genkholi
Newbie
What is the BEST Linux OS to use in conjunction with Mac OS X Snow Leopard? I upgraded all our current computers to Windows 7 Professional OS, but I am thinking about purchasing a Mac computer and I love Linux. What Linux OS distribution would you recommend? Thank you in advance as I truly appreciate all your kindness and helpfulness.
user237428934
User deletion pending
I think Mac OS is the Unix with the best usability and it's very secure. For me a Mac does not make sense without Mac OS. If you like Linux why don't you use a cheaper X86 hardware?
linuxuser
Member
This is the most difficult question for ALL new linux users!!!
Why? Simple: because it depends on Your needs. What do You want from a distro?
Let's figure out some basic knowledge about distros...
1. Newcomer or easy 'linuxing' use Ubuntu, or it's derivatives: Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.
Also Linux Mint - based on Ubuntu.
Why? Because it has growing popularity, ease of use, easy solving problems by comunity.
*As You may know, the GNOME desktop environment is used in Ubuntu, the KDE is used in Kubuntu, the XFCE is used in Xubuntu. The base is the same, the desktop environment changes.
2. Mandriva - also easy, has free and money version, looks great, good for beginners too.
3.Fedora - the nowadays Redhat, I could say, well maintained.
4. Debian - base distribution for Ubuntu and other OS, has a strong support, very stable, has rarely releases because of it's strength and stability. Many updates between major stable distro release.
5.OpenSuse - wants ease in use, and nice configuring tools.
6. SLACKWARE and GENTOO are highly configurable, but may need some in-depth console knowledge.
7. PcLINUXOS, CentOS are also well-known, especially for server editions.
As a CONCLUSION - the above order is not a must, and it is NOT complete! You have to decide what You want. I recommend to search some sites like distrowatch.com and distromania.com and of course the each distribution website.
See here some pro's and con's:
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Anyway from start decide what You want (ease of use, lots of configurability, long term support, loads of applications, etc.).
Download some live-cd's from what You have decided, and boot from it to test.
I'd like to mention some artist-need distros, which have many tools and applications already installed useful for different type of artists: 64Studio, ArtistX, UbuntuStudio.
P.S. I always have a live (bootable) cd or memorystick with me for rescuing, in case my Win or other OS fails to work.
P.S.2. Hope not to be boring
Why? Simple: because it depends on Your needs. What do You want from a distro?
Let's figure out some basic knowledge about distros...
1. Newcomer or easy 'linuxing' use Ubuntu, or it's derivatives: Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.
Also Linux Mint - based on Ubuntu.
Why? Because it has growing popularity, ease of use, easy solving problems by comunity.
*As You may know, the GNOME desktop environment is used in Ubuntu, the KDE is used in Kubuntu, the XFCE is used in Xubuntu. The base is the same, the desktop environment changes.
2. Mandriva - also easy, has free and money version, looks great, good for beginners too.
3.Fedora - the nowadays Redhat, I could say, well maintained.
4. Debian - base distribution for Ubuntu and other OS, has a strong support, very stable, has rarely releases because of it's strength and stability. Many updates between major stable distro release.
5.OpenSuse - wants ease in use, and nice configuring tools.
6. SLACKWARE and GENTOO are highly configurable, but may need some in-depth console knowledge.
7. PcLINUXOS, CentOS are also well-known, especially for server editions.
As a CONCLUSION - the above order is not a must, and it is NOT complete! You have to decide what You want. I recommend to search some sites like distrowatch.com and distromania.com and of course the each distribution website.
See here some pro's and con's:
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Anyway from start decide what You want (ease of use, lots of configurability, long term support, loads of applications, etc.).
Download some live-cd's from what You have decided, and boot from it to test.
I'd like to mention some artist-need distros, which have many tools and applications already installed useful for different type of artists: 64Studio, ArtistX, UbuntuStudio.
P.S. I always have a live (bootable) cd or memorystick with me for rescuing, in case my Win or other OS fails to work.
P.S.2. Hope not to be boring
degruyl
Just this guy, you know?
Use the BSD that is already on the Mac.
If you already know linux, you probably know the answer to your question. If you do not, you may as well learn BSD. The differences between linux and BSD are fairly minor, and you get the added benefit of stuff working without any fiddling. I mean, Mac OS >10 is BSD. BSD is Unix. If you want to install just about any program for "linux" onto a bsd machine, it is doable. Plus you get to use the nice gui.
I have spent (holy crap) decades working with unix computers, and - to me - apple finally nailed the desktop version. If you want a server, why not buy a cheaper machine?
If you already know linux, you probably know the answer to your question. If you do not, you may as well learn BSD. The differences between linux and BSD are fairly minor, and you get the added benefit of stuff working without any fiddling. I mean, Mac OS >10 is BSD. BSD is Unix. If you want to install just about any program for "linux" onto a bsd machine, it is doable. Plus you get to use the nice gui.
I have spent (holy crap) decades working with unix computers, and - to me - apple finally nailed the desktop version. If you want a server, why not buy a cheaper machine?
jfdupuis
Newbie
Strange question on a rangefinder photography dedicated forum, but quick answer: just keep using OS X. You can use all linux programs, plus you have access to the other good one specific for OS X. For me OS X, is the best desktop unix.
flip
良かったね！
Wow, ask this question and you're asking for opinions.
I've 13 years with Linux, and it's not the same as BSD (upon which MacOS is built). I started with Redhat, moved to Gentoo, and then on to Ubuntu. There is no 'best.' However, consider this: if you use linux, you set it up and maintain until it no longer meets your needs - it's not something you want to apply every patch and fix to because (a) it won't need them all, and (b) some patches may wreck havoc with your customizations.
My advice is to find the most active distribution that covers your needs at the time of your installation and go with it. It's ideal if it has a good packaging system. 7 years ago, that was Gentoo. When I reinstalled a few years back, it was Ubuntu. With time, you can do all you want with any distro, but in the meantime, it's nice to have a working environment that's current in terms of device and multimedia support.
As far as playing with MacOSX, that's irrelevant. They will all use hardware that is consistent. That's the one advantage to installing Linux on Mac instead of PC. With some effort you can setup a dual boot as I did. But I don't often go to Linux unless I want to hack something using free software or Perl.
Good luck,
P
I've 13 years with Linux, and it's not the same as BSD (upon which MacOS is built). I started with Redhat, moved to Gentoo, and then on to Ubuntu. There is no 'best.' However, consider this: if you use linux, you set it up and maintain until it no longer meets your needs - it's not something you want to apply every patch and fix to because (a) it won't need them all, and (b) some patches may wreck havoc with your customizations.
My advice is to find the most active distribution that covers your needs at the time of your installation and go with it. It's ideal if it has a good packaging system. 7 years ago, that was Gentoo. When I reinstalled a few years back, it was Ubuntu. With time, you can do all you want with any distro, but in the meantime, it's nice to have a working environment that's current in terms of device and multimedia support.
As far as playing with MacOSX, that's irrelevant. They will all use hardware that is consistent. That's the one advantage to installing Linux on Mac instead of PC. With some effort you can setup a dual boot as I did. But I don't often go to Linux unless I want to hack something using free software or Perl.
Good luck,
P
telemetre
Established
Not much to add to the detailed and informative posts above. As a Debian user, I generally recommend Ubuntu to the new users as well.
As for Mac OS X, it makes me dizzy to watch someone use it, which is similar to the feeling I get watching Ubuntu users, so you might feel quite comfortable with it
As for Mac OS X, it makes me dizzy to watch someone use it, which is similar to the feeling I get watching Ubuntu users, so you might feel quite comfortable with it
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Because of insurmountable problems with both Mandriva and PCLinuxOS, I moved to Debian some months ago. Five years ago it was difficult to install, but now it has become almost child's play.
smasher
Established
I use a Mac for my desktop, and Ubuntu on my server at home. Darwin (Apple's version of BSD Unix) plays quite well with Ubuntu, and I really like having the command prompt available when I need it.
There's no need to do away with OSX on your Mac in order to run Linux. Doesn't make sense to me. You get the same secure architecture along with a great UI.
There's no need to do away with OSX on your Mac in order to run Linux. Doesn't make sense to me. You get the same secure architecture along with a great UI.
axiom
Non-Registered User
This is all you need
http://www.macports.org/
http://www.macports.org/
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
I've heard good things about Fedora, Ubuntu and DSL.
btgc
Veteran
Mepis has worked well for me from v6 when it were built around Ubuntu and now, based on Debian, it also seems to be great. Installs great, not resource hungry, stable.
Have not used latest 8.5 with KDE 4, though.
Have not used latest 8.5 with KDE 4, though.
Tompas
Wannabe Künstler
Strange question to ask here, but anyway...
You mean as a server for Mac clients? Any Linux can do NFS and Samba (except probably some highly specialized firewall/router 'distributions') and should play ball with Macs.
Or do you mean 'on a Mac'? On a Mac I'd use Mac OS. For a second OS on a Mac, next to Mac OS, see below.
Nevertheless one thing is for sure: the BEST Linux OS is Debian, of course. Everyone knows that. It's proven beyond any doubt. It's silly that you asked.
You mean as a server for Mac clients? Any Linux can do NFS and Samba (except probably some highly specialized firewall/router 'distributions') and should play ball with Macs.
Or do you mean 'on a Mac'? On a Mac I'd use Mac OS. For a second OS on a Mac, next to Mac OS, see below.
Nevertheless one thing is for sure: the BEST Linux OS is Debian, of course. Everyone knows that. It's proven beyond any doubt. It's silly that you asked.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
OpenSUSE or a Debian release. I prefer OpenSUSE, but I do like apt as well, so Debian flavors are good for me as well.
martin s
Well-known
I want to throw in Gentoo, imo one of the best distributions. If not Gentoo I'd go the Debian route, preferably Ubuntu or Debian itself. I myself don't like (Open-)Suse.
martin
martin
thomasw_
Well-known
My recommendation; If you are using a Mac as a desktop, then stick with it. If you want a server, get a cheap older x86 architecture box and use OpenBSD to protect your homeland It rocks.
Two of the best OSes for different functions.
It rocks.Two of the best OSes for different functions.
flip
良かったね！
I thought it was great, too. But when I started a new box, it had already become clear that it was no longer as active as it had once been.
I did Debian once, and although it wasn't for me - at the time - I respect the design and have found that most of the 'better' linuxes are its descendants. Carpal tunnel takes some of the fun out of hacking your box into perfection. Ubuntu requires far less of that due to its wide contributing user base (partly via Debian).
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wgerrard
Veteran
Server? Pay heed to what others have suggested?
Desktop? Keep OS X. It really is a very good OS. And all the hardware will work just fine, which it almost certainly won't with any flavor of Linux.
I used Linux on my desktop for almost ten years. I know my way around a Unixy system. But, I moved to a Mac when I got fed up trying to make my hardware work on Linux. I seldom need to open a terminal these days, but when I do, it's just another Unix terminal.
Desktop? Keep OS X. It really is a very good OS. And all the hardware will work just fine, which it almost certainly won't with any flavor of Linux.
I used Linux on my desktop for almost ten years. I know my way around a Unixy system. But, I moved to a Mac when I got fed up trying to make my hardware work on Linux. I seldom need to open a terminal these days, but when I do, it's just another Unix terminal.