Linux is a powerful operating system beloved by coders and capable of breathing life into old macs. Mac ubuntu is an opensource program, specially designed to transform linuxs appearance and layout into a real mac os x environment. Linux is so useful, you dont even need to install it before it gets to work. For normal users we recommend installing the stable releases. Linux just cannot be as user friendly as windowsmacsolaris 4. As we said, openelec is a small linux based operating system built from. Thirdparty packages for most other linux distributions are however available, and it is also possible to compile kodi media center software application from scratch for nearly any linux distribution. I have used a distro bare metal on 2 mac laptops pro and air for a while. In order to load a linux from a cd one needs to make the cd bootable. You neednt throw out the baby with the bathwater and wipe your old macs hard drive clean before trying it out. I have experimented a lot with setting up linux on my macbook. Xbmc is capable of playing back and streaming all popular video, audio, and picture formats outofthebox.
I am looking for a linux distro with a osx or windows gui. Libreelec short for libre embedded linux entertainment center is a small and very fast booting, open source jeos. The gnome shell desktop environment has a lot of similarities when it comes to macos. It is built on an ubuntu core, and elementarys desktop environment, pantheon, started out with some strippeddown gnome 2 elements.
But im restless, and wanted an excuse to try out linux on the mac mini anyway. This is list of software projects or products that are thirdparty source ports, modified forks. I am a linux enthusiast who enjoys sharing it with others. Rather than using an existing linux distro such as ubuntu, openelec is built from scratch to contain only what it needs. Its been a while since ive used any distro, but its my understanding most of the best uses of linux are builtin to mac os x. Boxee supported windows, linux, and os x, with the first alpha made. The ubuntu based distro is a little bit easier to use than the one based on debian but i chose the debianbased because i use proxmox and ucs both based on debianstable as the standard distros for servers in the company where i work as it manager. Although macbuntu is dedicated to ubuntu linux os, it might be used in other os based on ubuntu or debian systems. Heres how can you build a linuxbased kodi media center using libreelec. A small linux desktop with a lot of potential by charnita fance posted on may 12, 2015 sep 27, 2016 in linux getting linux installed on your machine of choice is not always easy, especially if youre trying to multiboot. Download and install an app called etcher from etcher. Originally created as a derivative of puppy linux with additional applications, fatdog64 has grown to become a distinct, separate project while maintaining much. Connect with other computers and nas drives in your home to stream movies, music and pictures. Openelec is designed to make your system boot as fast as possible and the install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank pc into a media machine in less than 15.
In my case, i used a mac lc575, which runs on a 33 mhz 68lc040 cpu, with 36mb of ram and a 540mb hard drive. Read how to install openelec on raspberry pi 3 kodi media center os. Libreelec is a complete media center software suite for embedded systems and computers, as it comes with a preconfigured version of kodi and optional thirdparty pvr backend software 2. All of these are full distros that do not depend on cloud services.
Zorin os is a multifunctional operating system designed specifically for linux beginners and also one of the perfect alternative linux distribution for windows and mac os x since zorin had a generalized windows look, users who are looking for best linux replacement for windows will feel right at home. A beautifully designed selfcontained system for running xbmc. The clear choice for mac users new to linux is elementary os. Openelec is a very small and fast booting linuxbased distribution, mainly. You can press an older computer or small formfactor pc into service as a dedicated media server and center using xbmc at its core via a number of specially constructed linux builds. There was no driver available for the builtin proprietary webcam pretty sure its still the case.
I have an old beautiful mint condition white macbook 7,1 with a 2. How to install linux on a vintage 68k mac macworld. Bleachbit system cleaning tool alternative to ccleaner. Linux mint is a similarly perfect fit for both newcomers and advanced users. Installing an application in linux is a pain when you dont have prerequisites or.
But is much more refined than most unix and linux oses will ever be. Standing for open source media center, osmc is a free, opensource media player. Unfortunately, after the linux is installed, there is no way to start it from the hd, since hardware is now set to boot from the cd, and one has no way of changing macs equivalent of cmos without the macos installed. For a mac user recently switching to linux, ubuntu is a good choice. Dont call it a clone though, because thats just not true. Its designed specifically for x86 pcs and will run on an ancient 486 cpu with 16mb of ram. Play your videos and scrape relevant info, subtitles and fanart. Tiny core linux is the extremely lightweight operating system based on a recent linux kernel, busybox, tiny x, fltk, and flwm. It is cross platform and runs on linux, windows, macos. I spent a lot of time trying different things and fiddling with hardware issues. Yet both kodibuntu and mythbuntu are currently unsupported. Live cds are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable. Fatdog64 linux 163 fatdog64 linux is a small, desktop, 64bit linux distribution.
Elementary os elementary os is a beautiful, fast, lightweight linux for 32 and 64bit x86. Anybody know if i can run an entire extremely lightweight linux dist off of this, without needing a hdd. It comes both in 32bit and 64bit versions and one can install them on uefi and bios enabled pcs. In this feature we look at how to install linux on a mac. Osmc is great because its built on great software with the same values.
Xbmc media center is a free crossplatform media player software and entertainment system application framework for linux, mac, and windows. It can play video from discs or straight from your set top. Crystalbuntu is an xbmc and linux os distribution ubuntubased designed. Openelec open embedded linux entertainment center is a small linux. If you are a well aware linux follower for last 4 years, you might have heard of pear os. Despite the argumentative nature of reddit, i dont have any intention of bashing no pun intended linux. Nevertheless, these linux media center distro options still function. For each platform, we offer a stable and development releases. Geexbox is a fullfledged linux media center operating system, a lightweight. Elementary os is a beautiful, fast, lightweight linux for 32 and 64bit x86.
Some of its features include easeofuse, custom user interface with. What is the best linux distro to bootcamp on macbook. Almost 400mb remains for extra files, browser cache files, and even another small addon linux distro such as porteus 2. The 8 most popular linux distros available out there for 2020. A small overview of the features can be found on our about page. Open embedded linux entertainment center, or openelec for short, is a small linux distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a complete xbmc media center. Windows or your favourite linux distribution on your computer and then kodi on. Instead, elementary os takes the good ideas from mac os and implements them with a twist. First thing is that it is not worth it if you are not seriously pissed by osx. Openelec open embedded linux entertainment center is a small linux based just enough operating system built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a kodi media center.
This means it can run fully inside your system memory which can result in phenomenally fast speeds. Osmc is based on debian linux and kodi media center. Slant which linux distros strongly resemble macos in. Presenting a nice assortment of lightweight yet fullyfunctional linux distros for all occasions. Open etcher and click the settings icon in the topright. Unless apps can be distributed as standalone installers, the linux you are working on will be a success. Some users love apples hardware and have substituted linux for os x on the macbook pro. Kodi previously known as xbmc is a free and open source, highly. The gnome desktop essentially makes linux way easier to use, as well as modern.
But if you really want to use an actual linux distro. Lightweight and perfect for htpc use, openelec is a fantastic linux media center distro. Installing linux xbmc installing linux is alot like the old prewindows 95 days of dos. Hi, i am slowly but surely migrating away from mac os x and once im done, i want to install linux on my mac mini. Apple cut off the upgrade path of this model at 10. This is something that i never thought i would say, but osx is much better on. Media content can be synced using the ezeesync app for iosandroid devices or macwindows. But it is more than an ubuntu respin or gnome fork a lot of custom development goes into elementary os. Damn small linux dsl lives up to its name in that the install image is barely 50mb. Also, if you have a macbook pro with a nvidia video card, it could be difficult or near impossible to only use the basic integrated intel gpu on a daily basis for a more. Its a linux distribution with heavy mac os inspiration. Xbmc is a free and open source crossplatform media player and home entertainment system software with a 10foot user interface designed for the livingroom tv. Works on windows, mac, linux, android, ios, router, and more.
This page presents an approach to turning a minimal installation of. The look changer inside zorin os lets you change your. Before i show you the macos inspired linux distributions, i would like to mention pear os. Lastly, openelec is designed to work like an appliance.
Distro watch pear linux is a french ubuntubased desktop linux distribution. The main motto of linux mint is from freedom came elegance which provides a stable, powerful, easy to use, and a complete out of the box experience. While these are the best linux distro for htpc use choices, there are plenty of linux htpc distros available. The mac might enjoy a smaller installed base than windows does, meaning theres less of the monoculture effect and less of a lure for malicious hackers, but linux blows them both away.
All you need is a usb drive of a least 2gb in size and an internet connection to get started. Kodi for linux is primarily developed for ubuntu linux. If you like the mac and want to use a mac like gui, use the mac. So this week i decided to see if the linux version of xbmc worked any better. Linux supports full hardware decoding with most graphics cards. The hard drive doesnt matter at this time as it will be replaced anyway probably with an ssd to make it almost. I have created this website as an easy, no coding skills required knowledge center for those interested in linux. Usb multiboot mini xbmc linux and utilities instructions. This results in a very slim install profile a maximum of 125mb for the base system, according to the projects website. Here are the best linux distros you can install on your mac. The notable feature of this lite linux distro is its size the 12 mb graphical linux desktop runs entirely in memory so after booting, you can remove the live cdusb and still use the distro. Freeciv strategy game based on civilization i and ii. I develop a community iso for antergos which can be found on sourceforge, but enjoy all linux distributions as the variety they provide offers an ideal distro for everyone. Kodi is available as a native application for android, linux, mac os x, ios and windows operating systems, running on most common processor architectures.