Replying to Avatar BankSith

Currently trying to reset and reboot a 10 year old MacBook Pro. Will try to use dual boot with #Linux on this device later on. At the same time I am using a brandnew Macbook from 2025 with a new Apple user . (Promisimg to leave Apple feels like just another New Year’s resolution. Bad old habits..)

I am not a system hacker and I have never used Linux before. However, the events of the last 3 years force even average users to better take care of personal security, privacy and online hygiene.

Simple steps in my journey include:

- to minimize or even eliminate Google Services of any kind

- to minimize Apple services. Apple is still leading on design and UX, however privacy is a serious concern. Many users won’t give up convenience for some lack of privacy

- get in touch with new solutions outside big tech suite universe (only office, libre office etc. instead of MS Office/ Veracrypt instead of proprietary encryption solutions from big tech/ open source local password managers/ clearing your iCloud with lots tons of data that is more than a decade old for more privacy focused cloud solutions is very tough and a challenge for the majority, self hosting almost impossible to achieve for the average joe

- get used to TOR and VPN basics

- give up your iphone for a pixel phone running on grapheneOS? I am still struggling with that one…

For some strange reason the new Macbook still feels like a brandnew Mercedes when compared to Windows machines. Amazing that I have been using the old Mac Book Pro Machine since 2015 without any issues (try that with a Win Computer.. ) until I bumped into the problem where you cannot update iOS anymore. Many tell me that Ubuntu loves old Mac Devices.

Let`s see about that. If Apple asks what happened to my unconditional brand loyalty, I will tell them I was moving on to other things. I will try to clean up the screen from the old Mac, looks like a mess compared to the new one on the right..

What are your experiences as a former Apple User? Special thanks goes to Timo Volkov.

#nostr

#bitcoin

#security

#winstonsmith

#edwardsnowden

#privacy

#linux

cc nostr:npub1heqkxm37d5h7n8sx2gqdez5sxnu39qrylhxnnd66dxpu4e2ufyysdkkx28

Me running Linux Mint on Macbook airs from 2011 (bookworm) and 2020 (mint). Runs perfect. Only the webcam doesn't work on the newer Mac, which is an advantage anyway.

Never MacOS again.

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Discussion

Would you buy a MacBook just to put Linux on it? Is the hardware worth it?

I was considering it before, but went with a Dell instead.

I'll agree MacBooks are nice hardware. I still use a 2014 MBA running MX Linux for light tasks. It's on its 3rd battery replacement and it's running great. Intel variants are well supported by Linux. Install mbpfan daemon and you're good to go.

I think the whole command vs control thing would mess with me but not too badly. I wish I could justify getting one just to try it out. But I don't really need another laptop 😬

Maybe a smol one πŸ€”

That's why I like the air. Small, fairly rugged with the all aluminum chassis. Good for throwing in a backpack if I need something on site for quick browsing or terminal access πŸ‘

Would you recommend a newer air or maybe a refurbished air from a few years ago? I'm completely unfamiliar with apple's lineup.

Any Intel based Air should work fine. You can even get ssd adapters to use regular nvme drives. I did that and got a 4x read, 2x write io boost.

Thanks πŸ™

Thats wild. Like you replace the SSD inside with nvme?

Yes, exactly.

Something like these. It's just a mechanical adapter that makes the pinouts compatible. Apple had their own special drive connector because they are a garbage company, and wanted to overcharge for storage. China to the rescue.

https://www.amazon.com/macbook-ssd-adapter/s?k=macbook+ssd+adapter

Newer models are all arm based and Linux options are not as good on those AFAIK

I am not a technical expert but I would never buy a refurnished device of any kind for privacy issues just to safe a few bucks. Any pre-used device is linked to a hardware ID.

On Linux command is just the super key. Ctrl is in a weird location, so I remap capslock to ctrl and it works out πŸ‘

I do the same actually. So it wouldn't really be a problem at all.

I misunderstood. I bot a new macbook to stay with apple in daily live. However even there I am using a new user and noch icloud anymore. Other providers such as Proton suite or others are pretty convenient. The 10 yr old macbook pro cannot be updated anymore, that is why I am using the old device with dual boot for linux based systems. I am actually unexperienced and moderately technical. So old device is for experiementing with new better privacy tech. The new Mac though is also necessary for my daily needs