[SOLVED] Is it possible to install a linux distro on a macbook and remove the OS X?

steampunknyanja · 07-11-2011, 11:45 PM

I've been dabbling into linux by installing Wubi on my main computer, out of ease to install, but I use windows to do many things I'm not sure if I could do as easily in linux. Anyway, I had a macbook before I got my new main computer, and have been wondering if I can install linux on my macbook to test out other distros without potentially endangering my main computer (out of complete idiocy on my part, of course). Is this possible? Is there any specific "guide" out to do this? Any help is appreciated

kasl33 · 07-12-2011, 12:30 AM

I'm not a mac user, however I believe that you can find a distro that has a PPC version. I know Debian has this version and is a very (very) stable distro. Let me know how it works out!

grail · 07-12-2011, 01:29 AM

I presume you mean apart from the linux distribution that sits below OS X already (darwin I believe). If you go to distrowatch
you should be able to find one that suits, Kris' advice about PPC is what you are looking for. You could also just run it in virtualbox which there is a copy for MAC.

druuna · 07-12-2011, 01:47 AM

Hi,

I do believe that current apple hardware/software is mac-intel based and not PPC (my macbook pro and mac pro are both mac-intel).

Here is a way to check which you actually have: Does my Mac have an Intel or PowerPC processor?

I run linux on my Mac Pro. I first tried Ubuntu and I'm now running LFS, both without any problems.

Hope this helps.

dEnDrOn · 07-12-2011, 02:03 AM

Installing Linux on a MacBook without OS X
Installing Ubuntu on a MacBook

DJ Shaji · 07-12-2011, 07:23 AM

Mm, Darwin isn't Linux, its BSD..

sundialsvcs · 07-12-2011, 08:36 AM

One of the test-labs at Apple has a Mac Mini (an amazingly useful box, by the way ...) which is running Windows-7 natively. (Every time I see it, I feel sorry for it ...)

steampunknyanja · 07-12-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dEnDrOn

Installing Linux on a MacBook without OS X
Installing Ubuntu on a MacBook

Would I be able to follow these main steps for most distros, e.g. debian, fedora, arch?

grail · 07-12-2011, 11:36 AM

Can't hurt to try

dEnDrOn · 07-12-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steampunknyanja

Would I be able to follow these main steps for most distros, e.g. debian, fedora, arch?

doesn't seems to hurt.....

Knightron · 07-12-2011, 07:56 PM

just wanted to add that i used to have ubuntu set up on my macbook pro, and i wasn't getting near the battery length on it that i was for os x. 3 hours for win7, 3.5 hours for ubuntu, and 4.5 hours for os x.

steampunknyanja · 07-13-2011, 12:18 AM

I've just finished my Fedora install, and everything is operating more than smoothly. The only thing that appears to be changed other than dramatic boosts in speed and the longer boot time, excluding the fact that it is now running Fedora instead of Mac OS X and all that implies, is that the trackpad seems to be broken, lags and flickers much more. Since I use a mouse, this doesn't matter to me. Thank you for all the help, guys.

dEnDrOn · 07-13-2011, 01:19 AM

good luck !

kasl33 · 07-13-2011, 01:43 AM

I think everybody should use Arch. It's great and you learn a LOT when using it. Not nearly as hard as Gentoo to figure out.

dEnDrOn · 07-13-2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasl_33

I think everybody should use Arch.