Linux on a Macbook

I'm about to get a MB (CAN'T WAIT!!) and wanted to install Linux on it (dual boot). Just had some questions. I want a VERY lightweight, fast, minimalist distro, which could hopefully boot off the HD and run completely from RAM. All I really want to do with it is surf the internet and type up word documents (and show it off ;D ); I can use OSX for the rest of my tasks.

-Does anyone have a suggestion for such a distro?
-How would I dual-boot OSX and Linux?


Thanks!

I would check out Ubuntu distro. I believe there is still some issues getting the airport card to work.

if you want it to run compleatly from ram then all you need is a live disk. You can get a live vershion of ubuntu or you can even get ****small linux or puppy linux that runs off a pendrive. No need to duell boot.

you may also want to look into the virtualization method
I run ubuntu using VmWare fusion and it does not run too bad

I'm running Ubuntu/Gnome on my desktop now and it is a HOG.

I'd rather not have a liveCD or USB drive boot because I'd like to keep my settings (I have special network settings at home and at school that must manually be configured, for example) stored. Also, I'd like the benefit of being able to go from OFF to desktop in as little time as possible.

As a VMWare user, I have to recommend that method. A, the boot times are even faster, as you can suspend a session rather than have to reboot it each time.

If you suspend your guest OS and sleep your laptop, you can go from backpack to fully operational in something less than 90 seconds, regardless of your guest OS. And the advantage of running one of the small bootable linux distros in VMWare is that you can save the relevant config files to your host OS and never have to sweat your network settings - just copy them back in and restart the network service.

Hope that helps
P

I was kind of hoping to have something that will boot in less than 10 seconds...

What, if I may ask bluntly, is the point of running Linux inside of OSX? That must take a tremendous amount of resources.

On my desktop, I am dual-booting Ubuntu and Puppy. Ubuntu takes about 25 seconds to load; minimalist Puppy takes 8. I was hoping for similiar performance from the Macbook setup. I guess I'll just go with Puppy. Now my question is how do I set up a bootloader to let me pick either OSX or Linux?

lkwinnipesaukee said:

I was kind of hoping to have something that will boot in less than 10 seconds...

What, if I may ask bluntly, is the point of running Linux inside of OSX? That must take a tremendous amount of resources.

On my desktop, I am dual-booting Ubuntu and Puppy. Ubuntu takes about 25 seconds to load; minimalist Puppy takes 8. I was hoping for similiar performance from the Macbook setup. I guess I'll just go with Puppy. Now my question is how do I set up a bootloader to let me pick either OSX or Linux?

Click to expand...

You could check the dual boot guides on the ubuntu forums. Then install a program called rEFIt, and it will ask you which OS you would like to boot everytime you power on your macbook. However, I did this with ubuntu, and didn't need to use refit because the option key worked for me. Granted, I did use bootcamp to make a windows partition and then installed linux on that (that method is in one of the howtos I found on the ubuntu forums)

Good Luck!

I dual boot ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon (7.10) on my MacBook with no problems whatsoever, wireless internet, great graphics, etc.... Part of the fun is the slick GUI effects in Linux (compiz-fusion), which as far as I know is a no-go in VMware and Parallels (please correct me if I'm wrong) which is why I run it on a partition of my HD.

Just stick a SSD drive in that sucker:
http://www.ryanblock.com/2007/11/the-first-macbook-pro-with-a-64gb-ssd/

COOL! I think I want one of those guys+an external.

What type of connector does the MB HD use?

lkwinnipesaukee said:

COOL! I think I want one of those guys+an external.

What type of connector does the MB HD use?

Click to expand...

You are talking about spending multiple thousands of dollars on one of those SSDs. My opinion, it's not at all worth it. but hey...

MacBooks use a SATA connection for the Hard Disks.

They look like they're $200 or so for a 16GB on Newegg?

lkwinnipesaukee said:

They look like they're $200 or so for a 16GB on Newegg?

Click to expand...

Ok, wow, I mus've read that wrong, lol. My bad. But 16 gig... not too much storage there...

Yeah, the 64GB one Ryan Block was using runs a grand or two...

Well let's see. I'd install OSX, PS, ID, DW, FL, and then, we'll say a 400MB Linux OS of some sort. The rest (docs, music, photos), I'll throw on an external. I need one anyway (have about 50GB of photos and 200GB of videos... ).

Okay guys, how much space will I need?