Strange Symphonies Don’t worry, be happy

Leopard vs Gutsy Gibbon

So with my laptop in the state of no return, I have been pondering what my next machine will be. Of course a machine would be empty without its operating system!

Repairs alone would cost more than 1700 MYR, so rather than dumping that money on an old machine, I thought I'd invest in a new one. I've been looking around the market, but my eyes have been fixated on the low end Macbook. I don't really need Apple hardware, but after comparing it with the IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads, that are currently available, the Macbook provides a better bang for the buck!

What are the extra benefits of getting a Macbook? Leopard! (well soonish, its only Tiger for now)

Rumors have it that Apple is just about to release (somewhere around October 26) their update to their operating system, dubbed Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard, featuring more bling. Meanwhile the Ubuntu community have also been hard at work on their next version 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, to be released on October 18th!

Sure I could just buy the Apple hardware and dump Ubuntu on it, but Mac OSX is oh so blingy, though Ubuntu is also very blingy with Compiz!

So my options?

• Wait till the end of October, or beginning of November to get Leopard preloaded on a Macbook
• Get the Macbook now and load Leopard (or whatever comes next) later
• Purchase a non Apple laptop, and use Ubuntu

Perhaps someone would like to donate me a laptop? It will most definitely make me decide on my next operating system. Please.

Or perhaps I should just consider another brand...Dell, HP? Any recommendations? Definitely not Acer though.