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Advice for a Mac user switching to Linux?
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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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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Its really quite easy, if you own an intel mac, just install debian on it, maybe carry some data over, if you must. I would recommend a usb stick. Install a good looking desktop environment, and look up a few starter tutorials. Easy, and quick. Linux isnt hard at all, if you dont want it to be.
I couldn't get trackpad gestures working on an Intel Mac. Tried both Ubuntu and Elementary
It worked perfectly out of the box with Fedora on a MacBook Pro 2012.
But I guess every MacBook generation has its little problems with Linux.
Mine is with the wifi going away once a year..
You should be able to find drivers pretty easy, since macbooks are very widely used.