this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Question is title.

In the past I've installed many distros on many older PCs, but never used linux properly (although slowly moving over to avoid win11). I've also had a heap of history with windows installs.

A family member has been testing Mint on an old laptop and is going well. This is a trial run before I update their iMac laptop (not sure what one but no longer supposed by OS updates).

I've never booted to an iMac BIOS or installed over top of apple.

  • Is this going to be like installing over windows?
  • What issues can I expect?
  • Should I consider another distro?

Asking here as searching results in AI bullshit websites.

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[–] refalo@programming.dev 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

There's no such thing as an iMac laptop and you don't say which iMac this even is...

[–] GlenRambo@jlai.lu 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Lol. I'm not a Mac person. Airbook? The thin ones.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago

It's called the MacBook Air series and it has 2 types: x86 (with Intel CPUs) and ARM (with Apple M series CPUs). If it's the first type, you can expect stuff to work on almost any of them (except for WiFi which needs installing drivers manually after Linux installation). If it's the second one then you're out of luck because the support for them is very basic.