Possible bridges to whatever you decide to get:

- Use Ubuntu on VirtualBox on your Mac (yes, I did see the using 'linux in a non-server computer' concern -- thus the bridge qualification).

- Depending on the issues and languages you're using, use in-language package-managers. For example, we have a library of python repository code with three python-package dependences: fcrepo, lxml, and solrpy. Using 'pip' (a python package-manager), we've created a simple requirements file, so that, when I run, on my mac, a pip-install command for our repo_utils, it automatically web-downloads and installs those packages if necessary (even specific versions if desired). And this'll work the same on your Mac, VBox, and a possible eventual linux laptop.

-Birkin

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Birkin James Diana
Programmer, Digital Technologies
Brown University Library
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On Dec 14, 2011, at 12:54 PM, Chris Fitzpatrick wrote:

> Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. I know this would be this list to ask. 
> 
> Sounds like Ubuntu is the overwhelming favorite. In the past when I've used a linux in a non-server computer, there are always some annoying problems... things like the laptop not waking from sleep mode, power consumption problems, or the microphone not working.  
> 
> So, I wondering about specific laptop brands/models and linux distributions/versions that people have found to work really well. A Dell or ThinkPad with Ubuntu seems to be the popular choice? 
> 
> But, yeah, I know i started it, but I'm going to avoid going deeper into my opinions on Apple vs. Windows vs. Linux and the implications vis-à-vis productivity, copyright, social justice, and the plight of the polar bear. If only out of concern that introducing this discussion might cause the poor mail server at ND to meltdown…..
> 
> b,chris.