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I don't like how locked down OS X is, but Windows is turning in to an absolute train wreck. I would probably use a frozen in time Windows 7 indefinitely, but f

I don't like how locked down OS X is, but Windows is turning in to an absolute train wreck. I would probably use a frozen in time Windows 7 indefinitely, but for the first time in my life, I'm seriously considering moving to desktop Linux.

wayneftw 6y ago
I recommend Manjaro with the default desktop environment XFCE. It's a rolling release, so you always get up-to-date software. Installing software is easier than any other OS (just use the Add/Remove app not the command line). I have tried desktop Linux for years and I never really got an effortlessly stable and worry free system until I used that distro. I've been running it on one laptop and two desktop workstations now for over two years. It never interrupts me, I update when I want to and it's based on Arch so it's got excellent documentation.
- reitzensteinm 6y ago
  Thanks for the recommendation!
ehutch79 6y ago
What exactly are you doing that macOS being locked down is a problem? Despite the fact you can turn things like SIP off if you need to? I ask because most of the time the answers are vague or sketchy. There are legit answers. However, usually it's along the lines of installing a game they torrented that's trying to load keylogger.kext and failing. or 'I just don't like it, so it shouldn't exist' Those lock down parts are stopping normal people, who arn't well versed in say... not installing things from links sent from root@printer.cpa-lawyer.br claiming to be their companies ceo.
- charleslmunger 6y ago
  Not the op, but I was shocked to see how much effort was required to disable mouse acceleration on a mac. Dragging the slider to 0 doesn't do it. Editing the plist doesn't do it. You need to install some custom mouse driver with kernel extensions to have 1:1 mouse movement.
  - ehutch79 6y ago
    What's the use case here?
    - reitzensteinm 6y ago
      This is the kind of thing I mean, though. The Windows UI is shockingly tweakable. You can buy programs to do all sorts of things, e.g. multi monitor assistants. With OS X, Apple's way is fantastic, but if you want to step outside it you're in trouble. The Unix underlying OS X was strictly superior, although now there's WSL it's much less of an advantage.
      - ehutch79 6y ago
        Yeah, but what is the use case here? I mean, the author pointed out that it's possible to do, but who needs to do this and why?
        reitzensteinm 6y ago
        I don't know. I think GP is nuts. But when I have my own weird use case I expect people to think I'm nuts, too.
        ehutch79 6y ago
        That's kind of the point though? It's nuts, but you can still manage to do it. Maybe a handful of people would ever actually need to do it, so why would it be a default, or even an option people might accidently set?
        reitzensteinm 6y ago
        Right, it's a different philosophy. I think the OS X way is on the whole better, it's just not my preference.

wayneftw 6y ago

I recommend Manjaro with the default desktop environment XFCE. It's a rolling release, so you always get up-to-date software. Installing software is easier than any other OS (just use the Add/Remove app not the command line). I have tried desktop Linux for years and I never really got an effortlessly stable and worry free system until I used that distro. I've been running it on one laptop and two desktop workstations now for over two years. It never interrupts me, I update when I want to and it's based on Arch so it's got excellent documentation.

reitzensteinm 6y ago
Thanks for the recommendation!

ehutch79 6y ago

What exactly are you doing that macOS being locked down is a problem? Despite the fact you can turn things like SIP off if you need to? I ask because most of the time the answers are vague or sketchy. There are legit answers. However, usually it's along the lines of installing a game they torrented that's trying to load keylogger.kext and failing. or 'I just don't like it, so it shouldn't exist' Those lock down parts are stopping normal people, who arn't well versed in say... not installing things from links sent from root@printer.cpa-lawyer.br claiming to be their companies ceo.

charleslmunger 6y ago
Not the op, but I was shocked to see how much effort was required to disable mouse acceleration on a mac. Dragging the slider to 0 doesn't do it. Editing the plist doesn't do it. You need to install some custom mouse driver with kernel extensions to have 1:1 mouse movement.
- ehutch79 6y ago
  What's the use case here?
  - reitzensteinm 6y ago
    This is the kind of thing I mean, though. The Windows UI is shockingly tweakable. You can buy programs to do all sorts of things, e.g. multi monitor assistants. With OS X, Apple's way is fantastic, but if you want to step outside it you're in trouble. The Unix underlying OS X was strictly superior, although now there's WSL it's much less of an advantage.
    - ehutch79 6y ago
      Yeah, but what is the use case here? I mean, the author pointed out that it's possible to do, but who needs to do this and why?
      - reitzensteinm 6y ago
        I don't know. I think GP is nuts. But when I have my own weird use case I expect people to think I'm nuts, too.
        ehutch79 6y ago
        That's kind of the point though? It's nuts, but you can still manage to do it. Maybe a handful of people would ever actually need to do it, so why would it be a default, or even an option people might accidently set?
        reitzensteinm 6y ago
        Right, it's a different philosophy. I think the OS X way is on the whole better, it's just not my preference.