I've really been wanting to switch from MacOS to Linux as my main operating system, but I'm finding it tricky since I'm tied to Apple's ecosystem. I tried installing Linux Mint using T2Linux, but I faced major issues with sound and the trackpad, so I'm thinking I'll need new hardware for a smooth experience.
Just to give you an idea of what I'm working with, my current MacBook Pro specs are: 15.4" screen, 8GB RAM, a 121GB SSD, and a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Iris Plus Graphics. I want something comparable in power, or slightly better, that can handle browsing, Discord calls, light gaming (like using emulators or Ruffle for Flash games), and occasionally running Audacity or FL Studio. Sometimes I use a Windows VM too (mainly Windows XP, but 10 as well for specific tasks). I suspect that any Linux distro will use less RAM than MacOS, and I'm looking into Linux Mint Cinnamon or XFCE as options.
A laptop would be ideal since I often work from bed, but I'm flexible. I may also need a monitor, mouse, keyboard, microphone, and possibly speakers. I was considering a Raspberry Pi 500 or waiting for the Pi 600, but I'm not sure if that would be the right fit for my needs. I enjoy using Linux Mint, loving the terminal and the Software Manager, and I'm excited to dive deeper into Linux. Any hardware suggestions to help me make this switch? Thanks for reading!
1 Answer
Hey! I’d recommend getting a used ThinkPad. They usually have solid Linux compatibility, and you can find them at good prices. If you plan to run a Windows VM, aim for at least 16GB of RAM and a quad-core processor; that's a must for Windows 11. ThinkPads have a good reputation among Linux users!
Thanks for the suggestion! Can you recommend any specific models of ThinkPads that I might look for on eBay?