[ale] Macbook Pro 15" or Thinkpad W500?

[Jeff Hubbs]

I picked up a MacBook Pro about a year and a half ago.  I have been 
working primarily with Linux since about 2000. 

The MacBook has been, to me, far less obtrusive and uncooperative than 
any Windows laptop would have been.  And, if I want to do bash shell 
stuff or fire up an X server, all of that is there.  What I can't speak 
to in your list is Juniper VPN. 

I carry my MacBook around fairly routinely and use it daily.  No 
hardware problems.  Little things like the magnetically-attached power 
supply cord and the backlit keyboard have shown to be more than just 
gimmicks. 

IPod and iPhone support are, well, as good as can be had. 

I would not have bought a Windows laptop in any case (the one I carry 
around for work due to the VPN is all the reminder I need), but I didn't 
want to go through all the hardware-compatibility wickets again like I 
did with my AMD64 eMachines laptop from '04.  The MacBook Pro was an 
expensive yet very effective path forward.

Jeff

Doctor Who wrote:
> I'm in the market for a new laptop and am considering either a Macbook
> Pro 15" with OS X Leopard or Thinkpad W500 with Linux.  I'm really
> torn!
>
> I know several on the list have Mac notebooks, so I'm looking for some feedback.
>
> At this point, I see the following advantages for the MacBook:
>
> * Very well polished user interface
> * Support for a lot of commercial software
> * Good support for iPods (which I have) and iPhone (which I may get)
> * Good support with my corporate environment (Exchange server, Juniper VPN)
> * Machine is aesthetically pleasing and light weight for 15" machine
> * I like the MobileMe synching capiblity to keep calendars and such together
> * You can install Linux on the Macbook, but can't install OS X on the Thinkpad
>
> What I don't necessarily like with the Macbook:
>
> * Price (about a grand more than the similarly spec'd Lenovo Thinkpad
> W500)..ouch!
> * Being a Linux guy I feel a little odd going with Mac OS X
> * Not as much software available for the Mac (I hear Fink doesn't work
> all that well / poor stability)
> * Not as much 'control' of the OS as you get with Linux & proprietary hardware.
>
> So what are the thoughts on the list?  How do the Mac laptop owners
> like theirs?  If you considered a Mac and didn't get one, why not?
>
> Thanks all!
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