Discussion
(Almost) ready to turn my beloved MacBook Air 2013 - which is gathering dust on a shelf - into a #Linux laptop.
Only problem: multiple people might have swayed me to pick Arch Linux as the distro. #ArchLinux!!! I know NOTHING but from all the Linux memes I've seen over the years, I've always been intimidated by it.
Debating whether to go with it or #Mint or #Ubuntu. Thoughts?
Edit / update: it's now a toss-up between Mint and Fedora. I may try Arch on my Raspi4
@andypiper I'm now debating whether to do Mint or Fedora 😅
@_elena @andypiper Is this for learning and/or hobby? Or to maintain functionality? I would not advise Arch for daily machine if new to Linux. Mint is solid choice for people that just want to use a computer and want to treat same way avg people treat phone. Is what I recommend for avg people to replace Windows, for that year go Mint XFCE not Cinnamon. If your more into tech w that age of machine I would suggest MX XFCE. Also good for old machine though I have not tested on Macs is Q4OS
@CliffsEsport @andypiper for everyday use and possibly to hand it to my child when the time comes...
@_elena @andypiper You can make most distros work with enough effort. Most distros allow you to run a "live" session from the install flashdrive/DVD, before you install it loads a basic version of the distro into RAM from the flashdrive or DVD. How most installers work, though there are other ways to install. So you can test drive them that way before installing. Just note, actual install often reveals issues testing via live version does not reveal.
@_elena @andypiper Isjt it just a matter of personal preference? Like either you like minty fresh breath or you like silly hats? Right???
(This is a joke, and definitely not useful advice about Linux distributions, about which I know very little. 🤪)
Fedora is great! I changed from Ubuntu to Fedora on my main laptop a few years ago, and I find things a bit easier to get around. Generally though I wouldn't say it makes a huge difference to the average user which one you choose.
Linux Mint is more Windows-like, while Ubuntu and Fedora use @gnome which is more original. I find it a real joy to use especially on laptops thanks to trackpad gestures, and it just has great design overall. I'm sure Mint is also great though!
@_elena @andypiper
@_elena Both are great, you cannot go wrong. That being said, I usually recommend Mint as it is a bit easier to use. You just don't need to hop on the terminal as often.
@_elena I guess it depends on what you want to do. To *learn* Linux, Arch might be a good way, but just to *use* Linux, I recommend a more out-of-the-box distribution. I'm using Ubuntu for years on my main laptop and I (usually) don't have to tinker around.
@kleisli thanks! I have Ubuntu on my Raspberry Pi 4 and really like it. But I've always heard so many great things about Mint, so I was tempted by it... plus I may one day give that laptop to my child...
@libewa @_elena @kleisli That's a good description of Mint. I'm a long time Linux user, with the emphasis on user rather than fiddler. I started with Ubuntu - I think the version number was still in single digits at the time, then changed to Xubuntu because it ran better on my elderly hardware. I put Mint XFCE on a Thinkpad which suddenly decided it didn't want to run or re-install Windows and found it to be nice to use. My Dell desktop had become a mess of snaps, flatpaks, and appimages so that went Mint XFCE as well making software updates so much simpler. Xubuntu screwed up an upgrade on my other Thinkpad and it was easier to just install Mint XFCE on that too. You can tell that I like the XFCE desktop can't you? 😄 So I'd say if you just want to use Linux Mint is a good choice, if you're looking for a new hobby there are more "involving" distros. One caveat is I've never tried Linux on a Mac so all my experience is on PCs - apart from an old Raspberry Pi running DietPi.
@snaprails thank you! I already have too many techie hobbies and need something that just works... so Mint is looking like the strongest contender right now
@_elena I hear people are often happy with @elementary on their Macs
@_elena
At the moment I got installation problems because of the missing broadcom WiFi driver in Debian.
Ubuntu seems to have this driver in it's sources.
@_elena I have great experience with Fedora and Gnome on old MacBooks. It's user friendly, stable and still up to date. You can even take a look at Fedora Silverblue for an atomic distro is you want to get into a modern way of running an OS.
@_elena Instead of Ubuntu, I would personally go for Debian....
@_elena I'm not sure it supports macs, but CachyOs is basically Arch in easy mode. Especially if you pick Cosmic, KDE or Gnome as your desktop during the (easy, guided) setup.
@_elena Ubuntu is flirting with "AI capabilities", enabling LLM-driven voice-to-text search in the latest version, so I am considering a permanent move away from the land of *buntu.. The current LTS (26.04) does not ride the AI hypewave, so that's at least an option for now.
@_elena My vote? Linux Mint. And don't let the Arch Linux enthusiasts bully you. 😄
Seriously, an old MacBook Air from 2013 is an excellent candidate for a second life with Linux. But I'd choose the distribution based on what you want to get out of the machine.
@_elena Before I swapped to Linux I spent months looking at distros to make a decision what was right for me. I needed something that I could work with, could get started easily, had a large online community to seek help if needed and was heavily customisable. The answer was Mint.
I've had a fair few fights and needed to relearn some stuff but that's no different than with Mac or Windows, just need to find new spaces for support (hence that was important to me in making my decision).
But I'm a proud and happy user of Mint.
@_elena I ran Ubuntu on my Air quite happily.
@Edent thanks Terence! Did you have problems getting your Wifi to work?
@_elena I can't find anything in my notes about that. Sorry! I think the hardest part was getting it to dual book - but I recall the hardware working just fine.
@Edent got it! I'm not going to create a dual boot, but just wipe the drive and have Linux on it...
@_elena @Edent Just a heads up, make sure to use your macbook air or another mac to make a macos installer USB before you install any linux distro in case you ever want to go back
Apple, being apple, doesn't let just anyone just download an ISO, the only officially supported routes to create recovery media require using a mac with a functional install of macos
@_elena @Edent Several of the Linux distros like MX, & probably Fedora or Ubuntu will handle drivers for Mac if you install with ethernet connection during install process. Some installs you have to be sure and use correct checkboxes, some you need to copy drivers from Mac OS before upgrade or get them elsewhere. Usually it is just drivers for Wifi, bluetooth, and sometimes audio because they are proprietary w Mac & some distros strict about default being no proprietary software just FOSS
@_elena if you want to try a easy to install version of arch there is Omarchy but you'll have to get used to a tiling window manager and doing almost everything with keyboard.
@multiscan I will NEVER EVER EVER use Omarchy sorry. Context: https://blogs.gnome.org/alatiera/2025/11/06/dhh-and-omarchy-midlife-crisis/ I even unsubscribed from 1Password because they were sponsoring it
@_elena @multiscan
Oh, I just got a bit worried you would fall for it.
Don't touch it with a barge pole!
@_elena I use Mint on the laptop that I use a lot. It is very easy to handle and update. For my writing I have a special laptop with Ubuntu. They say it is more difficult I don't know.
@CorinaKarstenberg thanks! I have Ubuntu on my Raspberry Pi 4 and I like it... but I've always been tempted by Mint
@_elena may I throw in a wrench and suggest Fedora?
It’s running SO well on my MacBook Air 2014.
I had mint on it, my previous favourite distro, but Fedora runs SO much better.
@sylvia oooooh thank you for the advice Sylvia! Did you have issues with internet connectivity? (aka getting your Wifi to work)?
@_elena I installed Arch on my 2015 MacBook, having never used Arch before that, but having run other flavours of Linux as my primary OS for years. It was not a walk in the park. But I did get it to run in some capacity after a while. It was interesting to do, but I was curious about doing it.
@greger thanks! I hear that the documentation is really good and it may be relatively easy to get internet connectivity right away... but I'm also tempted by Mint
@_elena Mint is very usable - one of the younger folks at our maker meetup installed that on a laptop as his first distro. Arch may be more than what you need (and is very bleeding edge). Decisions decisions! 🤓