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Hey, folks,

My laptop broke the other day, and I need a replacement asap. But here's the rub: I despise windows. I've been a full time fedora user on my main device for a decade now, and I run Ubuntu on my desktop that I rarely touch because it's ooooold. I am not a techy person. At all. I'm an idiot, actually. I use Linux because it's cheaper, it keeps my aging hardware alive longer, and because politically I align pretty well with the idea of FOSS. And because I absolutely hate windows. I don't even like KDE, because it reminds me of windows. Cinnamon? Too much like windows! Lol. I love my workflow in gnome, I love that it's shiny and pretty and looks nice. And for the most part, I'm a browser based user. I rarely have cause to do much outside of the browser, except for sail the seas for some audiobooks. Even my papers for school are written in Google docs.

But also, on my desktop or a secondary device, I don't mind having to fiddle with things and get them working, I enjoy it. It makes me feel like I have actual tech skills when I absolutely do not. But on the device I use for school I just want something that works and I never have to think about. I feel like a traitor to the cause even considering it, but I think I want to get a used m1 air. I've never used a Mac before, though. I used an iPhone once, for about 10-15 minutes, and I hated it. But, like, of course I did. It was completely different, and incapable of doing the thing I wanted it to do.

How painful is the Linux to Mac transition? If I'm using an android phone, an Ubuntu desktop, and a MacBook, how awful is everything going to be to switch between devices? Am I going to regret this purchase, or, worse yet, become an apple fan boy and abandon my glorious FOSS devices forever?

Please assist

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[-] ZeroTwo@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

I was in a similar situation as you. I have been running Linux for close to 10 years on my desktop. My PCs are 12+ years old and they were really starting to struggle for what I need them for.

I just bought a new MacBook m5 13. To get a normal laptop right now with similar build quality/performance it's almost twice the cost where I live so decided to give it a try.

This is my first apple device, besides my work iphone which I absolute hate.

Transition was super easy; if your coming from gnome maybe a day to get used to it. Some of the shortcuts you are used to are a bit different but didn't take too long to get used to either maybe 2-3 days.

If you are planning to mainly write on it, the MacBook keyboard is really amazing it's probably one of my favorite parts about it.

Easiest way to connect your devices for file transfer is Localsend. Works on all operating systems.

this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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