From macOS to Linux: The Biggest Challenge
I have fully switched to Linux nearly a year ago, but this is the thing that I have never achieved, so I am sticking to Ubuntu
Nearly a year ago, I made a bold decision: No more Apple. Today, I still have some Apple devices because of their lifecycle. I change my mobile phone every 4 years at least, my iPad is still working fine, so I don’t need to throw it away. The first decision was whether to buy a new MacBook Pro or not, as mine was struggling with performance (the last Intel version). Based on the lifecycle, I was not happy because if I purchase a laptop and do not use it for additional purposes (such as training machine learning models), I should be able to use it for at least 4 years. I agree that the battery can die, but beyond that, there are some physical flaws, such as key shine, scratches, or similar issues. I would like to use my laptop properly for around 4 years, but it was not the case with the MacBook Pro. I know that when you switch to Apple Silicon, it is better. There are still people using M1 and M2s, but this was not the case for Intel CPUs. I didn’t make this decision, and I have already paid a substantial amount of money (the highest i7 CPU with 32GB of RAM). Why am I getting punished?
Good Bye My 20 Years Old Friend: Apple
I thought thoroughly, and in the end, I decided to use Linux rather than a MacBook Pro. It was challenging, I must confess, because Apple has a great ecosystem, but I don’t want to pay three to five times more just because of the environment. I use my laptop for coding and web browsing. While I am engaging in these activities, I would like to listen to music, and sometimes I can switch to watch videos on YouTube or learning platforms like Coursera or Udemy, but I don’t watch movies or series. Although my usage seems pretty normal, I don’t want to have any performance bottlenecks. When I want to compile my code, I should not go to take a coffee.
As I was unsure about this switch, I opted for a slightly cheaper laptop for Linux. Although it had older hardware, my Linux machine is working faster than or equal to the M3 Apple Silicon. I am not sure the latest, I didn’t bother to compare, as I am happy.
From Apple macOS to Linux: Operating System
When I was switching, my main concerns were iCloud, integrated environment, screen and laptop quality in general, and environment integration.
From Apple macOS to Linux: iCloud
I found my way with the Linux applications and integration, and I am very happy.
From Apple macOS to Linux: Photos
However, there is one thing that I couldn’t find a proper solution for and have had to reinstall my Linux several times: font rendering. It is just an unbelievable mess. I know that it is not a problem with Linux, but rather with the desktop environments. On the other hand, this is one of the biggest downsides of Linux: ultimately, you cannot use a Desktop Environment without Linux, right? The vice versa is true, though. So, if the font rendering is a problem, it is also a problem for Linux and its acceptance around the World.
My Top 10 Linux Productivity Tools and Gadgets
When I set up the rendering properly for my laptop screen, it sucks on my 4K monitor. If I set up my 4K monitor, it sucks on my laptop screen. I built a simple switcher that I can switch easily, but what a mess! This should be something that you don’t need to deal with that much! Although I found my way, it remains a significant problem. I do expect macOS to have the best font rendering quality, because if you watch or read about Steve Jobs’ life, you’ll see that he was obsessed with fonts. Therefore, macOS has the best fonts and rendering, period, and is widely accepted.
Can Linux Match macOS Productivity? 6+ Months Test
When I complained about this issue, one of my friends told me that there are licensing issues with the rendering and fonts. I understand. As Linux and its desktop environments are open-source, perhaps we should find a way to build our own, right? Maybe we don’t need the fiftieth package manager, but proper font rendering is essential. Maybe we don’t need another hack or tweak tool to find the ultimate solution? Perhaps we don’t need another bold decision about design, like GNOME, but rather a bold decision about font rendering?
Why did I switch from Fedora to Ubuntu after 2 years?
What’s the solution? I couldn’t find one. My ultimate solution is to use Ubuntu because it currently has the best font rendering. I am using Ubuntu directly, I don’t know their twists. GNOME? I don’t like it, but I also don’t have another choice. Kubuntu’s KDE is ancient; the new one is only available in distros like Fedora. However, whenever I install Fedora, the first two hours are spent fixing font rendering. Ultimately, I am becoming increasingly angry and returning to Ubuntu.
I Tried Fedora 40, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Linux Mint 21.3, Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS, and EndeavourOS Galileo
Do you know the solution? If yes, please let me know. I am not looking for a link or LLM-generated steps; I have already tried them. I need a fully functional solution that works for both a 4K monitor and a regular non-HiDPI laptop screen.