[olug] distro for mac users OLUG Digest, Vol 129, Issue 7

Mon Nov 18 17:08:43 UTC 2013

Check out Macpup, based on Puppy Linux.
On Nov 14, 2013 12:09 PM, "Ryan Hines" <rthines81 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Probably the closest I've seen is pear os based on Ubuntu.  I think they
> only have 64 bit version though.  Otherwise elementary os looks very
> similar.
> On Nov 14, 2013 12:00 PM, <olug-request at olug.org> wrote:
>
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> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >    1. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Obi-Wan)
> >    2. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Chad Homan)
> >    3. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Tony Gies)
> >    4. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Sam Tetherow)
> >    5. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Dave Rowe)
> >    6. Re: advice picking distro for Mac users (Tim Larson)
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Obi-Wan <obiwan at jedi.com>
> > To: Omaha Linux User Group <olug at olug.org>
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:02:59 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > On 11/13/2013 11:37 AM, Tim Larson wrote:
> >
> >> I'm setting up a 2nd computer in the house now that the kids are getting
> >> old enough to be using a computer more. I've been out of the desktop
> scene
> >> for awhile, but I still want to go Linux to save myself the admin
> headache
> >> of dealing with Windows. There's only one Win-specific app they'd need,
> and
> >> I've already confirmed that will run fine in an XP VM. (BTW, if you've
> got
> >> an old copy to sell, contact me off-list.)
> >>
> >> Seems *buntu is still the pick for the casual Linux desktop user to get
> >> up and going easily, and fairly hassle-free to keep updated. Everyone is
> >> familiar with Mac OS to some extent, so a version that feels somewhat
> >> similar to that would be great. Some reviews say Unity is a good fit for
> >> Mac users. Some reviews say the Xfce desktop is Mac-like. Maybe there
> are
> >> others. I'm soliciting more opinions and comments to help me make my
> >> decision. Apart from an annual upgrade I won't be using the computer at
> all
> >> unless there are problems, so a major goal is to set it up such that the
> >> non-tech-savvy will not create nor encounter many problems.
> >>
> >
> > I think Unity is probably a fairly intuitive interface as long as the
> user
> > doesn't have lots of muscle memory for older gnome versions (like I
> have).
> >  I despise Unity, personally, because it's too different.  For a newbie,
> > it's probably a good fit.  I run Xfce on my Fedora laptop, and while it's
> > definitely more similar to old gnome, it's very simplistic and perhaps
> not
> > as intuitive to a newcomer.
> >
> > --
> > *Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth* obiwan at jedi.com <mailto:obiwan at jedi.com>
> > www.Jedi.com <http://www.jedi.com>
> > The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
> > Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
> > promise that You will pull me through. /-- Rich Mullins/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Chad Homan <choman at gmail.com>
> > To: Omaha Linux User Group <olug at olug.org>
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:15:34 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > I like the ubuntu references.  Although I've been play with some
> "lighter"
> > distros a bit lately.  Nothin to report unfortunately.
> > I did hear of a distro call pearOS.  It's suppose to be a MAC close.
>  Might
> > be a good place to start, or at least an honourable
> > mention.  BTW, for what it's worth, it's out of france:
> > http://pearlinux.fr/
> >
> >
> >
> > Together We Win!
> > --
> > Chad - I AM MONAVIE
> > Do You Know Your Life Score? <http://choman.mymonavie.com>
> > Creating A More Meaningful Life
> >
> > Some people, when confronted with a problem, think "I know, I'll use
> > Windows."
> > Now they have two problems.
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 12:02 PM, Obi-Wan <obiwan at jedi.com> wrote:
> >
> > > On 11/13/2013 11:37 AM, Tim Larson wrote:
> > >
> > >> I'm setting up a 2nd computer in the house now that the kids are
> getting
> > >> old enough to be using a computer more. I've been out of the desktop
> > scene
> > >> for awhile, but I still want to go Linux to save myself the admin
> > headache
> > >> of dealing with Windows. There's only one Win-specific app they'd
> need,
> > and
> > >> I've already confirmed that will run fine in an XP VM. (BTW, if you've
> > got
> > >> an old copy to sell, contact me off-list.)
> > >>
> > >> Seems *buntu is still the pick for the casual Linux desktop user to
> get
> > >> up and going easily, and fairly hassle-free to keep updated. Everyone
> is
> > >> familiar with Mac OS to some extent, so a version that feels somewhat
> > >> similar to that would be great. Some reviews say Unity is a good fit
> for
> > >> Mac users. Some reviews say the Xfce desktop is Mac-like. Maybe there
> > are
> > >> others. I'm soliciting more opinions and comments to help me make my
> > >> decision. Apart from an annual upgrade I won't be using the computer
> at
> > all
> > >> unless there are problems, so a major goal is to set it up such that
> the
> > >> non-tech-savvy will not create nor encounter many problems.
> > >>
> > >
> > > I think Unity is probably a fairly intuitive interface as long as the
> > user
> > > doesn't have lots of muscle memory for older gnome versions (like I
> > have).
> > >  I despise Unity, personally, because it's too different.  For a
> newbie,
> > > it's probably a good fit.  I run Xfce on my Fedora laptop, and while
> it's
> > > definitely more similar to old gnome, it's very simplistic and perhaps
> > not
> > > as intuitive to a newcomer.
> > >
> > > --
> > > *Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth* obiwan at jedi.com <mailto:obiwan at jedi.com>
> > > www.Jedi.com <http://www.jedi.com>
> > > The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
> > > Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
> > > promise that You will pull me through. /-- Rich Mullins/
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > OLUG mailing list
> > > OLUG at olug.org
> > > https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Tony Gies <tony.gies at gruppe86.net>
> > To: Omaha Linux User Group <olug at olug.org>
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:30:14 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > Debian or Ubuntu would probably be a good fit, with the caveat that the
> > Unity window manager in the newer releases is kind of annoying as Ben
> > suggested above. I don't know whether someone habituated to OS X might
> like
> > it better. I believe Ubuntu 12.04 didn't have the Unity stuff at all and
> > it's LTS so it will be getting updates for a few years yet.
> >
> > There are lots of little fringe distros that claim to provide an
> experience
> > more similar to OS X but personally I find that having a few
> customizations
> > pre-configured for you is not worth the hassle of dealing with a
> > non-mainstream distro.
> > On Nov 13, 2013 11:37 AM, "Tim Larson" <larson at towncommons.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm setting up a 2nd computer in the house now that the kids are
> getting
> > > old enough to be using a computer more. I've been out of the desktop
> > scene
> > > for awhile, but I still want to go Linux to save myself the admin
> > headache
> > > of dealing with Windows. There's only one Win-specific app they'd need,
> > and
> > > I've already confirmed that will run fine in an XP VM. (BTW, if you've
> > got
> > > an old copy to sell, contact me off-list.)
> > >
> > > Seems *buntu is still the pick for the casual Linux desktop user to get
> > up
> > > and going easily, and fairly hassle-free to keep updated. Everyone is
> > > familiar with Mac OS to some extent, so a version that feels somewhat
> > > similar to that would be great. Some reviews say Unity is a good fit
> for
> > > Mac users. Some reviews say the Xfce desktop is Mac-like. Maybe there
> are
> > > others. I'm soliciting more opinions and comments to help me make my
> > > decision. Apart from an annual upgrade I won't be using the computer at
> > all
> > > unless there are problems, so a major goal is to set it up such that
> the
> > > non-tech-savvy will not create nor encounter many problems.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Tim
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > OLUG mailing list
> > > OLUG at olug.org
> > > https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Sam Tetherow <tetherow at shwisp.net>
> > To: Omaha Linux User Group <olug at olug.org>
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:33:26 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > 12.04 does have unity.
> >
> > On 11/13/2013 12:30 PM, Tony Gies wrote:
> >
> >> Debian or Ubuntu would probably be a good fit, with the caveat that the
> >> Unity window manager in the newer releases is kind of annoying as Ben
> >> suggested above. I don't know whether someone habituated to OS X might
> >> like
> >> it better. I believe Ubuntu 12.04 didn't have the Unity stuff at all and
> >> it's LTS so it will be getting updates for a few years yet.
> >>
> >> There are lots of little fringe distros that claim to provide an
> >> experience
> >> more similar to OS X but personally I find that having a few
> >> customizations
> >> pre-configured for you is not worth the hassle of dealing with a
> >> non-mainstream distro.
> >> On Nov 13, 2013 11:37 AM, "Tim Larson" <larson at towncommons.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>  I'm setting up a 2nd computer in the house now that the kids are
> getting
> >>> old enough to be using a computer more. I've been out of the desktop
> >>> scene
> >>> for awhile, but I still want to go Linux to save myself the admin
> >>> headache
> >>> of dealing with Windows. There's only one Win-specific app they'd need,
> >>> and
> >>> I've already confirmed that will run fine in an XP VM. (BTW, if you've
> >>> got
> >>> an old copy to sell, contact me off-list.)
> >>>
> >>> Seems *buntu is still the pick for the casual Linux desktop user to get
> >>> up
> >>> and going easily, and fairly hassle-free to keep updated. Everyone is
> >>> familiar with Mac OS to some extent, so a version that feels somewhat
> >>> similar to that would be great. Some reviews say Unity is a good fit
> for
> >>> Mac users. Some reviews say the Xfce desktop is Mac-like. Maybe there
> are
> >>> others. I'm soliciting more opinions and comments to help me make my
> >>> decision. Apart from an annual upgrade I won't be using the computer at
> >>> all
> >>> unless there are problems, so a major goal is to set it up such that
> the
> >>> non-tech-savvy will not create nor encounter many problems.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> Tim
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> OLUG mailing list
> >>> OLUG at olug.org
> >>> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >>>
> >>>  _______________________________________________
> >> OLUG mailing list
> >> OLUG at olug.org
> >> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Dave Rowe <dave at roweware.com>
> > To: Omaha Linux User Group <olug at olug.org>
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:46:37 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > Ubuntu offers some nice things like handling driver issues much better
> > than some distros - without requiring a bunch of research and digging.
> >
> > Personally, I've been running Debian Wheezy - using Gnome 3, and have
> > grown accustomed to it.  Generally seems to stay out of my way.  Has
> > similarities to Unity, but overall, I don't mind it.
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 12:33 PM, Sam Tetherow <tetherow at shwisp.net>
> > wrote:
> > > 12.04 does have unity.
> > >
> > >
> > > On 11/13/2013 12:30 PM, Tony Gies wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Debian or Ubuntu would probably be a good fit, with the caveat that
> the
> > >> Unity window manager in the newer releases is kind of annoying as Ben
> > >> suggested above. I don't know whether someone habituated to OS X might
> > >> like
> > >> it better. I believe Ubuntu 12.04 didn't have the Unity stuff at all
> and
> > >> it's LTS so it will be getting updates for a few years yet.
> > >>
> > >> There are lots of little fringe distros that claim to provide an
> > >> experience
> > >> more similar to OS X but personally I find that having a few
> > >> customizations
> > >> pre-configured for you is not worth the hassle of dealing with a
> > >> non-mainstream distro.
> > >> On Nov 13, 2013 11:37 AM, "Tim Larson" <larson at towncommons.com>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> I'm setting up a 2nd computer in the house now that the kids are
> > getting
> > >>> old enough to be using a computer more. I've been out of the desktop
> > >>> scene
> > >>> for awhile, but I still want to go Linux to save myself the admin
> > >>> headache
> > >>> of dealing with Windows. There's only one Win-specific app they'd
> need,
> > >>> and
> > >>> I've already confirmed that will run fine in an XP VM. (BTW, if
> you've
> > >>> got
> > >>> an old copy to sell, contact me off-list.)
> > >>>
> > >>> Seems *buntu is still the pick for the casual Linux desktop user to
> get
> > >>> up
> > >>> and going easily, and fairly hassle-free to keep updated. Everyone is
> > >>> familiar with Mac OS to some extent, so a version that feels somewhat
> > >>> similar to that would be great. Some reviews say Unity is a good fit
> > for
> > >>> Mac users. Some reviews say the Xfce desktop is Mac-like. Maybe there
> > are
> > >>> others. I'm soliciting more opinions and comments to help me make my
> > >>> decision. Apart from an annual upgrade I won't be using the computer
> at
> > >>> all
> > >>> unless there are problems, so a major goal is to set it up such that
> > the
> > >>> non-tech-savvy will not create nor encounter many problems.
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks,
> > >>> Tim
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> OLUG mailing list
> > >>> OLUG at olug.org
> > >>> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >>>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> OLUG mailing list
> > >> OLUG at olug.org
> > >> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > OLUG mailing list
> > > OLUG at olug.org
> > > https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Tim Larson <larson at towncommons.com>
> > To: olug at olug.org
> > Cc:
> > Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 13:01:01 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [olug] advice picking distro for Mac users
> > On 11/13/2013 12:15 PM, Chad Homan wrote:
> >
> >> I like the ubuntu references.  Although I've been play with some
> >> "lighter" distros a bit lately.  Nothin to report unfortunately. I
> >> did hear of a distro call pearOS.  It's suppose to be a MAC close.
> >> Might be a good place to start, or at least an honourable mention.
> >> BTW, for what it's worth, it's out of france: http://pearlinux.fr/
> >>
> >
> > Well, it is apparently an Ubuntu derivative, so if it doesn't gel for us,
> > it should be easy to change to something else. (Since /home will be a
> > separate partition, it shouldn't be much pain anyway.) Some reviews of
> Pear
> > OS mentioned Elementary OS (another *buntu), which also looks like a
> > promising candidate.
> >
> >
> > Tim
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OLUG mailing list
> > OLUG at olug.org
> > https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> OLUG mailing list
> OLUG at olug.org
> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
>