anatomically logical standpoint) where > the CTRL key should be (imho). > > 3. Failure to totally eliminate the "caps-lock" key (of course I guess > all keyboard mfrs still remain guilty of this ridiculous failing, at > this point).  However, I seem to accidentally hit it more on the mac > than on my other keyboards ... I guess because on the mac it seems to > be slightly oversized.  Why?  Duh! > > 4. The absolutely ridiculous limitation of being forced to the bottom > right corner of every window as the *only* way to resize windows. > That might be the most stupid of all Mac contrary-to-all-common-sense > "features."  And apparently no way that I can find to "maximize" a > window. > > 5. The needlessly glitzy but cumbersome "dock." > > 6. The lack of a simple text editor ... one that doesn't force the use > of html or rtf. > > 7. Most of the *nix command-line commands and utilities that I am used > to using do not seem to work on Mac OS-X > > 8. While I like the slot drive rather than a DVD drive that slides > open, I do (not) like having it on the front. Has that changed on > newer models? > > 9. And as for being "intuitive" ... I've tried for a week to get the > hang of using a Mac and almost everything that I am used to doing on > my "normal" computers, I find almost impossible to figure out on a > mac.  The 529-page "How to do everything Mac" doesn't ... and if mac > is so "intuitive" why should it need a 529-page book to explain how to > use it? > > In any case, I am now looking for a new (or used) laptop to replace > this mac and get back to the real world. > > One that intrigues me is a new, single-core, lower-powered Asus that > claims to have 8+ hours of battery life.  It is also the only one I > have seen so far that has lighted keys (the letters light up on the > keys like the mac -- one of mac's truly great features).  That seems > to me to be a very desirable feature.  Only problem is that that > feature seems to be available only in a larger format Asus unit with a > number keypad (that I do not want). > > So what do y'all recommend? > > I like the slot drive (on the right side), built-in camera, lighted > keys, lightest and thinnest possible, a "normal" keyboard (no 10- > pad), at least a 15" screen, preferrably matte not glossy, and long > battery life. I want to install Linux as the base OS and use whatever > virtual ware will allow me to install win98 (I do *not* want the > all-intrusive, pop-up crazy winXP). > > PS: Anyone interested in trading for or buying a 15" macbook with 4-gig of ram? > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. Stephen --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss