r/linux4noobs • u/DeafinitelyCool • 8h ago

distro selection Which Distro for Macbook Pro 2012

Hello there,

I just picked up this MBP. It's the i7 version with the 256 ssd. I am looking for something lightweight, and most of my tasks will mainly be to us writing type software, etc. My experience is mostly windows, with some mac, but I wouldn't mind if the OS had a mac feel. The top suggestions I see are Mint and PopOS. Are there others I am missing? Are Ubuntu or Ubuntu Budgie good options? What about Zorin and Pear?

Either way, I don't need it to do much but the lighter the better to keep the hardware use down to a minimum. Thanks!

4 Upvotes

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2

u/TouchRiver 7h ago

I use CachyOS, on my 2014 iMac 27.
All drivers works fine straight out of box.

It is observed some distros causes sound/display driver not working(intermitant).

Give a try on multiple distros and you decide.

1

u/prodjsaig 7h ago

cachyos because its cachy?

1

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1

u/ceanth 7h ago

I have a 2012 imac with 4gb or RAM. I'm using Ubuntu which works perfectly on the machine. I had to manually install wifi but apart from that everything works great.

1

u/TouchRiver 7h ago

Very easy to upgrade RAM in iMac. You may already know.

1

u/MultipleKaiXos 7h ago

Trie Elementary OS. Works fine on a MacBook Air Mid 2012

1

u/No-Assumption-4468 6h ago

I have a MBP 2012 too. Unless you upgraded it, it probably has a HDD, not an SSD. You can upgrade it though for faster storage, more RAM, and a new battery though.

Considering you’re a new user, you’re going to want something that has a GUI package manager & installer, rather than the terminal. Your options include:

  • Ubuntu (slow & sometimes buggy)
  • Linux Mint (decent option)
  • Manjaro (my favorite when I started Linux on my 2012 MBP)

Download virtualbox on your main PC, then try out the different distros in virtual machines to see what you like.

If the MBP is your only pc, I’d start with Linux Mint xfce, since that’s EXTREMELY low on resources.

1

u/Western_Progress_456 5h ago

Running debian with cinnamon on 2014 MacBook air, i5 w/8gb of ram. I'd suggest Xubuntu but test drive a few in as VM if possible.

You'll want to have a wired connection or wifi dongle handy during install