Mac eye for the Linux guy?

I'm a Unix sysadmin (Linux, Solaris, *BSD) who has been running Linux
at home since about 1998. While I'm actually quite happy with Linux on
my desktop, I'm irritated at the lack of support for mobile hardware,
and more importantly, I now have several applications which I'd like to
use, and which are totally unavailable for Linux.

I mean, it's a great OS, but I'm a photo nut, recently converted to
digital, and I have no color management options. There's also no video
teleconfrencing support, the international input support under Linux
isn't so hot, and...well, you get the picture. I also travel a lot,
and frankly, I like the idea of having a laptop with a metal case, and
the AppleCare plan gives me support even when I'm in Tokyo, so if my
screen dies when I'm overseas, I've got options. Dell doesn't do that.

Of course, Windows is not an option -- the Windows trolls need not
apply. I was a Microsoft boy from the days of DOS 2.0, used Windows on
my home machines up to Windows95, and although XP Pro and 2003 aren't
*horrible* operating systems, expecially when compared to their
predecessors, they're still crap next to Unix. Oh, and I need to run a
pile of Unix software as well, so Windows is right out.

Enter OS X. My questions are many, hopefully answers are as well:

What factors should I be aware of in making the switch? I usually use
WindowMaker as my windowmanager, on account of being able to do just
about everything with the keyboard -- can I still do this in OSX? What
about being able to modify the system configuration from the command
line; moreover, how usable is OSX from the shell? Are there any decent
programs supporting multiple virtual desktops (e.g., I've got five
desktops in my present X session, each with different apps running)?

The system I'm considering is a PowerBook 12" SuperDrive, with an extra
gig of RAM ordered from Crucial (at half the price Apple wants). I've
heard of problems with the burn speed of the SuperDrive -- how true are
these? Can I install a third-party hard drive (e.g., 7200RPM vs. the
stock 5400) and get OSX to work with it? Finally, this is a desktop
replacement, and I hate 'extended desktops' -- can I get the little
PowerBook to run an external CRT at a high resolution (1280x1024) in
'mirroring' mode?

Thanks-in-advance!

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What is a MVP?
    ... I made no claim about my person other than I worked as support for Unix ... Windows is like a platform. ... Do I consider you to be yet another Linux troll?.. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: Windows 98 box is owned
    ... even though I still have to convert my wife and parents over to Linux, ... > longer have support in the future. ... Windows PC's require a lot of overhead to keep ... >>2) Install ZoneAlarm. ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: Mac eye for the Linux guy?
    ... While I'm actually quite happy with Linux on my desktop, I'm irritated at the lack of support for mobile hardware, and more importantly, I now have several applications which I'd like to use, and which are totally unavailable for Linux. ... I was a Microsoft boy from the days of DOS 2.0, used Windows on my home machines up to Windows95, and although XP Pro and 2003 aren't *horrible* operating systems, expecially when compared to their predecessors, they're still crap next to Unix. ... desktops in my present X session, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Ive dumped Linux and moved to Windows XP.
    ... > Presumably Windows own 'Add/Remove programmes' does not qualify? ... is that 3rd party support is king. ... apps at a time when everyone else kept their systems proprietary. ... And no, linux doesn't fulfill all of these requirements, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Ive dumped Linux and moved to Windows XP.
    ... > Presumably Windows own 'Add/Remove programmes' does not qualify? ... is that 3rd party support is king. ... apps at a time when everyone else kept their systems proprietary. ... And no, linux doesn't fulfill all of these requirements, ...
    (alt.os.linux)
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