No, android does not count.

Is there anyone who daily drives Linux on apple silicon or other ARM hardware? If so, then how is your experience, would you recommend it?

For at least 3 years, I’ve been wanting to get an apple silicon mac to daily drive Linux on, lately I’ve been seriously considering getting one of these machines, or even other ARM hardware, like the thinkpad x13s or even the new Qualcomm laptops.

I’m pretty much sold on a used macbook air m1 at this point, but I still wish to hear what other people have to say

  • richardisaguy@lemmy.worldOP
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    2 months ago

    Since the first release of apple silicon I was quite a bit impressed with the hardware, of course im not really an apple guy, and so I initially thought “cool, but that’s not for me”

    And then came asahi linux, and it changed everything, in a very short period they got the GPU working, and then came vulkan, opengl 4 and 4.2, most stuff seems to be working already, either on the bleeding edge kernel or the mainline; https://github.com/AsahiLinux/docs/wiki Take a look at the feature support page, it’s really impressive.

    I started to study more and more the development of Linux on apple silicon, and even more so after my laptop’s hinge has broken(tldr: I don’t have a laptop anymore, it’s just a PC); recently I’ve been wanting to buy a new laptop, so I can actually use it as one, of course, as any Latin American, I wish to buy for the long run, and all the options seem to be:

    1 - Qualcomm laptops designed for windows ridden with shitware, useless AI, and a ducking copilot key( also I have terrible experience with the firmware of my current windows first laptop, I do not wish for more)

    2 - Recent or older terribly power inefficient X86 laptops(mine is from 2021, the battery life sucked, even in windows, and it just heats up so easily, I don’t think it can even maintain maximum clock for 5 minutes straight)

    3 - Apple silicon macs designed for macOS first that have a decent compatibility with linux, that will only get better with time.

    Of course, I do believe X86 will get better with time, as it has already gotten, but until then, I either stick with my current deplorable hardware and wait until the improvements get actually mainstream, or buy another older x86 laptop, just to retire it later on.

    • LinusSexTips@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Linux on Qualcomm laptops really that bad? I’ve been considering a purchase of a 1st gen once the 2nd gen comes out (probably grab an ex display model on the cheap).

      I’ve not been following developments closely enough, but I know the battery life (in windows at least) is tiers better than my current 4800hs / 1650 with 65% battery health.

      I’ve too considered a MacBook, but their never within my budget for the spec that I want, guess I was too hopeful about Qualcomm laptops 😞

      • richardisaguy@lemmy.worldOP
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        2 months ago

        I don’t think its that “bad” current, but I’m sure you will have to wait for a bit, Qualcomm’s Linux kernel work is really not complete, and currently the only laptops you can get working with Linux are the thinkpad x13s and (maybe?) some other older models.

        Not sure how unbothered your experience is going to be on any of these, and they’re all just as expensive as macs

        • LinusSexTips@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Ahh yeah the price is a waiting game for me, Apple products hold onto their value and for me having the bleeding edge isn’t what I’m chasing these days.

          Guess I’ll wait and see how the Qualcomm products go on the used market for their price.

          I got my 4800hs for a steal; maybe I need to aim lower.