3 ms·

Do you run Linux on a macbook? If yes how is it performing?

chimeracoder 14y ago
In case you're not being rhetorical/sarcastic: Linux (or any other OS) runs terribly on Apple hardware, because the hardware is intentionally designed to run OS X and only OS X. If you try to run, say, Ubuntu on a Macbook, you'll notice that you won't be able to do basic things like adjust the fan speed (it'll be turned up to the max the entire time) and the battery life will thus be horrible, not to mention that the computer will also be insanely hot. This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware. The only time I've ever heard of people running into driver issues these days on Linux for basic work is on Apple hardware, and that's the reason. So even if you like Apple hardware, you still wouldn't be getting your money's worth running any other OS on it. If you want to run Linux, go for almost any other laptop on the market - you'll get better priced hardware, and the performance will be better.
- mjg59 14y ago
  "This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware." This is entirely inaccurate. Even using the BIOS CSM ("Boot Camp") gives you full access to the hardware, and people are moving away from that to native UEFI booting.
- drivebyacct2 14y ago
  Most of this is not true. At all.
- gbrindisi 14y ago
  No rhetorical at all. I've tried to switch to Linux on my macbook a couple of times with disappointing results (jumbojet fan noise, magma hot, etc). I am looking for success stories to motivate me for the next switch.
- wtetzner 14y ago
  I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (7.1, I think), and everything worked out of the box (including suspend, which historically I haven't had much luck with). Also, the fan works fine, and I get between 5 and 8 hours of battery life, depending on what I'm doing. Although, as far as gaming performance goes, I haven't actually run any games. I'm not really sure what you mean by "running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware."
- pivo 14y ago
  I find that hard to believe given that Linus Torvalds develops Linux on a MacBook Air: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium-technology-prize-finalist-linus-torvalds/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium...
gizzlon 14y ago
I'm not GP, but I run Debian on an old MacBook (06 or 07 model I believe) and it's doing fine. It's also more than fast enough for my use, even the 3d effects in kde4 run fine. The battery-life is (a little? a lot?) better in OS X, but I find Linux/BSD much better for development. I used to boot OS X to run some things like Spotify and Skype, but lately more and more programs refuse to run in that old version of OS X.

In case you're not being rhetorical/sarcastic: Linux (or any other OS) runs terribly on Apple hardware, because the hardware is intentionally designed to run OS X and only OS X. If you try to run, say, Ubuntu on a Macbook, you'll notice that you won't be able to do basic things like adjust the fan speed (it'll be turned up to the max the entire time) and the battery life will thus be horrible, not to mention that the computer will also be insanely hot. This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware. The only time I've ever heard of people running into driver issues these days on Linux for basic work is on Apple hardware, and that's the reason. So even if you like Apple hardware, you still wouldn't be getting your money's worth running any other OS on it. If you want to run Linux, go for almost any other laptop on the market - you'll get better priced hardware, and the performance will be better.

mjg59 14y ago
"This is because of the way an alternate OS is installed on Apple hardware - it's actually running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware." This is entirely inaccurate. Even using the BIOS CSM ("Boot Camp") gives you full access to the hardware, and people are moving away from that to native UEFI booting.
drivebyacct2 14y ago
Most of this is not true. At all.
gbrindisi 14y ago
No rhetorical at all. I've tried to switch to Linux on my macbook a couple of times with disappointing results (jumbojet fan noise, magma hot, etc). I am looking for success stories to motivate me for the next switch.
wtetzner 14y ago
I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 on my MacBook Pro (7.1, I think), and everything worked out of the box (including suspend, which historically I haven't had much luck with). Also, the fan works fine, and I get between 5 and 8 hours of battery life, depending on what I'm doing. Although, as far as gaming performance goes, I haven't actually run any games. I'm not really sure what you mean by "running on top of a low-level layer that prevents the OS from having proper access to the hardware."
pivo 14y ago
I find that hard to believe given that Linus Torvalds develops Linux on a MacBook Air: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium-technology-prize-finalist-linus-torvalds/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/19/an-interview-with-millenium...

gizzlon 14y ago

I'm not GP, but I run Debian on an old MacBook (06 or 07 model I believe) and it's doing fine. It's also more than fast enough for my use, even the 3d effects in kde4 run fine. The battery-life is (a little? a lot?) better in OS X, but I find Linux/BSD much better for development. I used to boot OS X to run some things like Spotify and Skype, but lately more and more programs refuse to run in that old version of OS X.