[KLUG Members] Question On Linux Friendly laptop

[Greg Mason]

> OK, just checking because I read a review of OS/X where the reviewer
> said that he missed being able to scroll with his wheel mouse.  The
> reviewer was a first time Mac user and was probably misinformed.
>
> My boss has been hinting around about getting me a new laptop here at
> work, and I'm debating between an IBM Thinkpad and a PowerBook.  I 
> guess
> I can always run Linux on the PowerBook if I need it for some reason.
>
> I'm also considering buying my own Mac-mini as a toy since I've been
> wanting to play with OS/X.  I haven't decided if I want to buy one now
> or wait until OS/X 10.4 comes out ...

How long can you wait? OS X (not OS/X) 10.4 Tiger is due out in the 
first half of 2005. If you want one NOW, then go get it, but if you can 
wait until mid-summer-ish, then do so. 10.4 will be worth the wait 
(trust me)...

If you want a PowerBook, now is as good a time as ever to jump in. The 
current line of PowerBooks has been through a few revisions, so they 
are pretty rock-solid. Also, due to the technical problems of 
shoe-horning a Really Hot Chip (tm) into a tiny place, I would avoid 
the PowerBook G5 until the first batch has it round of problems (which 
it will) and warranty repairs.  The reason for this is that the new 
chip will be hot, yet Apple will undoubtedly refuse to make a thicker, 
bulkier laptop to keep with it's award-winning industrial design.

The latest speed bump (to 1.67 Ghz) also had a price drop. The thing I 
like about my PowerBook is how everything "Just Works." It's nice when 
you want a Samba, FTP, or Web server for a temporary task, you can turn 
a server on with one click.

-Greg