Ask HN: What are your experiences running Linux or BSD on a Macbook?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3585654

by gbrindisi • 14 years ago

4 5 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am struggling to find a comfortable setup for my late 2008 macbook (first alu) and I'd like to read some successful stories from fellow hackers.

Actually I moved back to OSX after trying hard Arch: ridiculous battery time, fan/heat problems and the damned efi boot. Next I am going to give Ubuntu a spin since it seems to run nicely from live cd last time I tried.

So, what are your experiences?

traxtech• 14 years ago

I really tried to accomodate the Apple keyboard mapping and to accept the long list of hardware tweakings for a proper use; then I got bored and I decided that a Lenovo X220 was a better programmer choice.

Deejahll• 14 years ago

Been running Ubuntu on my employer-issued MacBook Pro for almost a full year.

Ubuntu 10.10 was nearly flawless.

Upgraded to 11.04 and lost the ability to change screen brightness easily.

There are some configuration recommendations on the Ubuntu wiki specific to the MacBook that you should take note of.

The nvidia display configuration tool is finicky; unplugging from an external monitor at my desk and plugging into a projector in a conference room sometimes takes multiple rounds of invoking it and clicking "detect displays." Also there are a couple of projectors it won't play with.

I used grub-pc (the default) not grub-efi. If you don't have to dual boot Windows you don't need Boot Camp, ReFit nor the ridiculous hack of MBR partition table syncing. Just carve out some space with Mac OSX's partition tool and have Ubuntu install its bootloader to sda. Hold down option when you boot to choose your OS.

Don't blow away the OS X partition, you apparently still need it for firmware updates.

If I had the option, I'd get a PC instead. I like Asus, and I'm aware of more than one fan of Lenovo but never used them myself.

bitwize• 14 years ago

It's really, really hard to go wrong with Lenovo kit.

ThinkPads are cheaper than similarly-specced Macs, just as well built, and run Linux great. They are the equal of Apple kit from a pure hardware standpoint in just about every way except styling. (Personally, I'm a fan of the black, Christopher Nolan Batmobile-like design.) And you won't find a better laptop keyboard anywhere.

steventruong• 14 years ago

Although good, I disagree on just as well built

jlt• 14 years ago

My experience has generally been quite bad.

I installed Ubuntu on my mid-2011 MacBook Pro late last year, which resulted in messing up my MBR.

I had problems with being unable to delete some disk partitions, which caused hours of frustration.

If you love Linux, it can be worth it. However, I just love Unix, and now I love Darwin :)

Ask HN: What are your experiences running Linux or BSD on a Macbook?

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