Hi all, thanks in advance for indulging a complete newbie! I'd like to try Linux on an 11-year-old MacBook Pro (gifted by a relative), but I don't know where to start. What distribution would you recommend based on my background?
-Coming from the Mac world; haven't used a PC/Windows since before the pandemic. I'd prefer something that feels similar to MacOS.
-Not a techie. I've forgotten everything (everything!) I ever learned about command line because I never ended up needing to use it, and I haven't had to debug anything in a long time.
-What I'll be using it for: accessing the internet, various kinds of creative projects that I'll probably try making with FOSS software (something I've only recently started to look into), and making another attempt at learning programming (my interest will probably peter out before I get anywhere with it, though, because that's what happened the last two times). Probably won't be gaming. I'd prefer having the option to use mainstream office software in case anything happens to my current computer, but I don't actually expect anything to happen to it in the next few years, so that's just a nice-to-have.
-Priorities: works on old Mac hardware, good for privacy, decent software availability, not buggy, ability to avoid generative AI (i.e., no repeat of Apple installing the Image Playground app on my computer along with a software update, without the ability to remove it.)
It seems like a lot of people recommend Ubuntu or Linux Mint to beginners, but I'm seeing some people complaining that Ubuntu is has spyware(?) and forces things users don't want, and it seems like Linux Mint is usually recommended to people coming from Windows, so IDK if either of those make sense for me. Advice/recommendations appreciated!
My recommendation given where you are coming from would probably be something like elementary OS. https://elementary.io/
It has some differences in it's workflow though, and if you don't find that appealing I see that many others have already recommended distributions with Gnome such as Fedora.
Thanks! What kinds of workflow differences? And do you think I'll have to mess with the wifi card and drivers to get it to work? I'm seeing some people talking about that with other operating systems.
I recall it using some different design philosophies behind managing windows than I was familiar with, I'd honestly just recommend trying it out in a live USB or a vm so you can see for yourself. It uses a desktop called Pantheon that they make specifically for elementary OS. Specifically, the X button on the window is in the top left, maximize is in the top right, and there's no minimize button.
Wifi card drivers can be an issue, that you should be able to see in the live USB before you try installing though. It's not a matter of any specific distribution and more whether or not your wifi card has working drivers.
Oh, OK. It seems very weird to not have a minimize button in elementary OS, unless the maximize button is also a minimize button. I wouldn't want to have to close a window and reopen it every time I wanted to downsize it. I'd probably end up resizing windows manually instead of maximizing them.
Thank you so much! That makes a lot more sense.