Install Ubuntu on MacBook Pro

What is the preferred way to install Ubuntu on a MacBook Pro?

I have a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X 10.5. I need a Linux environment some times. So what is the best way to achieve that?

1. Make it dual boot? (but I don't know if that is possible with a MacBook)
2. Install VirtualBox and then put Ubuntu on top of it? (But I am not sure if this configuration will be slow, so I need a Linux environment for coding, so it needs to do compiling and debugging and stuff).

Solution 1:

I have installed Ubuntu 9.04 in a VirtualBox on my MacBook Pro for exactly the same reason (to try out MonoDevelop). The installation is fairly trivial.

First, download the Ubuntu Live CD and VirtualBox. In VirtualBox, create a virtual machine and enable mounting of the CD for the VM. Boot the VM into the Ubuntu Live CD. From there you can very easily install Ubuntu on the VM.

Of course, to allow for a smooth user experience you need to be able being generous with the resources available to the VM. However, as the whole process of getting Ubuntu to run doesn't take much effort it is always worth a try.

Solution 2:

I have never tried installing Ububtu on my MacBook Pro, but you can find some relatively easy guides to use in Installing Ubuntu on a MacBook Pro.

Solution 3:

You can dual boot Mac OS X and Ubuntu. The way I did it was to install Ubuntu on a separate hard drive. Do NOT install the bootloader on the hard drive Mac OS X is on. I would highly recommend installing on a separate hard drive. Install the bootloader on that hard drive and then install rEFIt. This worked perfectly for me on my MacBook with Mac OS X 10.6.5.

Solution 4:

See Installing Ubuntu on a MacBook Pro.

I've had no experience running Ubuntu as a guest on a Mac OS X host, but I'm sure assigning the guest anything over 256 MB of RAM and 64 MB of Video RAM should allow it to run fine.