I Installed Ubuntu on My Old MacBook Air and I Wish I’d Done it Sooner

In case you’re eyeing a shiny new Apple silicon Mac however don’t know what to do together with your previous one, putting in Linux can rework what you thought was out of date tech right into a succesful machine.

Why I Put in Ubuntu on My 2014 MacBook Air

Again in 2014, throughout my first stint at How-To Geek, I purchased a MacBook Air for writing Mac-related articles. It had an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD—a reasonably highly effective workhorse for its time. In 2022, I upgraded to a refurbished M1 Professional MacBook Professional, and the MacBook Air was relegated to a drawer, gathering mud like a forgotten Toy Story character.

Regardless of its age, nonetheless, this Mac nonetheless works. Certain, it has an enormous ding within the backside proper nook from after I unintentionally knocked it on the ground. I’ve changed the battery twice. The hinge is free and tightening it’s not enjoyable. Nonetheless, it powers on and it really works with out fail. The issue? macOS updates have bogged it down. What was as soon as snappy now feels sluggish; app icons bounce endlessly whereas purposes open, and spinning seashore balls are a typical prevalence.

Utilizing macOS on it turned tedious, and the laptop computer sat unused till I stumbled upon a YouTube video about putting in Ubuntu on an previous MacBook. As somebody writing Linux articles for How-To Geek, having a devoted Linux machine is sensible. Whereas my cause for switching is area of interest, there are extra compelling advantages anybody can recognize.

Improved Efficiency Will Make Your Outdated Mac Really feel New Once more

Linux performs higher on previous MacBooks as a result of it’s extremely environment friendly and light-weight in comparison with macOS. Apple designs macOS updates and provides an increasing number of options with newer {hardware} in thoughts. Over time, this results in slower efficiency on older units attributable to elevated useful resource calls for.

Linux distributions, like Ubuntu or Xubuntu, are constructed to run effectively on a variety of {hardware}, together with older machines. They use much less RAM and CPU, don’t have the overhead of many background companies, and are modular, permitting you to strip down pointless parts for improved efficiency. Remember the fact that you do not have to make use of Ubuntu, there are many lightweight Linux distributions to choose from.

Theoretically, it’s best to have the ability to run any Linux distro in your previous Mac’s Intel-based {hardware}. However, Ubuntu is simple to make use of and effectively documented, which makes it one of the best Linux distributions around.

Ubuntu is Free and Has Nice Lengthy-Time period Help

Like many Linux distributions, Ubuntu is free to obtain, set up, and use. It additionally presents Lengthy Time period Help (LTS) variations, which obtain common updates and safety patches for as much as 5 years. Apple, however, stops supporting older macOS variations after a couple of years after which stops updating older Macs. You may install new macOS releases on unsupported models, however this is not at all times nice from a efficiency standpoint.

This will depart your gadget weak to safety dangers and unable to run fashionable apps. With Linux, even older {hardware} stays safe and practical with entry to the newest software program and system updates for the long run.

You Can Customise Linux to Your Liking (In contrast to macOS)

Linux presents deep customization that macOS merely doesn’t. You may select from a wide range of desktop environments (like GNOME, KDE, or XFCE), every providing distinctive layouts, workflows, and aesthetics. You may tailor themes, icons, and system behaviors to your precise preferences.

Past appearances, Linux means that you can tweak efficiency settings, change the file supervisor, and even change system parts completely. It’s also possible to use window managers like i3 or Superior WM for minimalist setups, supplying you with whole management over how your system appears to be like and operates.

Set up Linux on Your Mac

This information covers methods to overwrite macOS with Ubuntu on an Intel-based Mac. If you wish to dual-boot, you’ll want a extra superior setup, which isn’t coated right here. Earlier than continuing, again up any recordsdata you need to preserve.

Make an Ubuntu Boot Disk

Obtain the Ubuntu ISO and use a USB drive with a minimum of 8 GB of area. Create a bootable disk on a Mac utilizing its built-in instruments or with balenaEtcher. On Home windows, you possibly can select from various boot-disk-making tools.

Boot the Ubuntu LiveDisk

Insert the USB drive into your Mac, energy it on, and maintain the Option or Alt key till the Startup Supervisor opens. Choose the EFI Boot USB choice to start out Ubuntu’s dwell setting from the boot disk you created. Subsequent, on the GRUB bootloader display screen, choose “Strive or Set up Ubuntu.”

Set up Ubuntu on Your Outdated Mac

As soon as the Ubuntu desktop hundreds, choose “Set up Ubuntu” to get began. General, the set up course of is easy and took me about 20 minutes.

Begin by selecting your language, accessibility choices, and keyboard format. On the subsequent display screen, you might not have the ability to hook up with Wi-Fi except you’re utilizing a wired connection. My MacBook Air requires a proprietary Broadcom driver for Wi-Fi, which wasn’t accessible throughout set up.

Choose “Set up Ubuntu” then select “Interactive Set up.” On the “Functions” web page, choose the default choices for a clean setup. On the subsequent display screen, allow the advisable proprietary software program choice so most of your Mac’s {hardware} features accurately.

Lastly, elect to erase the disk and set up Ubuntu, then create your person account, set your time zone, and full the set up.

First Impressions and Extra About These Proprietary Drivers

Booting into Ubuntu took about so long as it does on macOS, however that’s the place the similarities finish. Whereas macOS wasn’t outright gradual, it wasn’t precisely spry both. Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop, in contrast, feels snappy and recent. Menus open immediately, purposes launch shortly, and the general expertise is way smoother.

That mentioned, the setup wasn’t completely good. My Wi-Fi didn’t work out of the field as a result of the Broadcom driver didn’t set up throughout setup. Fixing it meant trying to find the appropriate Terminal command to put in the motive force and operating it. I additionally needed to tether my Mac to my cellphone and use it as a wired connection. Downloading Ubuntu updates after which the precise driver took about 20 minutes due to the gradual pace, however total, the repair took about 5 minutes.

Whereas this subject was comparatively minor, it’s value noting that you just may run into some hiccups of your personal. Be ready to troubleshoot just a little to get all the pieces working completely utilizing Google and AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude.

What About Apple Silicon Macs?

In case you personal a more moderen Apple silicon Mac, you may marvel if Linux is an choice. The reply is a cautious sure. You may use a virtual machine or experiment with Asahi Linux, a undertaking devoted to enabling Linux on Apple silicon hardware.

Asahi isn’t a standalone Linux distro however quite an effort to support mainstream distributions like Fedora. In case you’re curious, the project website is a great place to study extra.

By putting in Linux, you possibly can rework your previous Mac that may have been gathering mud into a quick, dependable, and extremely customizable gadget. As an alternative of discarding it, you’ve harnessed its potential, proving that even ageing tech will be invaluable with the appropriate instruments.

The journey to putting in Linux might require some endurance and troubleshooting, however you’ll achieve one thing way more rewarding: a deeper understanding of your {hardware}, an introduction to the colourful Linux ecosystem, and a tool tailor-made to your precise wants. Whether or not you’re utilizing your refreshed MacBook as a devoted Linux workstation, a improvement setting, or simply for exploring new potentialities, you will really feel pleased with your achievement.