MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - The painful side of the mobile bleeding edge

jharker · 11-05-2007, 12:24 PM

I would generally agree with previous posters: Macs are good when you want to easily and quickly do only what they're designed to do, and if you want more power and versatility, choose Linux.

Specifically, choose Ubuntu. It supports most hardware automatically and comes with a nice simple UI by default, but still has all the power of Linux available in the background.

I don't know how well Ubuntu works with Tablet PCs (it works pretty well with my Thinkpad G41), but as I was reading the problems the first poster had with his laptop, I kept thinking to myself, "ah, Ubuntu doesn't have that problem... or that problem... or that problem..."

Of course, many people have to use Windows because they're locked into software that's only available for Windows. If you're one of those people, you still might try a Windows emulator in Linux, though. And some of that software (i.e. Photoshop) is available for Macs, so now might be the time to switch to a Mac.

I haven't tried any Linux-based portable devices (except the iLiad, which I like), but based on rlauzon's suggestion, I would...

11-05-2007, 12:24 PM	#14
jharker Developer Posts: 345 Karma: 3473 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Device: iRex iLiad v1, Blackberry Tour, Kindle DX, iPad.	I would generally agree with previous posters: Macs are good when you want to easily and quickly do only what they're designed to do, and if you want more power and versatility, choose Linux. Specifically, choose Ubuntu. It supports most hardware automatically and comes with a nice simple UI by default, but still has all the power of Linux available in the background. I don't know how well Ubuntu works with Tablet PCs (it works pretty well with my Thinkpad G41), but as I was reading the problems the first poster had with his laptop, I kept thinking to myself, "ah, Ubuntu doesn't have that problem... or that problem... or that problem..." Of course, many people have to use Windows because they're locked into software that's only available for Windows. If you're one of those people, you still might try a Windows emulator in Linux, though. And some of that software (i.e. Photoshop) is available for Macs, so now might be the time to switch to a Mac. I haven't tried any Linux-based portable devices (except the iLiad, which I like), but based on rlauzon's suggestion, I would...