Linux

[Chris Linder]

What would be the closest thing to an apple with Linux. Another words I want to get a feel of an apple with out having to pay 10000000000000000000000$
What copy of Linux would best serve well for this...




Thanks

[Force Flow]

Ubuntu or Mint seem to be the distros of choice.

[Chris Linder]

Thanks
Iv tried abonto once. I think Ill go with Mint this time

[wamwam]

If you want to try a few distros out before deciding on installing one, definitely check out this article on setting up a bootable flash drive for linux. The boot loader included can use any distro of linux you prefer, so its pretty handy if you are indecisive about it.

[kilgoretrout]

There are a lot of gnome themes out there that mimic the OSX GUI with varying levels of success. Basically, you will need a graphics card with linux 3D support and will install compiz, emerald theme manager and the cairo dock application. Here's an example of one such attempt:

http://maketecheasier.com/turn-your-...ard/2009/01/08

If you google "ubuntu OSX theme" you will see many more.

Your main problem will be with your graphics card as linux support for ATI graphics card is well behind Nvidia. For that reason, I haven't used ATI graphics cards for some time and am therefore not that familiar with current level of linux ATI support. I would recommend installing ubuntu again and see if you can get decent 3D support for your card. Ubuntu won't install the proprietary ATI drivers by default but you can do so after the initial installation by going to System>Administration>Hardware Drivers which will tell you if there is a proprietary ATI driver available for your card and offer to download and install it for you if there is one. You will need that proprietary driver to get any kind of decent 3D support which you will need for the GUI effects necessary to mimic OSX.

[inflames988]

Ubuntu is widely used for a variety of reasons. Mint is along the same lines. Both are easy enough to use.

If you really want an apple and are worried about price, I reccomend shopping Apple's refurb store and/or checking http://dealmac.com/ under the "systems" section - they often have discounted mac laptops as low as 600-700, and also good deals on mac minis and iMac's. I personally bought my mac new, using a student discount, and sold the free iPod that came with it. There are a few ways to avoid paying full price on these