So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux • Hacker News Board

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#11

Post by war1025 » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:20 PM UTC

mscasts wrote: post #2

I installed (ubuntu) Linux recently on my new HP Spectre x360. Unfortunately, there was some issues still. My webcam didn't work at all. The touchpad was bad in comparison to Windows drivers and the graphics drivers sucked. But overall it works much better today than like ~5 years ago. Got back to Windows and I am unsure if I will ever run linux on the desktop full time even if it is a distant dream and have been for…

Linux on laptops really comes down to picking the right laptop.

I have both a Thinkpad (work) and a Dell Inspiron (home) running Debian. Both work really well by default. I know HN folks tend to really like Thinkpads, but I honestly think the Linux compatibility of my Inspiron is as good if not better.

Also just stick to Intel integrated graphics. AMD and NVidia can work, but they are a pain.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#12

Post by dwighttk » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:20 PM UTC

TransAMrit wrote: post #3

> Recently I’ve just found myself disenchanted with Apple in a way similar to how I felt maybe twelve years earlier with Microsoft, when I switched to Linux the first time. This is exactly why I've been switching back to Linux everywhere, including laptops. Apple has done a pretty good job recreating the modern Windows experience.

I feel like I'd be much more open to Linux if I spent most of my time in emacs, but since I've spent like 8 minutes in emacs and about 14hrs in vim and have very little desire to increase either of those numbers, it only takes a small dose of Linux to re-enchant myself with Apple.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#13

Post by ahnick » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:20 PM UTC

I love the look of the Librem 13 mentioned in the article. If it had 32GB of memory then I'd consider switching over. As is though, you'll have to pry my T480 ThinkPad from my cold dead hands. :-)

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#14

Post by mbreese » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:20 PM UTC

mscasts wrote: post #2

I installed (ubuntu) Linux recently on my new HP Spectre x360. Unfortunately, there was some issues still. My webcam didn't work at all. The touchpad was bad in comparison to Windows drivers and the graphics drivers sucked. But overall it works much better today than like ~5 years ago. Got back to Windows and I am unsure if I will ever run linux on the desktop full time even if it is a distant dream and have been for…

For laptop support, it really helps if you can get ahold of one of these “Linux-first” computers, like the OP. When the components all are supported, the experience is much smoother.

But that’s also the downside — often the hardware isn’t supported. Desktop Linux devices just aren’t the top priority for developers.

Honestly, if you want to go this route, it’s almost easier to just run Linux in a VM on top of Windows or macOS.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#15

Post by shinylane » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:20 PM UTC

alanfranzoni wrote: post #5

I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s. If you find it fine for your needs, that's great. But I don't think it's a general solution. Linux is so half-baked with respect to desktop, very often it's getting as problematic as a Windows system, especially on laptops.

I use Mint and Centos as much as my OSX system. This is a configured environment for development, not much else but it works fantastically.

My latest Linux build sits in my music studio and I record and edit audio for production.

I think your conclusion is invalid and specious, but it's an opinion.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#16

Post by rossdavidh » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

dwighttk wrote: post #12

TransAMrit wrote: post #3

> Recently I’ve just found myself disenchanted with Apple in a way similar to how I felt maybe twelve years earlier with Microsoft, when I switched to Linux the first time. This is exactly why I've been switching back to Linux everywhere, including laptops. Apple has done a pretty good job recreating the modern Windows experience.

I feel like I'd be much more open to Linux if I spent most of my time in emacs, but since I've spent like 8 minutes in emacs and about 14hrs in vim and have very little desire to increase either of those numbers, it only takes a small dose of Linux to re-enchant myself with Apple.

I use vim, on a System76 Linux laptop, and it does not seem an obstacle.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#17

Post by 300bps » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

alanfranzoni wrote: post #5

I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s. If you find it fine for your needs, that's great. But I don't think it's a general solution. Linux is so half-baked with respect to desktop, very often it's getting as problematic as a Windows system, especially on laptops.

That was a choice he made based on personal preference. It isn’t typical to use text-based window managers in Linux. FTA:

But I have switched from Gnome to i3. Over the years I’ve migrated from graphical to text-based applications for most things

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#18

Post by toyg » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

(That color theme is... not for me.)

I long for the Linux prairies of old, but I've grown fat and lazy on OSX. Linux is a youngster's game.

Apple got it wrong in 2016 but there are signs that we might have passed "iPhone peak"... maybe they will be forced to pay attention again to us old farts.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#19

Post by dbingham » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

What screen resolutions do the Librems support? Their tech specs don't actually list the resolutions, just the graphic card and size of the display. That's, honestly, one of the main things holding me to my mac: I want the retina display.

That and the fact that all the PC hardware makers insist on offsetting the damned touchpad. Which, maybe it's just my preference, but I hate when they offset the damned touchpad.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#20

Post by baldfat » Thu, Jan 10, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

alanfranzoni wrote: post #5

I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s. If you find it fine for your needs, that's great. But I don't think it's a general solution. Linux is so half-baked with respect to desktop, very often it's getting as problematic as a Windows system, especially on laptops.

> I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s

I think any comments about the looks of a Linux desktop must be sure to talk about what Desktop Environment are you saying that about. I find KDE and Gnome to actually have a much more modern look and feel then anything from Apple and Microsoft.

Personally I have found Windows 10 to be much much better for me as a Linux user and I can run OpenSUSE on the command line a great help. Still I think Linux has been and will continue to be the platform that pushes Desktop Environments and features. There are other issues but this is not one of the problems.