Many programs get ported to OSX from linux, and often with a nice front end too. It's also not difficult to get linux programs to compile from source on OSX too.

1. Not really, though you can go with distros that support Mac hardware. Once you learn the "art" of compiling software, you can have all that great, free Linux software for your Mac.

   As an alternative, there's a project out there called "The Fink Project" ( http://fink.sourceforge.net/ ) that's making using Linux software on the Mac easier.

   Otherwise, because OS X is built upon BSD (a Unix derivitive, just as Linux is, per se), you've got many of those great command features available to you. Most *nix Administrators that I know of use Mac laptops for their great hardware and operating system.

2. Professional and personal experience

Tags: linux os, linux game