My Ubuntu Setup
July 6th, 2008
My Desktop
My dual-monitor iMac + 23" Cinema display running Ubuntu Linux 8.04
My current setup is a 24″ Apple iMac with a 23″ Cinema Display running Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) and OS X Leopard in a dual-boot setup. It works incredibly well. The installation of Ubuntu Linux was very easy and quite painless. Everything was supported out of the box except for wireless (Ubuntu does not yet see the wireless card). But the computer is wired to the internet so no problem there.
While I had tried Ubuntu on another computer before, this was the first time I had tried getting Ubuntu to work on an extended desktop. I knew from my first experience with Ubuntu that it does not like ATI video cards so I anticipated this was going to be a problem. At first Ubuntu only mirrored my monitors, so I had to install the ATI Catalyst Control Center to enable the extended desktop. This was a bit more tiresome than I would have liked, but it worked in the end. There are not as many extended-desktop options as on OS X Leopard, but then again I do not need any of those other options.
After only minor tweaking and configuring Ubuntu Linux 8.04 is running very well on my 24″ iMac and I use Ubuntu daily 
My Laptop
My 13" MacBook running Ubuntu Netbook Remix
My other computer is a 13″ MacBook laptop. While Ubuntu installed flawlessly I did have to work a bit to get wireless internet. After compiling and installing the necessary drivers it has been working great ever since. This little laptop loves Ubuntu; its battery easily lasts 3 hours while working on this blog at a cafe (Ubuntu 8.04 is very energy efficient.) I recently installed the Ubuntu Netbook Remix to better utilize its smaller screen real estate.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
So why after paying so dearly, did you decide to not use OS X?
I’m new to your site, so if its on here forgive my asking.. Thanks!
v
July 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Well, I still use OS X. I have to. I have alot invested into Mac OS X, such as programming ActionScript 3 in Adobe Flash CS3, maintaining all my Apple Pages documents, my Aperture library, etc.
My experiment here is to see just how much of my computing life Ubuntu can take over. Why? Curiosity. And education. I wanted to know what all this talk of linux was about, so I tried it. And I love it.
So far, the only thing I absolutely cannot do on Linux is compile ActionScript 3 code for my Flash CS3 apps. Adobe Flash CS3 does not yet run under Wine, but the future looks promising. And I have not yet looked into Adobe Flex for Linux, but anticipate that I will shortly.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thanks.. I’m in the same boat to some degree. I’m a Computer geek and I have put both of my teens on Fedora, so that I don’t have to “Admin” the spyware/virus nightmare. Everything they need is on the system for Free.
Gimp, OpenOffice, F-spot photo, etc.. Good luck with your run, I have bookmarked your site to keep up with your findings!
July 18th, 2008 at 6:21 am
You have an excellent website. I like the reviews that you’ve posted. I’m an ex Mac OSX user too. I decided to switch to Linux and eventually chose the Ubuntu disto after I realized my PowerPC was ready for retirement. I really enjoyed your article about photo management software as I’m into photography. I hope that some day Adobe will make native applications for Linux. What made you decide to confirm your iMac to Ubuntu?
July 27th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hi, I installed ubuntu 8.04 in iMac too. Sound and wireless does not work out of box. I followed https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Macbook_Air#Wireless%20Setup to setup wireless and it works like a charm.
But my sound is still not working. Did you install some driver to make it work?