“The clear choice for Mac users new to Linux is Elementary OS. It’s a Linux distribution with heavy Mac OS inspiration. Don’t call it a clone though, because that’s just not true,” Derrik Diener writes for AddictiveTips. “Instead, Elementary OS takes the good ideas from Mac OS and implements them with a twist. Those switching from the Mac should take notice.”
“The Elementary OS operating system is perfect for all types of Mac users. Be it power user or beginner, everything will feel at home,” Diener writes. “Everything will, to quote Apple, ‘just work.'”
“It is also worth mentioning that Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu, so the support for Apple hardware is hard to beat. Most devices, and drivers will have open source alternatives already in the Linux kernel,” Diener writes. “It’s hard to talk about Linux without mentioning Ubuntu. And with good reason! It is the most widely used Linux operating system out there. No others come close. Those coming from the Mac will feel right at home with Ubuntu, even though the two operating systems look and act totally different.”
Much more, including Solus and Trenta OS, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Elementary OS ships with a selection of apps that cater to users’ everyday needs. Elementary OS is distributed on a “Pay What You Want” model. More info here.
SEE ALSO:
How to natively boot Linux on your Mac – September 9, 2013
I think it’s good to use at least try other operating systems on a Mac. There are many great Linux distros out there, and there are also some good independent systems too. I personally use Syllable Desktop through a VM, and while it still needs polishing up, it still works great as a simple netbook OS.
It’s an awesome distro and they really need a PPC port done proper. It would be the perfect Linux distro for my old G5 then.
I call it a distri, for distribution, not distrobution. That’s just me though, and I ain’t right most times.
I have been considering Elementary for a while. I have Ubuntu and Cent OS. I believe most of the distributions are effectively the same, mostly shuffling pixels. There are underlying differences related to libraries and turnaround time for updates.
I have to support Red Hat in an enterprise setting so my options are self limiting to what I want to spend my time on.
Mac OS is based on BSD and I believe some Debian libs tossed in. Getting to know the guts of one, always helps to learn more about the guts of another.