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Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

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Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#161
post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Don’t use Bumblebee anymore. Use this instead: https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/440.31/READ...

Oh I said Bumblebee/Optimus, but PRIME does not work properly either.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#162
post #122

Why does this merge also delete all sorts of (seemingly) unrelated files? Like the 'rocket' and 'Cyclades' drivers in this case.

I noticed that too. If you scroll through the entire diff, it looks like most of it is the removal of those seemingly unrelated things.

I also see some changes to what looks like common arm64 code, which isn't guarded to check for Apple or non-Apple; it seemed strange to me that those changes would be ok.

I wonder if both of those things are just changes from an unrelated merge that are showing up in this diff for no reason.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it'll still be a virtual machine? It'll just mean that there could be an ARM native virtual machine rather than one emulating x86.

The secret to the lightweight nature of Docker is that it just uses various namespacing, cgroup etc functionality provided by Linux with no virtualized OS kernel or hw virtualization mechanisms involved. (Yep you need ARM Docker images when running on ARM of course)

Do we really expect to see many Docker images published that are compiled for ARM? Sure, I expect to see base OS images, but I'd find it hard to believe that many people are going to take the time to cross-build and publish an arm64 version of their container image alongside their x86_64 version.

I guess to some extent that might be generally useful, what with things like AWS's Graviton ARM processors, but I expect it'll take a while.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why?

Because they save money - as they will not pay salaries and taxes on this effort and then when it matures they'll likely appropriate the solution and boast how M1 is great for developers. This should be illegal. In my country a person cannot work for a company for free, they need to receive at least a minimum wage. This port is essentially unpaid and untaxed work for Apple.

By that logic, any enthusiast who has, over the last ~30 years, reverse engineered and written a Linux driver for a random piece of hardware, should get paid by the manufacturer. That's just absurd.

I really doubt that Apple will latch onto the Linux porting effort at all. Their goal is to get people to buy their laptops and run macOS on them, and to lock developers in via Xcode and the Mac (and iOS) App Stores. Linux would be a distraction, at best.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#165

Maybe I am being over cynical by isn't this a huge waste of time given that Apple can "pull the plug" at any time? They want to control everything that runs on their chips so why bother?

They can certainly lock down future models if they want, but the current models for sale will always be able to boot Linux now. That's a good thing, and even if Apple ships a new laptop next year that only accepts signed OS images from Apple, that doesn't detract from the ability to run Linux on this year's model.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#166
post #80

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…

Anecdotal I know, but I very recently got a macbook air after years of practically exclusively using Linux and the opinionated user interface drives me crazy. Here's a few pain points: - Scroll direction can only be set globally so either touchpad or mouse scrolling feels awkward for me - You need an extra click on another window before you can interact with it - No focus-follows-mouse (there used to be 3rd party plu…

The Emacs startup failure may be due to bad preferences left behind by Emacs in ~/.emacs.d; try moving those aside or deleting them.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#167

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…

I have the complete opposite experience, including laptops that were initially shipped with Linux (yes, Dell). Lack of support for hibernate, lack of support for docking station, etc. And things also break after updates. Of course "this is not Linux fault, this is lack of vendor support". But that doesn't change anything for me: It's either I'm willing to fiddle with the system or I have to buy something else.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#168
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, I've been looking for a linux laptop for a while that is actually compelling compared to my mac book pro. It seems just about everything is a downgrade in terms of shitty trackpads, lower resolution screens, memory, etc. Linux UI is not a problem for me; I can deal with that. The hardware is a problem though. Here's what I want: - Something that is faster than the last Apple laptop I loved which, I bought in 201…

Really, 4K on a 13" screen? 64GB LP-DDR in a small and light laptop? 16 cores again in a small and light form factor? That's going to be a long wait. Most consumers don't need more than 4 cores and 16GB and that's where the mass market is. Prosumer models don't reach that high and pro workstations are big and clunky because companies would rather buy a stationary workstation and a light laptop instead of paying $6k o…

I had to buy a laptop due to covid and splashed out on a Dell Precision 7750, 4K screen, WWAN, aftermarket 128GB RAM and SSDs. It's big but I wouldn't describe it as clunky.

Cost just under £4k in total.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#169
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

I very much experience a difference using Xcode, between my 4 core 2016 MBP and my 8 core 2019 MBP. Since both are base models, I think I disagree with your statement.

Re: Initial M1 support merged into Linux SoC tree

#170
post #80

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…

Anecdotal I know, but I very recently got a macbook air after years of practically exclusively using Linux and the opinionated user interface drives me crazy. Here's a few pain points: - Scroll direction can only be set globally so either touchpad or mouse scrolling feels awkward for me - You need an extra click on another window before you can interact with it - No focus-follows-mouse (there used to be 3rd party plu…

- Grab and resize windows: you can try https://github.com/dmarcotte/easy-move-resize.
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