Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#1

Post by michielt » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:25 PM UTC

Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air
realworldtech.com

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#2

Post by rijoja » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:32 PM UTC

So it seems that what could be problematic is not getting it to boot but rather how to get proper graphics support. How difficult would it be to reverse engineer the GPU?

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#3

Post by spijdar » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:37 PM UTC

One thing I recall is Linus is really big on "absolutely no noise whatsoever". The passively cooled but still reasonably powerful Air seems like ideal hardware for his tastes, at least for a laptop.

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#4

Post by jsheard » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:40 PM UTC

rijoja wrote: post #2

So it seems that what could be problematic is not getting it to boot but rather how to get proper graphics support. How difficult would it be to reverse engineer the GPU?

If the reverse engineered Nvidia GPU drivers are any indication, very difficult

They're functional for very basic desktop stuff but 3D performance is abysmal

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#5

Post by rijoja » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:42 PM UTC

jsheard wrote: post #4

rijoja wrote: post #2

So it seems that what could be problematic is not getting it to boot but rather how to get proper graphics support. How difficult would it be to reverse engineer the GPU?

If the reverse engineered Nvidia GPU drivers are any indication, very difficult They're functional for very basic desktop stuff but 3D performance is abysmal

Not what you'd expect from a macbook. Perhaps it's in Apple's interest to let it happen though!

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#6

Post by tech5000 » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:43 PM UTC

> I've been waiting for an ARM laptop that can run Linux for a long time.

I wonder if the Pinebook Pro would suit some Linux laptop use cases? Its an ARM laptop for $200, no fan, that ships with Manjaro Linux installed.

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#7

Post by ketamine__ » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:44 PM UTC

spijdar wrote: post #3

One thing I recall is Linus is really big on "absolutely no noise whatsoever". The passively cooled but still reasonably powerful Air seems like ideal hardware for his tastes, at least for a laptop.

How long before the thermal throttling kicks in? I guess if that's the case probably only a performance issue for me when not at home with a laptop cooler underneath.

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#8

Post by bufferoverflow » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:45 PM UTC

Mirror

https://web.archive.org/web/20201122182830/https://www.realw...

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#9

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:45 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Linus Torvalds on the new MacBook Air

#10

Post by jagger27 » Sun, Nov 22, 2020, 6:47 PM UTC

rijoja wrote: post #5

jsheard wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the reverse engineered Nvidia GPU drivers are any indication, very difficult They're functional for very basic desktop stuff but 3D performance is abysmal

Not what you'd expect from a macbook. Perhaps it's in Apple's interest to let it happen though!

I wish it were so. Apple has no reason to allow other operating systems on its devices because macOS and iOS are gateways to their massive array of paid services.