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Realistically how many people buy macbooks to run linux as a primary OS? And subject themselves to mac keyboards to boot.

selectodude 6y ago
Linus Torvalds worked on a MacBook Air for years.
- MegaDeKay 6y ago
  Perhaps, but he has been using an XPS 13 since at least 2016. https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-reveals-his-favorite-programming-laptop/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-reveals-his-fav... https://www.zdnet.com/article/look-whats-inside-linus-torvalds-latest-linux-development-pc/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/look-whats-inside-linus-torval...
ogre_codes 6y ago
Save the 2015-2019 MBP keyboard debacle, Apple's keyboards are among the best on the market. As for how many people run Linux on bare metal on the Mac. That's hard to guess. Likely not a ton. But then... not a ton of anyone runs Linux as their primary desktop/ laptop so that's not surprising.
coldtea 6y ago
>And subject themselves to mac keyboards to boot. The "fiasco keyboard" period aside (which is now 1.5+ years over, and which reliability aside, some do prefer its feel), Mac keyboards have been quite fine. But one famous person that used to buy Macbooks to run Linux as a primary one (and used an Air as his daily driver for years) was a certain Linus Torvalds. (Previously he also used an Apple G5 tower for his main desktop).
pimeys 6y ago
If the direction is closed hardware, soon we don't have any hardware to run Linux. And I, for one, prefer an open operating system always over a proprietary one. I'm a hacker and I want hacker's OS. I'd be interested about Apple's hardware, but their software support for other than their own is abysmal. The work done here is worth of praise, even if it means reverse-engineering the hardware.
skocznymroczny 6y ago
I wish Apple released butterfly keyboards for desktop. I'd totally use one for my PC, even if it has a Mac layout.
- johnwalkr 6y ago
  Do you mean the very short travel, clicky ones (like a 2018 or 2019 MacBook)? If so the current magic keyboards have the same keys and you should buy one now because they will probably be updated soon. If you prefer the longer travel ones (like a 2015 MacBook or 2020 M1 MacBook) you have to find an older used one or wait a bit. I have a 10 year old Bluetooth magic keyboard and a 10 year old USB magic keyboard and both work perfectly with windows. Be warned, they are difficult to Bluetooth pair with windows for the first time, usually takes 10 tries for me.

selectodude 6y ago

Linus Torvalds worked on a MacBook Air for years.

MegaDeKay 6y ago
Perhaps, but he has been using an XPS 13 since at least 2016. https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-reveals-his-favorite-programming-laptop/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-reveals-his-fav... https://www.zdnet.com/article/look-whats-inside-linus-torvalds-latest-linux-development-pc/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/look-whats-inside-linus-torval...

ogre_codes 6y ago

Save the 2015-2019 MBP keyboard debacle, Apple's keyboards are among the best on the market. As for how many people run Linux on bare metal on the Mac. That's hard to guess. Likely not a ton. But then... not a ton of anyone runs Linux as their primary desktop/ laptop so that's not surprising.

coldtea 6y ago

>And subject themselves to mac keyboards to boot. The "fiasco keyboard" period aside (which is now 1.5+ years over, and which reliability aside, some do prefer its feel), Mac keyboards have been quite fine. But one famous person that used to buy Macbooks to run Linux as a primary one (and used an Air as his daily driver for years) was a certain Linus Torvalds. (Previously he also used an Apple G5 tower for his main desktop).

pimeys 6y ago

If the direction is closed hardware, soon we don't have any hardware to run Linux. And I, for one, prefer an open operating system always over a proprietary one. I'm a hacker and I want hacker's OS. I'd be interested about Apple's hardware, but their software support for other than their own is abysmal. The work done here is worth of praise, even if it means reverse-engineering the hardware.

skocznymroczny 6y ago

I wish Apple released butterfly keyboards for desktop. I'd totally use one for my PC, even if it has a Mac layout.

johnwalkr 6y ago
Do you mean the very short travel, clicky ones (like a 2018 or 2019 MacBook)? If so the current magic keyboards have the same keys and you should buy one now because they will probably be updated soon. If you prefer the longer travel ones (like a 2015 MacBook or 2020 M1 MacBook) you have to find an older used one or wait a bit. I have a 10 year old Bluetooth magic keyboard and a 10 year old USB magic keyboard and both work perfectly with windows. Be warned, they are difficult to Bluetooth pair with windows for the first time, usually takes 10 tries for me.