I have soon several tutorials about how to install GNU/Linux on a Mac, usually the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I even know people how would buy a Mac to install a Linux on it… Why? I don’t understand them.
The advantage of Macs (and the disadvantage) is that they are sold as a complete unit, theoretically perfectly integrating the hardware and the software. The software has been optimized (theoretically) to run on a specified hardware, and viceversa. Therefore, an Apple computer always is shipped with the corresponding operating system, you cannot buy a “virgin” Mac. Then, the question is: why do you replace the Apple OS?
The simple answer is: I prefer Linux.
Ok, but if you prefer Linux… why don’t you get a laptop from another brand? Nowadays, Macs use Intel processors and other hardware components that can be found in other laptops, they have no exclusive parts. Additionally, due to the fact that it is a hardware+software product, the price is higher than on a virgin laptop of any other manufacturer.
Maybe you like Macs because they are cool? I bet that for the same price, you can get laptops also cool. No the same type of coolness, but very sweet to eyes, slim and elegant. I hope that this last sentence can be understand by more people apart from me XD.
So, with these arguments on the table… why you would install a Linux on a Mac?
It’s not a matter of why, but of being able to install it! (it happens the same on any other gadget, iPod, Linksys routers, nslu2, …)
I will tell you why I bought my macbook pro, and it is because I find that the apple-linux community is huge compared to others thus you can find more support. The fact that there’s only a few choices MacBook Pro or non-pro and just about 4 types of them, makes it easier to find help on an specific laptop, a thing that didn’t happen when I had my vaio, manily because there are just too many “series” and each one has another number to identify the computer and then another letter and so on … it was impossible to make my FN keys work for at least a year and it certainly wasn’t easy to install afterwards. The fn keys on my macbook pro worked from the first day, just had to install pommed from the repositories!
Those are just a few of my motivations, as you can see some of them aren’t big choices, but you can always think that at least, your computer appears on TV each day :D (Dell’s also do, but not the laptops :P)
I understand the “geek” part, about how we enjoy installing Linux to every gadget :) . I have even installed it on a Xbox, at the beginning of Catux[1]. Additionally, we can get additionally functionalities from a gadget with Linux.
Respecting the second part of your comment, I’ve been impressed that the Linux-on-Mac community was so big, I didn’t know about it! So, if running a Linux on a Mac is so easy and you can find better support than on another laptops, then it makes sense to me.
What a pity that Apple doesn’t sell virgin MacBooks without Leopard :)
[1] http://catux.org/fotos/index.php?list=16