Hi all, thanks in advance for indulging a complete newbie! I'd like to try Linux on an 11-year-old MacBook Pro (gifted by a relative), but I don't know where to start. What distribution would you recommend based on my background?
-Coming from the Mac world; haven't used a PC/Windows since before the pandemic. I'd prefer something that feels similar to MacOS.
-Not a techie. I've forgotten everything (everything!) I ever learned about command line because I never ended up needing to use it, and I haven't had to debug anything in a long time.
-What I'll be using it for: accessing the internet, various kinds of creative projects that I'll probably try making with FOSS software (something I've only recently started to look into), and making another attempt at learning programming (my interest will probably peter out before I get anywhere with it, though, because that's what happened the last two times). Probably won't be gaming. I'd prefer having the option to use mainstream office software in case anything happens to my current computer, but I don't actually expect anything to happen to it in the next few years, so that's just a nice-to-have.
-Priorities: works on old Mac hardware, good for privacy, decent software availability, not buggy, ability to avoid generative AI (i.e., no repeat of Apple installing the Image Playground app on my computer along with a software update, without the ability to remove it.)
It seems like a lot of people recommend Ubuntu or Linux Mint to beginners, but I'm seeing some people complaining that Ubuntu is has spyware(?) and forces things users don't want, and it seems like Linux Mint is usually recommended to people coming from Windows, so IDK if either of those make sense for me. Advice/recommendations appreciated!
I have run a few different distros on 2015 macbook pros. Debian works really well but you might have to fuss to get camera working and be careful with your display settings. Zorin and Mint run best on first install and Zorin is definitely the most mac-like with a clean design and lots of interface consistency, and it feels quite lightweight.
Ubuntu works fine but it’s Ubuntu. Fedora had some minor driver hassles too but otherwise is nice to use.
Given the age and capabilities of a 2015 MBP I put Zorin on the 8 GB one and Debian for a server on the 16GB (I have two). Ultimately reverted the 16GB to macOS 13 (via OCLP) due to not liking battery management for a server. I feel (but have no stats) that none of the linuxes were as good at power and battery management as macOS on those machines. Probably firmware obscurities or something. None are as good at the trackpad either, but you get used to it.
Thanks! Did you have to do anything to get wifi, fans, or the webcam working on the 2015 Macbook Pros running Zorin or Mint? Some other people have mentioned having to work around that on various distros.
Nope, zorin and mint were pretty much ready to go.
Wonderful! Thank you so much. I will probably try one of those two first then.