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Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 9:01 am
by dualstow
I’ve been using Zorin OS lately. Mostly so I can use tiny, text-based no-frills programs like Wordgrinder.
I play with the Terminal once in a while but consider me a fellow no-nothing when it comes to Linux.
Browser use is fine. Firefox, Brave…
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:22 pm
by Jack Jones
Xan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 9:36 pm
Definitely pick a distribution that has KDE, so we can enjoy the fruits of our own Pointedstick's labor.
I concur.
Here's what he said a few years ago:
Pointedstick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 1:40 pm
At the moment my favorite KDE distro is Fedora KDE, which I use myself, as does my wife and most of my KDE dev colleagues. It's a really good distro IMO.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 6:20 pm
by dualstow
Is Fedora a good choice for a first-timer though?
I’ve always wanted to try it, but I needed a new machine to prepare the OS for the old machine, and the plan just fell to the backburner since it was so easy to download and try Zorin.
Mint was also easy. In fact, I first heard about it from PointedStick.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 8:33 am
by I Shrugged
I need to figure out how to back up the existing OS. Although really, it’s of no use and my personal files have already been migrated to my current Mac. I guess I’m stalling.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 10:01 am
by I Shrugged
I tried to make a bootable Linux USB drive from an ISO file this morning. I find the process exhausting. Terminal mode, etc., things don't give the results that the instructions say, etc etc. I hate this crap. I gave up. This should be a super simple process but it's not. Linux will never be ready for prime time if you have to be an expert to install it. (see comments in next post.)
I'm not requesting help. Just venting.
Edit to add, I got the bootable USB made thanks to Youtube and the Balena Etcher app. The Macbook is booted into the Linux distro. Have not done anything yet, just gonna poke around.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 10:48 am
by I Shrugged
The one I'm checking out is MX Linux. It's supposed to be lightweight. I'm going to buy some more USB sticks and load them with other flavors. I don't want to go crazy but I'd like to see a couple more at least. For my limited uses all I really want is easy hardware management/compatibility and a browser.
I do have a Windows laptop that I want to convert as well.
It also appears that MX Linux was a poor choice as far as installation instructions. Mint and others have very nice step by step instructions. MX Linux gives off a vibe of being for experienced users, in many respects.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 3:17 pm
by dualstow
In the past, some machines just weren’t Linux friendly, even if you had a proper ISO file.
Macs were especially hard, while PCs have been more friendly. I think that’s why I gave up on Fedora: I wanted to put it on my old Mac mini. I learned that Fedora could work on that specific model and made the ISO on a new machine as instructed, only to learn that the power cord was lost in a house move.
Look up your macbook model and see if it plays well with Linux.
Now I use Thinkpads which I bought used specifically because they do well with Linux. They’re running better than a noebook PC I once bought from a Linuc PC vendor with Mint preinstalled.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 3:47 pm
by I Shrugged
dualstow wrote: ↑Sat Sep 20, 2025 3:17 pm
In the past, some machines just weren’t Linux friendly, even if you had a proper ISO file.
Macs were especially hard, while PCs have been more friendly. I think that’s why I gave up on Fedora: I wanted to put it on my old Mac mini. I learned that Fedora could work on that specific model and made the ISO on a new machine as instructed, only to learn that the power cord was lost in a house move.
Look up your macbook model and see if it plays well with Linux.
Now I use Thinkpads which I bought used specifically because they do well with Linux. They’re running better than a noebook PC I once bought from a Linuc PC vendor with Mint preinstalled.
My Macbook has an Intel chip, and by all accounts it works well with Linux. There are several videos covering the same model I have, plus adjacent ones. It's kind of a cult classic machine, I gather. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 6:39 pm
by Jack Jones
I Shrugged wrote: ↑Sat Sep 20, 2025 10:01 am
I tried to make a bootable Linux USB drive from an ISO file this morning. I find the process exhausting. Terminal mode, etc., things don't give the results that the instructions say, etc etc. I hate this crap. I gave up. This should be a super simple process but it's not. Linux will never be ready for prime time if you have to be an expert to install it. (see comments in next post.)
I'm not requesting help. Just venting.
Edit to add, I got the bootable USB made thanks to Youtube and the Balena Etcher app. The Macbook is booted into the Linux distro. Have not done anything yet, just gonna poke around.
Eyy, there's some perseverance.
Re: Linux, continued
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 6:43 pm
by dualstow
I Shrugged wrote: ↑Sat Sep 20, 2025 3:47 pm
My Macbook has an Intel chip, and by all accounts it works well with Linux. There are several videos covering the same model I have, plus adjacent ones. It's kind of a cult classic machine, I gather. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.
Sounds good. Don’t give up!