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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux on iMac? (jlai.lu)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Question is title.

In the past I've installed many distros on many older PCs, but never used linux properly (although slowly moving over to avoid win11). I've also had a heap of history with windows installs.

A family member has been testing Mint on an old laptop and is going well. This is a trial run before I update their iMac laptop (not sure what one but no longer supposed by OS updates).

I've never booted to an iMac BIOS or installed over top of apple.

Is this going to be like installing over windows?
What issues can I expect?
Should I consider another distro?

Asking here as searching results in AI bullshit websites.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

It would help if you got the model right, and an exact one at that. As the others said, "iMac" isn't a mac laptop, but an AIO desktop.

From the thread I gather you have some model of MacBook Air, that looks like this:

I run linux on one of these. Everything worked out of the box, except for wireless. See my 2-part adventure for how I solved it.

Mac "bios" isn't exactly how you'd expect from PCs. Hold down alt key during startup to enter boot menu, and you're good to go.

If your family member was a mac user before, they might be most comfortable on Gnome, as it has aped many ui features from mac os. It has a similar dock, fluid trackpad-friendly navigation that works the same way, and more.