Linux Gaming @lemmy.world CatZoomies @lemmy.world 5mo ago

Alright nerds, I installed Linux Mint on my MacBook Pro

In the spirit of my previous post about switching to Linux Mint, I decided I'd go ahead and re-purpose my old computer.

Introducing: Apple MintBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2012)

I think you nerds are gonna love it. I can actually do light gaming on this, too. Runs surprisingly fast, too!

Unlike modern day Apple, this MacBook was always fun to work on because you can easily swap parts without worrying about cloud activation locks, soldered RAM, glued batteries with self-destruct, etc. I dropped in a new aftermarket battery that took me five minutes to replace, upgraded the RAM, and slapped in a higher capacity SSD than what I originally bought this with back in the day.

My MintBook Pro runs fantastic, especially on Linux Mint 22.1 Xia with the new battery performance modes. Can't wait to use this more!

I tused to sit in a drawer as ewaste since the last possible compatible Mac OS version on this computer ran terrible and made my MacBook Pro unusable. Now that I upgraded to a MintBook Pro, the performance is incredible! Going to use this for when I need a computer away from my desk. Nice to have one for the couch that functions as an actual laptop!

Specs:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
13.3-in LED display at 1280x800 (LOL)
Intel i5-3210M @ 2.5 GHz
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz (we ballin' boys)
1 TB SSD Samsung 850 EVO I think
CD/DVD burner (yass slay queen)
Intel HD Graphics 4000 (i can play Stardew Valley with so many frames, biggest frames ever)
This bad boy has the MagSafe power connector (my favorite back in the day) and firewire! Remember firewire?

Edit: Lemmy.world is having issues with uploading photos, so here's some links instead for two more pics:

31 comments

You got got my friend, that's Windows XP 💀💀💀
- Dead ass, bro?! Ong I swear I thought this was Linux fr. At least I got my bonzi buddy on my desktop, I swear on me mum
  
  Edit: I have no idea how the kids talk these days.
  
  That rizzed my brain bro.
  
  (No idea what fuck that meant, but I think you did a better job)
Is that bonzi buddy?
- Bonzi Buddy was the real OG. Some persons love Clippy, but Bonzi was always there for me.
  
  I love how all millennials loved Bonzi, even though it was raging malware lol. Clippy had nothing on Bonzi.
One of us, one of us, one of us!
- Yep no distro shaming. Just Linux fam. And actually that reminds me I have an old 2009 MacBook laying around. Seeing how standardized the hardware is. At least among Apple computers. It's likely a really good base. Not that I need another computer running linux. LOL. But it's always nice to have another.
Wait a minute is that… HIM

Edit: small flashing lights warning at 1:47-1:52
Given that it's effectively 720p, you can probably run a decent number of 3D games, even. For sure anything 2D should run fine unless it hammers the CPU like Dwarf Fortress.
- Ooh that’s a good point. I’ll install Steam and see what this computer can handle! I’ll probably use it more for idle/cosy games, but I’m sure there’s some 3-D ones that could play well on here. My current gaming setups are Steam Deck when I want to be away from desk, and if I’m serious for gaming time it’s on my desk PC.
  
  It's Balatro Time.
- HD 4000 was great back in the day. But by modern standards it's not good at all.
  
  If you try to play games ~2010 or older they'll perform great. But anything 2015 or newer will struggle. Even some modern 2d games that should be simple just use way too much power.
Apple has great notebook hardware and old Intel systems can be had for cheap. If I was gonna daily Linux that’s how I’d do it.
I had Debian running on a min-spec Air from the same era (2012 or 2013) and it is absolutely usable. Probably not for gaming though 😅

It has xubuntu on it now. It is going to be used for my kids to access the Lego spike robotics stuff, and it works great for that!
How's the trackpad on Linux? I tried Gnome distros and KDE distros and the trackpad didn't feel natural... It seemed off.
- All the familiar gestures that make MacOS great to use don’t work here. Candidly I haven’t tried anything else apart from the typical use such as scrolling with two fingers - and that works just fine, but it’s just really fast. I didn’t see an option to slow down two finger scroll speed, so I’ll play around with that next time and see what options there are.
- Nothing compares to Apples trackpads in Mac OS. OPs machine is the older unibody MBP which has a (by modern standards) small/normal sized trackpad so the palm rejection not being perfect isn't really an issue. But the acceleration and gestures just don't feel right compared to Mac OS or even windows (with precision drivers). It's better than a Windows trackpad without the precession drivers, but just off.
  
  A long time ago when I first tried using linux on a 2012 MBP I spent ages trying to tweak the trackpad to be closer to Mac OS but could never get it right. I spent like 3 hours a few weeks ago trying to tweak things and I think your options are even worse now than before.
  
  I was afraid of this. I have a mid-2014 Macbook and it runs much better in Linux, but the trackpad leaves something to be desired.
I use my older Linux laptop with Rustdesk to remotely control my 'good' one. Works nicely, and they've fixed the Windows key / alt tab issues as well.
I went with Fedora on my 2015 MacBook Pro and so far I'm happy with it

31 comments