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!
re using a VM - I like the idea of trying out different distros and desktop environments with less risk. It does seem like a large part of the greatness of Linux is having so many options, and it would be a shame not to experiment. Thanks for the tip!
My understanding is that Asahi Linux is designed for newer Macs with a different kind of chip from the one I plan on experimenting with. I might try it in the future if I decide I like Linux and want it on my current computer, though.
Yes, Asahi is for Apple silicon, not Intel, I wasn't sure when they changed over from Intel to Arm.
That said, if you have a fully spare computer which is not something you rely on for anything then installing the OS directly can give you better performance. I don't know how powerful your main machine is but if it is significantly more powerful than the old machine a VM may be faster on that, it just depends on the performance of each machine.
Edit: I forgot to add, I used to work in IT doing support and I had Windows 7, Vista, XP, and NT all in VMs for supporting customers. I tried to get a reasonable Windows 98 image running but the hardware acceleration and comparability just wasn't good enough at the time to make it worth it. It was fun full screening Windows NT with everyone else using Windows 7, it looked so retro and it was lots of fun to tinker with.