[linux-audio-user] To MacBook or not to MacBook, that's the question

Pieter Palmers pieterp at joow.be
Fri Mar 16 12:41:28 EDT 2007


Johannes Mario Ringheim wrote:
> Pieter Palmers wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I'm considering to buy a new laptop, and a message some time ago on
>>  the list regarding a comparison between Dell and MacBook made me 
>> reconsider my stance towards MacBook. The difference between the
>> price for comparable systems is indeed not that big, especially not
>> since they offer a 20% reduction if you become 'student developer'.
>> On top of that, getting OSX attracts me more than getting Vista ;).
>> 
>> 
>> So now I am considering getting one of these top-notch macbook
>> pro's, but I'd like to inform myself beforehand. My basic
>> requirement list: * runs linux with all hardware supported *
>> ruggedness (I carry it around everywhere) * support quality
>> (Apple's guarantee doesn't seem as good as the one from Dell)
>> 
>> Specific questions: * what kind of problems will I see when I want
>> to install Fedora on it? * are all interrupts routed to the same
>> line (as in the mini's)? I don't want IRQ sharing between the SATA
>> controller and the audio card/firewire controller, ... * how about
>> the ATI x1600 graphics card?
> 
> Doesn't the macbook have the intel 945..?
>> 
>> Are there any MacBook pro owners on the list that care to answer my
>>  questions and/or give a general feedback (feedforward?) on the
>> MacBook?
> 
> Have you checked on linuxlaptops: 
> http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/apple.html 
> http://desrt.mcmaster.ca/macbook.xhtml (Ubuntu)
> 
> Generally it seems they're getting stuff to work, but it might not be
>  *the* laptop to run gnu/linux on.
> 

Your links got me to this:
[http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/107/macbook-pro-noise-update]

 > ...
> Update: People are starting to record their MacBook Pro noises, and
> to be honest they are usually not representative of what it really
> feels like to be in a quiet room with the problem worming itself into
> your brain. But this post by Paul Turner includes an interesting
> analysis of the sound showing up in Logic (Apple’s own pro audio
> recording software) with no microphone plugged in. He observed that
> the subtle but insanity-inducing “CPU whine/twitter” actually shows
> up in a Logic recording even when it’s not audible through the
> speakers. Interesting, indeed. I feel really bad for Apple. I love
> Apple and I don’t want to see this machine turn into a complete audio
> lemon. I also don’t want to regret my purchase, since I’m interested
> in home recording myself. This is just one more downer for what is
> otherwise a great machine.
 > ...

Now that doesn't sound too good...

Pieter




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