Is there any other reason to get a macbook other than it is fashionable anymore.

[Vanarak19]

Im surprised no one has mention VMware fusion with the Mac.

For what you'll be using linux for, thatll probably do 99.9% of what you want it to.

If any machine will do, you just have to look at whats next most important to you, and we cant make that decision for you.

For me, it was OSX and screen Resolution, thus the new MBP. For you in may be durability (4 yrs), size, stock speed, etc... You gotta decide.

 

[Outrigger]

To the OP:

I feel that you're asking this type of question in a mac forum and you should expect more of biased answers toward getting a macbook/pro.

I do believe that for you, a thinkpad will more than suffice if not overkill for your needs. Your needs are so basic that any type of laptop will suit your needs. It also seems that you already have your mind made up about Linux and you're just asking the battery life and reliability of the thinkpad when many people are just trying to convince you to get a Mac.

I have had a thinkpad t60p a couple of years ago and I have to say it is one of the best laptop I have ever owned. the quality, reliability, hardware support, they are all amazing. I also do love their function over form laptop design and retro look. If you don't want attention, the thinkpad sure won't get any from an average person. If you get the bigger battery, I will assure you that it will last you an entire day with juice left over at night depending on which thinkpad you get that is. So make the jump and you won't regret it.

 

[polaris20]

If you're to go the non-Apple route, Lenovo is absolutely the best way to go. They are definitely solid machines, and Linux support is very good on them, driver-wise. The tend to not use the crappy hardware as much as HP or Dell does.

Reliability has been very, very solid for us as well.

That being said, OSX is simply more stable and faster as a desktop/laptop machine, plus the software support is greater.