Dedicated Ubuntu computer

[sashafklein]

Some text would be helpful re how necessary a Ubuntu computer is, and why. As in, am I creating a huge security hole if I use a fresh MacOS install instead? Do I need to buy a new (used) computer? What concerns does this address?

[sashafklein]

I want to resurface this. As someone going through this guide, getting a dedicated Ubuntu computer has been the biggest cost and pain. At first I tried installing it on cheap Windows laptops that I bought from (and then returned to) Best Buy. (Ran into driver issues on 2 different computers. I'm relatively techy, but this was nontrivial.) Ended up ordering a preinstalled Ubuntu computer without a webcam from Ebay, because there were no cheapish ones with webcams. The webcam I bought along with it didn't work to scan QR codes, though, and so I returned that and bought a dedicated QR scanner. But that isn't treated as a webcam, and wouldn't get opened by the software to scan PBSTs. Which makes QR scanning non-functional.

Perhaps I could find a webcam that reads QR codes better (or perhaps it's some issue with the computer). But it strikes me that it would be much easier to just use my mac, which reads QR codes perfectly. Without QR reading, I'm pushed to use a microSD card for everything, which is less secure, no? Factor in the significant added cost and complexity of having a totally separate laptop for all this, and this seems like a rough tradeoff to me.

Am I wrong in thinking that the Ubuntu step isn't particularly important for security outside of generating the SeedPicker 24th word? Why not just use Tails on a Mac for this? The other hardware wallets never share their private keys with the software on the computer, no? Are there other security concerns @mflaxman ?

If there are specific ways in which the Ubuntu laptop is helpful/important for security, I'd be happy to add them to the guide. On a personal level, I'd love to know if I'm missing an important reason for this computer, or if the security is fine/excellent without.

[mflaxman]

There are 3 reasons for Ubuntu:

1. Linux is far more secure than closed-source OS's like Mac and Windows, and Ubuntu is the most popular (and arguably easiest-for-newbies) distro.
2. Developers use it heavily so it has the most compatibility with bitcoin tools
3. Linux scares off the people who are most likely to shoot themselves in the foot, although as these tools improve that may become a bug instead of a feature.

I'd be open to adding a "why ubuntu?" note, I'm just trying to avoid making the guide longer than needed. Advanced users can already figure it out on Mac/Windows.