How do I get Wi-Fi working on my 2011 MacBook Pro?

Try the wired connection first. During Ubuntu setup, there is an option to install third-party drivers. If you skipped it, connect by cable, open a terminal, and run sudo apt update, then sudo apt upgrade, then sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source. Restart afterward and check whether Wi-Fi appears.

If it still does not work, open the Additional Drivers section in Ubuntu’s software settings and see whether a driver is offered. The exact wireless card matters, so the Broadcom package may not fit every 2011 model.

Quick terminology version: Linux is the kernel, the core that communicates with the hardware. A distro, short for distribution, packages that kernel with the rest of a usable operating system. Ubuntu is a distro, and Debian is a different distro that Ubuntu is based on. GNOME is the desktop environment, the windows, menus, and settings you interact with.

You do not need to learn all of that before using the computer. Starting with Firefox and web versions of services you already use is perfectly reasonable.

For mail and documents, using Proton’s web apps in Firefox is a straightforward option. For music stored as files, look for a local music player in Ubuntu’s app store and check that it handles the formats in your collection. There is no single best pick, so trying a couple is fine.

One small safety habit: before running a command you found online, make sure you understand what it changes. Back up anything you care about before experimenting.