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Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

git.kernel.org

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Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#41

Post by computerex »

strange_things wrote: post #20

This is very anecdotal but every single laptop I have bought in the last 10 years (4) worked perfectly out-of-the box with either Linux Mint or Ubuntu (which are the same on the inside). I only vaguely remember once I had to change some conf file for my trackpad to work after a dist update but that was it. Not sure why everyone in this thread is so hesitant about Linux on a laptop? It literally just works (tm) for me…

The experience has dramatically improved since when I first started using Linux with Ubuntu dapper. I have had very good success as well. Having said that, I have run into hibernation, track pad issues with Asus devices. Optimus is also a right pain in the ass.

Your best bet is a Dell laptop with an integrated Intel gpu chip.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#42

Post by fxtentacle »

I sincerely hope that one day, Linux GUI land will receive similar amounts of work as the kernel.

While it's great that we can boot it on pretty much every device out there, I would much prefer if it was a viable Windows alternative on a few devices instead.

Just yesterday, I plugged an external screen into my Ubuntu laptop. And then I had to duck-duck for like an hour to figure out how to make the fonts large enough to be readable again.

And why doesn't the file browser reliably show me all the files in a folder? Sometimes, the first file in alphabetical order is just omitted.

I sincerely want to like Linux for Desktop as much as I love it on servers. But the fact is, OSX and Windows just make you so much more productive, because things just work.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#43

Post by apatheticonion »

paxys wrote: post #16
tumblewit wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I guess I should have said old there. The touchbar macbooks are definitely not something that fits this case

Things have been spotty since well before the touchbar. I doubt anyone is running Linux reliably on any Macbook built after like 2014. There are still open issues with keyboard, touchpad, display drivers, brightness, sleep, nvme and lots more.

Even Windows runs like crap on a MacBook - with similar driver issues

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#45

Post by JimDabell »

jahnu wrote: post #26
xmodem wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has publicly stated their intent to permit users to run other operating systems on Apple silicon, and has provided various mechanisms for them to do so in a first-class way (still supporting secure boot, for instance). Of course, they haven't gone as far as many of use would like - marcan has had to do a lot of reverse engineering of stuff they could have just released the docs for, and it's always possible the…

Can you link to the public statement? Would greatly appreciate that, thanks!

Craig Federighi:

> As for Windows running natively on the machine, "that's really up to Microsoft," he said. "We have the core technologies for them to do that, to run their ARM version of Windows, which in turn of course supports x86 user mode applications. But that's a decision Microsoft has to make, to bring to license that technology for users to run on these Macs. But the Macs are certainly very capable of it."

— https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/11/we-are-giddy-intervi...

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#46

Post by kreetx »

jari_mustonen wrote: post #36

Would someone familiar with the porting effort tell what where the major obstacles and breakthroughs. It would also be interesting to hear what methods were used in the process and who are the people behind the effort. Thank you in advance. You will find appreciative audience here in HN for such engineering porn.

Not an expert, but porting graphics is the biggest effort. This patch appears to add just the CPU part.

Here is one effort to port all of M1 macs to linux: https://www.patreon.com/marcan

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#47

Post by gspr »

ohgodplsno wrote: post #33
strange_things wrote: post #20

This is very anecdotal but every single laptop I have bought in the last 10 years (4) worked perfectly out-of-the box with either Linux Mint or Ubuntu (which are the same on the inside). I only vaguely remember once I had to change some conf file for my trackpad to work after a dist update but that was it. Not sure why everyone in this thread is so hesitant about Linux on a laptop? It literally just works (tm) for me…

Got a Dell with an integrated GPU as well as a GTX1660. The laptop's display is hooked to the igpu, the HDMI to the GTX. Problems that have happened with Linux, in no particular order: * Bumblebee/Optimus is a pain in the ass to install * Performance on the second screen with Optimus is dreadful (sub 30Hz refresh rate) * Being an NVidia card, I have the choice between Nouveau which can only put it into its low power…

I have a very similar Dell. I'm not sure it fits your use case, but I just run on the Intel graphics with the nvidia one powered down and no nvidia drivers installed. The Intel card runs multi-monitor 4K desktop stuff smooth as silk (I use Wayland, but I checked X too).

Whenever I need to run CUDA stuff (my only use case for the nvidia GPU), I power it up, and pass it through to a VM that also runs Linux, but with the horrid nvidia stuff installed. Works like a charm.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#48

Post by varispeed »

paxys wrote: post #9
tumblewit wrote: post #3

Macbooks make one of the good linux laptops (the ones that have support like older retina macbooks). And the truth is Macbook Air is one of the handful ARM consumer laptops you can easily buy right now even though ARM is the superior everyday computing platform to x86. What a weird time in personal computers.

Old Macbooks make good linux laptops. This hasn't really been the case for a while now.

Intel CPUs are pretty much the same as 5 years ago...
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