Hi,
I'm new to Linux myself but, we were thinking about purchasing a laptop for our son's graduation. His career is in graphic arts. He was looking @ apple laptops, but I suggested he consider using a regular laptop w/Linux.
His question was if he would be able to run his adobe apps in Linux? Could some give us some advice? Thanks

Hi.

If he's doing graphics, he's probably going to be using a Mac at work anyway, so I'd get a MacBook every time.

Dave

Another way of getting round problems with Adobe products, which are only for Mac or Win, is to use Crossover Linux, which basically says to your Adobe products that they are run under Win, when they are in fact in Linux. It is possible, but it takes a while to figure out. I too would recommend buying an Apple.

I do not recommend using WINE or Crossover because they are not reliable and the files over time will become corrupt. Mac OS X is based on BSD and I suggest it to use popular programs. Mac OS X is far more superior than Windows, so there is nothing wrong using it.

The problem with buying an Apple is the one he would be intersted in is a budget problem. The main thing he was concerned about was viruses getting on his laptop and ruining his work. That's why I suggested using Linux os. Thank you all for your input.

All the graphics guys prefer Macs. Adobe apps (as mentioned) won't actually work on Linux, and Windows is for average people.

If your son is into aesthetics, a Mac will fire his imagination. Think different - and, if possible, make your son play back that additional budget...

I'm trying to find a graphics editing suite for Linux that was, if I remember correctly, as nice as Adobe's suite. It sold for around $100. I can't remember it's name or find the link through googling or via LinuxQuestions.org. Does anybody know what it is?

I think it was something like Pixel (not picasa), but I'm not sure...

Thanks!

electrodad, I am assuming that your son is looking at the MacBook Pro. I suggest for a high school graduation, that you get nothing more than a MacBook. For a college graduation, your son should be paying the majority of the desire or dream notebook computer and it is up to you to decide to pay a small portion of the price. This is only a suggestion and not how to parent your son.

From the specs of previous and latest notbook models from Apple. A Macbook is an upgrade from a iBook. A MacBook Pro is a downgrade of a PowerBook. The MacBook Pro uses ATI graphics which makes lousy software for just about any OS. Only in Linux that the ATI hardware runs reliable and stable using 3rd party developers like Xorg, Gatos, kernel.

sosborne, try gimp, sodipodi, cinelerra cvs. There is also Flash for Linux and Dreamweaver for Linux. It seems that Dreamweaver for Linux is still on the drawing board.

Electro, thanks! I'll go check these out...

There is Inkspace which is similar to Illustrator and Freehand. Xara which is close to Corel Draw and Gimp which is close to Photoshop.
Of course the best solution for a graphics guy would be defenitely a Mac.