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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[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I installed EndeavourOS on a 2013 MacBook Air a month ago for a backpack trip. It was light enough to carry around and it was cheap enough I did not worry about it being broken or stolen.

It works fantastically. LibreOffice, Outlook online, Teams, OBS Studio, Distrobox, Docker, IntellijIDEA. I have even played a little Steam on it. The only thing that was not out of the box was the iSight camera and even that was a one line command after install.

The only software that let me down was DaVinci Resolve. The integrated GPU is not supported.

All I did was hold down Option at boot so I could boot off the USB and then I let the installer do the work. Anybody could do it.