Switching from Windows. Not sure between MacOS or Linux

[trim totem]

I've been using a windows laptop, but have had some issues since some software is only supported on Unix-based operating systems and I'm thinking of getting a new laptop. I'm unsure though if I want to get a computer that runs on Mac OS compared to Linux. One of the considerations I have is the ability for me to share files and photos between my laptop and ipad. Currently, I'm using onedrive and if I get a Mac OS laptop this will be easy, but I'm unsure about a computer that runs on Linux. I think maybe the main thing is I know what to expect if I get a mac, but I feel like I could learn more with a Linux-based laptop. Also I know that windows has WSL. What are some thoughts on my situation?

These issues have mostly been prevalent when trying to work with bioinformatics software which a lot are not supported on windows. I'm also interested in compiler development; however, languages such as OCaml have much more supported for Unix-based operating systems. Setting up OCaml on windows was a pain for me.

Additionally, are there laptops that have linux preinstalled. This isn't important to me just more a logistics question. Usually one would wipe the pc then setup a distro, right?

[obsidian edge]

unless you have an iPhone, i dont really think theres any reason to use MacOS over linux, MacOS is alot more locked down

you can do just about anything with linux

and yeah you would learn more too

[trim totem]

I have an iPhone and iPad. An important consideration for me would be the ability to sync and share photos and other documents between my iPad and laptop. With a mac this would be easy. Currently with windows I'm using onedrive. Do you have an idea what this would be like if I use linux?
Also another quick question. Which distros have a GUI? I know how to use a linux terminal; however, in certain situations, I find it a bit easier to work with a GUI.

[obsidian edge]

you could probably use google drive or iCloud if it has something like that

onedrive has a website doesnt it?

[trim totem]

yeah it does have a website

[obsidian edge]

then that shouldnt be much of an issue

also

for your GUI question

[trim totem]

oh yeah I could just upload on onedrive through the web then have everything on my tablet. that seems fine

[obsidian edge]

any distro can have a GUI if you install a desktop environment

for example fedora comes with the GNOME DE pre installed

but i chose not to use it in favor for a tiling window manager

you can choose any DE on any distro but some easier than others

some let you choose during the install, some you need to do it yourself

sorry if that was alot of info to take in lol

do you understand what i mean?

[trim totem]

what are recommended distros for those new to linux? My school uses Ubuntu on the clusters. I'm aware of different options too like Linux Mint, Debian, and Fedora. I don't really, at least at the initial stage, want to do a lot of tinkering. I feel with a lot of options it can somewhat lead to an analysis paralysis situation.

[obsidian edge]

Debian or Fedora

theyre both pretty popular and stable

dont do ubuntu though

it kinda sucks

with debian and fedora you can choose what DE you use

[trim totem]

why do you think ubuntu kinda sucks compared to debian or fedora?
Also I noticed that Thinkpads are pretty popular among the linux community. Why are they popular and do you use a thinkpad? They come with windows by default right? So would I need to wipe it and setup a distro or do they come preinstalled with a distro. What are other popular laptops in the linux community?

[obsidian edge]

ubuntu sucks because it tracks searches, it's bloated by linux standards, and you can't change DEs as easily as you can with Debian or Fedora

stick with the latter two

[trim totem]

could you clarify the part about tracking searches?

[obsidian edge]

tracks what you search to give targeted ads for amazon

shit like thag

[trim totem]

could you provide a link to an article or webpage that describes this so I can check it out and look more into it?

[obsidian edge]

wait

I think they removed it actually

but still

don't use ubuntu please

I started out with it and it was a shitty experience

[trim totem]

I'll probably go with either Debian or fedora then
thanks for the help

[obsidian edge]

no problem

in my experience I've had an easier time with fedorw

but maybe it's because I tinker alot

debian is probably fine for you

[wild cosmos]

very quickly, if I recall correctly. As of now, I think the primary reason I anti-recommend ubuntu is snaps. Flatpaks feel easier to deal with, and more transparent.

[wild cosmos]

I like Fedora between these two, because apt makes me crazy

[trim totem]

Oh wait. I think forgot a question that I had. What laptops are popular and reccomended in the linux community? I know that ThinkPads are pretty popular, but what is their appeal. Also do they come with windows by default and I would need to wipe it and setup a distro or is it preinstalled. I'm currently using a windows surface laptop. Would it be possible to setup a distro on my laptop?

[wild cosmos]

"a question" lol

I have bought three laptops ever, an Acer aspire one netbook, a System 76 Gazelle, and a Dell XPS. The Acer I bought used, it did have a Windows license, but would have been available with Linux. The other two shipped with Linux new in box. Either way I would wipe the original os and reinstall, but buying a Linux-first machine ensures the hardware is supported.

Idk why Thinkpads, easily serviceable I guess, and widely available because they are popular corporate fleet machines, so there are millions of them.

For the surface laptop, depends on the model probably, I had it running on a surface pro 2 I think, but i suspect you're talking about a modern surface laptop, so I can't help there.

[obsidian edge]

I see

still sucks :)

[plain vector]

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks

Really old news, but 'buntu hasn't been all that respectable either, the whole snap shenanigan, coming off from threatening to remove 32bit libraries, which breaks backward compatibility with 32bit stuff, and that has caused valve to go base their then new steamos to another Linux distribution, https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/1644292549032067470

As for snap controversy, https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-No-Flatpak-By-Default and Flatpak is a competitor to snap. Flatpak being independent to a Linux distribution (although widely used in Fedora, and few other Debian/'buntu based distributions), snap is however, by canonical, the same company behind 'buntu and the string of controversies surrounding the two of them.

[trim totem]

Thanks for the link to the article. I think a final question I had was about integrating other ecosystems with Linux primarily with Google. My school heavily uses the google ecosystem such as google drive, google docs, google slides, etc… although I believe it’s not that difficult with Google, right? I also had a question about powerpoint or microsoft excel. My impression is that integration with Microsoft is more challenging. I don’t really rely on PowerPoint or excel; however, sometimes documents are provided in the PowerPoint file format and I also have an elective class that I’m going to be taking that requires excel.

[plain vector]

Why am I left with these sorts of challenging questions? I'll try my best to answer them,

I think a final question I had was about integrating other ecosystems with Linux primarily with Google. My school heavily uses the google ecosystem such as google drive, google docs, google slides, etc… although I believe it’s not that difficult with Google, right?
Using it through web (browser) may not be difficult, using it through other means, without a web browser might be difficult. Though there are third party applications/integrations that can work with guugol, it's more of your mileage may vary.

I also had a question about powerpoint or microsoft excel. My impression is that integration with Microsoft is more challenging. I don’t really rely on PowerPoint or excel; however, sometimes documents are provided in the PowerPoint file format and I also have an elective class that I’m going to be taking that requires excel.
If you are referring to the apps that you can use them offline, yes they could be challenging, especially if using whatever macrohard's proprietary format. Though FOSS equivalents like LibreOffice and such does exist, but again, it really depends on what you're dealing with, not everything is supported by LibreOffice.

[wild cosmos]

Probably libre office will do what you need for interacting with Excel/powerpoint, and you can install the Microsoft fonts to make them work even better.

Google suite in the browser should work fine. And you can even configure rclone to sync your drive storage to the local disk.