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

Thu Nov 14 18:09:20 UTC 2013

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
>
>