Makin' the move away from Apple

[woolypants]

Next buying cycle for me, I might move away from Apple (after 25 years). The reasons have been discussed ad nauseam over recent months here on MacRumors.

The obvious candidate is Linux. I have written best-selling textbooks about Linux but that was a few decades ago. However, I expect the desktop experience is broadly the same -- a sometimes rocky road to getting things the way you want, but once that's done, things are solid. Interoperability sounds better than it ever was, with a more pluralistic computing landscape compared to back then, when you had to steal the Microsoft fonts to get a decent web experience, for example.

I still believe in the cloud, though. I like being able to create media on my phone, or a calendar appointment, and have it sync automatically across all my devices (and my family).

However, I do not want to use Google or Microsoft and hand over my digital soul to them. So, I was thinking of some kind of private cloud arrangement, or even just a privacy-focussed cloud provider. I'm unsure if these even exist. I used to use Spideroak a while back but I think they diversified into other areas -- and to be honest, it was often a janky experience.

Has anybody made "the move away from Apple"? Any shared advice would be great, from what laptop you chose, to if you configured a private cloud, and so forth. What I don't want, please, is a discussion about whether I should do this, or a discussion about Apple's failings. As mentioned, these have been discussed a lot in the Apple ecosphere in recent times.

 

[SnoFlo]

I use Proton Business Suite that comes with 1TB of cloud storage. I also use Filen sometimes: a German-based cloud provider. My current laptop is an HP ZBook running Fedora KDE. You’re right, setup was a bit ‘involved’ due to NVIDIA’s discrete graphics; but since then everything has been smooth. I will upgrade this older laptop to a new Lenovo Thinkpad soon as Lenovo’s business line has good Linux support.

I do miss Photoshop, but Linux software support keeps getting better. Best wishes to you on your journey.

 

[maflynn]

Has anybody made "the move away from Apple"? Any shared advice would be great, from what laptop you chose,

Well if you're well versed in Linux, then opt for a linux friendly laptop, Lenovo for instance. Thinkpads have amazing build quality great keyboards and tend to be on sale often. Also consider System 7 laptops, as they are linux laptops, they come with Pop OS installed.

Office apps, the two popular ones are Libra Office and OnlyOffice, I prefer the latter. There's a bunch of cloud storage providers, but as @SnoFlo mentioned Proton offers a suite of tools and services. I use their mail, vpn and storge offerings.

 

[Queen6]

2016 MBP's killed my sole focus on Apple, just form over function worse unreliable. Today I use multiple OS that fit the purpose that work for me not against me.

W11 - Gaming （suitably silenced）
Harmony OS - Huawei Smartphone
Tablet - Honor proprietary OS based on the Open Android kernel (zero Google/ABC etc.)
Mac - macOS Sonoma on the M1 MBP

Current MBP is likely my last as my 13" tablet destroys it on every level at a lower price point with no reduction in quality with a lot more versatility. This is not an insignificant device; top tier Snapdragon SOC, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, multitasks, runs multiple desktops. OS is lightweight and works for me not the provider. Combined with its keyboard cover it's essentially a very competent notebook with massive battery endurance.

Hate to say, but see no reason to pay more for less...

Q-6

 

[salamanderjuice]

Next buying cycle for me, I might move away from Apple (after 25 years). The reasons have been discussed ad nauseam over recent months here on MacRumors.

The obvious candidate is Linux. I have written best-selling textbooks about Linux but that was a few decades ago. However, I expect the desktop experience is broadly the same -- a sometimes rocky road to getting things the way you want, but once that's done, things are solid. Interoperability sounds better than it ever was, with a more pluralistic computing landscape compared to back then, when you had to steal the Microsoft fonts to get a decent web experience, for example.

I still believe in the cloud, though. I like being able to create media on my phone, or a calendar appointment, and have it sync automatically across all my devices (and my family).

However, I do not want to use Google or Microsoft and hand over my digital soul to them. So, I was thinking of some kind of private cloud arrangement, or even just a privacy-focussed cloud provider. I'm unsure if these even exist. I used to use Spideroak a while back but I think they diversified into other areas -- and to be honest, it was often a janky experience.

Has anybody made "the move away from Apple"? Any shared advice would be great, from what laptop you chose, to if you configured a private cloud, and so forth. What I don't want, please, is a discussion about whether I should do this, or a discussion about Apple's failings. As mentioned, these have been discussed a lot in the Apple ecosphere in recent times.

Have you looked into self hosted things like Nextcloud? It really depends what you want from a private cloud. For me personally I found a NAS as a file server was good enough and I don't even need something like Nextcloud.

I've personally moved away myself. Thinkpads T/P series are a good candidate, or any laptop you know is available with Linux out of the box or has good reports or is part of something like Ubuntu certified. I'd avoid anything with Nvidia for simplicity. It just adds too much headache unless you KNOW you need CUDA or that level of GPU. I do still unfortunately have a SP11 running WIndows 11 but the (desktop) Linux tablet market is not really much of a thing...

 

[AustinIllini]

I had a difficult time setting up nextcloud but I like it a lot.

Thinkpads are great. I like the idea of a Framework, though. Expandable in pretty much every way.

 

[maflynn]

I like the idea of a Framework, though. Expandable in pretty much every way.

I was initially sold on them, but for me, as long as battery, ram/ssd can be replaced, I'll be happy. I bought a Thinkpad T14S, and its built very sturdy, I cannot replace the keyboard, display panel, or usb ports but then, I would never do that anyways.

 

[MBAir2010]

Next buying cycle for me, I might move away from Apple (after 25 years).

Has anybody made "the move away from Apple"? Any shared advice would be great, from what laptop you chose, to if you configured a private cloud, and so forth. What I don't want, please, is a discussion about whether I should do this, or a discussion about Apple's failings. As mentioned, these have been discussed a lot in the Apple ecosphere in recent times.

in 2018 I was fed up with the Sierras and purchased a Dell XPS 14" which I used for work as well
that was a great experience then Mojave was released which was a solid OS with 32 bit support.
I always had and used my MBA 2010 for CS4 design along with the XPS
well that Dell did go through some tough bus and bicycle trips into NYC Manhattan which was a bit too much abuse
for a delicate laptop as the usb-c port failed to charge in 2022, so that went to the recycling factory.

this year will MIGHT be my last using current  products as i'm just worn out.
the MBA 2020 Monterey is okay but needs extra annoying efforts to adjust the screen brightness and run software.
I been using  since 1990 at work and home with a 1998 with an iMac
as last year was much worse the the Sierra era.

perhaps the annual updates and mediocre performances with non- programs is fatiguing me these past years.

 

[edubfromktown]

I've used Linux since the mid-90's and Windows even longer (nowadays only at work, in shops that don't support Mac's and it most often ends up banging away on dreadful Dell laptops). I initially kicked "the Mac tires" with Kodiak on a Pismo G3 PowerBook. Been using Mac's for personal use ever since (most purchased used or refurb).

Linux has been great for servers and hosting apps/specific functions. There just too many compromises for a desktop environment in my opinion. Beyond the lack of support for certain Mac/Windows apps that I use on a regular basis, finding a laptop with solid Linux support remains somewhat challenging.

Having to chase driver versions, library incompatibilities and other such efforts reminds me to some extent of the Windows registry, IE still lurking under the hood and other downsides that have kept me using Apple hardware. I own a few iPads and don't use an iPhone which I guess is a less common use case.

Best of luck finding what you are after!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Next buying cycle for me, I might move away from Apple (after 25 years). The reasons have been discussed ad nauseam over recent months here on MacRumors.

The obvious candidate is Linux. I have written best-selling textbooks about Linux but that was a few decades ago. However, I expect the desktop experience is broadly the same -- a sometimes rocky road to getting things the way you want, but once that's done, things are solid. Interoperability sounds better than it ever was, with a more pluralistic computing landscape compared to back then, when you had to steal the Microsoft fonts to get a decent web experience, for example.

I still believe in the cloud, though. I like being able to create media on my phone, or a calendar appointment, and have it sync automatically across all my devices (and my family).

However, I do not want to use Google or Microsoft and hand over my digital soul to them. So, I was thinking of some kind of private cloud arrangement, or even just a privacy-focussed cloud provider. I'm unsure if these even exist. I used to use Spideroak a while back but I think they diversified into other areas -- and to be honest, it was often a janky experience.

Has anybody made "the move away from Apple"? Any shared advice would be great, from what laptop you chose, to if you configured a private cloud, and so forth. What I don't want, please, is a discussion about whether I should do this, or a discussion about Apple's failings. As mentioned, these have been discussed a lot in the Apple ecosphere in recent times.

Why not get a small NAS to use for cloud storage? You could use Tailscale with it which would not require you to open any ports on your home network. You would be able to access your NAS securely any time you wanted.

 

[Mrbobb]

I tried Mint for 6 months and going back to MacOS. Am in the stage of my life that don't want more tinkering and I appreciate MacOS just works that synchronizes most things without me doing anything across devices. One particular example Mint doesn't do is thumbnails on networked drives, there maybe a browser that will but now I have to look for it. Just want to go from A to B with minimum fuss.

 

[zenmacx]

Work has issued T series ThinkPads for years. Using one alongside my MacBook Pro has been an excellent combo for my cross platform workflow.

I've converted a 15" MacBook Pro to Linux and found it to be an excellent solution. Now three years later Linux is as easy and effective as any of my other laptops.

Because of the macOS 26 debacle it’s very tempting to walk away from the rather juvenile look and feel of what seems to be Apples attempt to distract users from their failed AI project.

Currently the only thing holding me back is the remote possibility that at some point Apple might wake up and sort out this mess.

 

[Genelec8341]

I have no opinion on modern PC's but I must admit I am intrigued with the hardware and features that come with a $400 Motorola phone.

 

[macaddiict]

I have left the Apple ecosystem a few times, but for personal use I often come back - I want the alarm clock on my phone to work every time, which is something Androids seemingly struggle with still (at least in 2025).

Also, getting over decades of key command familiarity is grit in the works when trying to get work done. I will probably also be making the permanent move away from Apple if Liquid Glass is the future. But for now, I'm holding on to Sequoia and iOS 18.x

 

[woolypants]

I tried Mint for 6 months and going back to MacOS. Am in the stage of my life that don't want more tinkering and I appreciate MacOS just works that synchronizes most things without me doing anything across devices. One particular example Mint doesn't do is thumbnails on networked drives, there maybe a browser that will but now I have to look for it. Just want to go from A to B with minimum fuss.

I know what you mean, and yes, I would miss that.

Of course, a fan of Linux Mint would reply that it CAN do thumbnails on networked drives. It only takes a few hours of browing to hear you just have to install Gigglybum's hack, by cloning his Github and building it. Simple! Of course, Gigglybum built it against a later release of the GNOME desktop than you have, so you'll have to upgrade that. That's not available for your distribution, because it's considered bleeding edge, so after asking around on forums and waiting a few days for replies, you learn you have to go off to Shakywilly's Github and clone/build the GNOME desktop to get it working... By this point, many of your everyday apps are now outside the distribution's repo, so each time you try to update, it shows a raft of errors. So, you have to tell it not to include certain apps in its scan, something which works the first few times but then breaks after a few times... Then after a few months of not getting any updates, you figure, well, I'll just do a complete reinstall using a bleeding edge version of the distro so I can just use Gigglybum's thumbnail add-on out of the box. Bleeding edge is always fun! You do that (it only takes six hours), but it turns out it breaks a load of older things you rely upon. Your printer's driver was dropped ("We no longer support Inkblot models because they enforce DMCA on their printer cartridges, and one of their executives said he met RMS once and got a strong whiff of body odour"). So, after three hours of research (including wading through several heated debates on StackOverflow), you learn you have to use Grumblemouth's Github to clone his printer driver to get it working... But then it turns out Grumblemouth used an older version of CUPS! So, you have to...

Also, getting over decades of key command familiarity is grit in the works when trying to get work done.

This is a huge issue. i was forced to use a PC at work and it was a nightmare. You can swap the keys around with a few hacks but it's not fully intuitive and doesn't work in certain apps. Then there's Alt+F4 instead of Cmd+Q...

 

[salamanderjuice]

I have left the Apple ecosystem a few times, but for personal use I often come back - I want the alarm clock on my phone to work every time, which is something Androids seemingly struggle with still (at least in 2025).

Also, getting over decades of key command familiarity is grit in the works when trying to get work done. I will probably also be making the permanent move away from Apple if Liquid Glass is the future. But for now, I'm holding on to Sequoia and iOS 18.x

That's not an Android exclusive problem. iPhone's can do it too.

My iPhone alarm kept failing me - here are the 6 fixes that actually worked

Many iPhone users have noticed their alarms are mysteriously failing to sound in the morning. Here are my potential fixes.

www.zdnet.com

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/16ypdlb/anyone_have_problems_with_the_ios_17_alarm_not

You can fix this for any device by just buying a $10 dumb standalone alarm clock or dumb watch and accepting that modern iOS and Android are buggy cesspools.

I tried Mint for 6 months and going back to MacOS. Am in the stage of my life that don't want more tinkering and I appreciate MacOS just works that synchronizes most things without me doing anything across devices. One particular example Mint doesn't do is thumbnails on networked drives, there maybe a browser that will but now I have to look for it. Just want to go from A to B with minimum fuss.

Really depends what you want and are doing. All the OSs have problems and blind spots. Finder for example doesn't support MTP, so you can't natively browse Android and other devices like new Kindles like you can on Windows or Linux.

 

[pshufd]

You can fix this for any device by just buying a $10 dumb standalone alarm clock or dumb watch and accepting that modern iOS and Android are buggy cesspools.

I use old iOS devices for alarm clocks. If I really need to get up, I use two or three of them.

Old iPad minis make great clocks in the dark.

 

[Queen6]

Don't need much out of Apple these days. Have a few old MBP's for offline tasks, M1 MBP is occasionally used. Strong Windows 11 PC for gaming and a tablet with it's own OS. No plan to dump the Mac, equally see no reason to upgrade the M1 as it still serves purpose and as time passes that purpose only tends to reduce. Have zero interest in Apple's latest OS, M1 is perfectly fine on Sonoma. Done being a beta tester for Apple many moons ago...

Q-6

 

[Cape Dave]

I have left the Apple ecosystem a few times, but for personal use I often come back - I want the alarm clock on my phone to work every time, which is something Androids seemingly struggle with still (at least in 2025).

Also, getting over decades of key command familiarity is grit in the works when trying to get work done. I will probably also be making the permanent move away from Apple if Liquid Glass is the future. But for now, I'm holding on to Sequoia and iOS 18.x

Hard to say how much I hate Tahoe, and useless upgrades in general. Sequoia for the win!

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Of course, a fan of Linux Mint would reply that it CAN do thumbnails on networked drives. It only takes a few hours of browing to hear you just have to install Gigglybum's hack, by cloning his Github and building it. Simple! Of course, Gigglybum built it against a later release of the GNOME desktop than you have, so you'll have to upgrade that. That's not available for your distribution, because it's considered bleeding edge, so after asking around on forums and waiting a few days for replies, you learn you have to go off to Shakywilly's Github and clone/build the GNOME desktop to get it working... By this point, many of your everyday apps are now outside the distribution's repo, so each time you try to update, it shows a raft of errors. So, you have to tell it not to include certain apps in its scan, something which works the first few times but then breaks after a few times... Then after a few months of not getting any updates, you figure, well, I'll just do a complete reinstall using a bleeding edge version of the distro so I can just use Gigglybum's thumbnail add-on out of the box. Bleeding edge is always fun! You do that (it only takes six hours), but it turns out it breaks a load of older things you rely upon. Your printer's driver was dropped ("We no longer support Inkblot models because they enforce DMCA on their printer cartridges, and one of their executives said he met RMS once and got a strong whiff of body odour"). So, after three hours of research (including wading through several heated debates on StackOverflow), you learn you have to use Grumblemouth's Github to clone his printer driver to get it working... But then it turns out Grumblemouth used an older version of CUPS! So, you have to...

I have nothing to seriously contribute to the conversation but I want to wholeheartedly thank you for the laugh! Really needed that today.

I'll still shill Linux every day of the week but man if this doesn't feel on the nose sometimes.

 

[woolypants]

I have nothing to seriously contribute to the conversation but I want to wholeheartedly thank you for the laugh! Really needed that today.

I'll still shill Linux every day of the week but man if this doesn't feel on the nose sometimes.

Don't forget the biographies of the developers:

Gigglybum: Lives in a suburb of Meridian, Idaho. 49 years old. Gun nut—carries a side arm at all times, and has five other weapons within a 10 metre radius at any time (including when driving). 100% Libertarian. Argues regularly online for the rights of basically evil people, because everybody should be free to do what the hell they want. Hates Trump but "has to admit he's doing good things". Is single and has been since Shirley, 12 years ago, that lasted for less than a year. Once actually burned a Windows laptop in his back yard, filming it and putting it on YouTube, but it only got 43 views. Then he took it off YouTube, because he hates Google (obviously), and put it on VidUL, an uncensored video platform run by shady people in Russia, where it has two views (both his). Once called Linus Torvalds "deranged" (evidence still there on the kernel mailing list).

Shakywilly: Lives in a suburb of Düsseldorf, Germany. 33 years old. Obsessed with open source software and his local light rail system that he blogs about extensively. Was once one of the top youth violinists in Germany, but doesn't care for that now and generally prefers Death Metal. Studying for a PhD in Applied Mathematics, after getting most of the way through a medical degree but deciding it wasn't a job he wanted because he struggles to understand why everybody else in the world is measurably stupider compared to him (genuine confusion; he treats it almost like a computing problem to be solved, although he doesn't actually believe he's superior to anybody else and lives a humble life). Lives with his girlfriend (also a PhD student), after leaving his family home at the age of 27.

Grumblemouth: Lives in Mumbai, India. 29 years old. Employed by IBM to work on a kernel module for the X204-B file server, but works remotely. Is a regular guy. Has a wife and young family. Part of the Indian middle-class. Owns a Tesla, and lives in a reasonably-sized (for India) apartment that's furnished via the expensive-end of the Ikea catalog. Thinks he's doing well but is still shocked whenever his team gets together in Texas and "people drive into the parking lot with trucks as big as my grandmother's house" (not that he tells them). One of his hobbies is being the sole maintainer of a CLI command without which Cloudflare would fall over and die. Cloudflare once sent him a branded cupcake to say thanks, but he had to throw it away because it contained beef gelatine and he's Hindu.

 

[Steve Adams]

Been trying all sorts of Linux, Played with MacOS for a bit this weekend. And, the devil you know.....Windows 11 it is for the win for me. I just am so used to how it work on it that the rest are non starters for me. The next thing is to find a laptop with all features I want. Price is a consideration, but not as much as having everything I want in one laptop.

14 inch size, SD card reader, touchscreen, and great GPU performance. I am very limited.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I had a difficult time setting up nextcloud but I like it a lot.

Thinkpads are great. I like the idea of a Framework, though. Expandable in pretty much every way.

I have an Unraid server set up from an old PC with extra drives added. I run Jellyfin and Nextcloud on there. Works great--except on iPad and iPhone. The apps for those OSes suck at loading all the files locally, being offline all day while I make changes at my office, then syncing the changes when I get home.

If I don't use it on my iPHone and iPad, but just use Windows devices (to be fair, Mac would work fine as well--just need a desktop OS), it works great in the same gone all day scenario.

I also just leave my server as LAN only. So if a person will go through the work of tailscale and all of that, this might not be an issue.

So to answer your question. I currently use a high end gaming laptop (Lenovo Legion Pro 7) as my main machine, and a Surface Pro 9 for my on-the-go machine. For my phone I have an iPhone 15 Plus which is on its last legs and will probably be turned into a 17e. But I also don't need to use my phone as anything except a phone. I mostly use Maps, Find My, Phone, Messages, and the like.

But I ditched my iPad Pro 12.9", and my M4 Macbook Air--haven't really looked back.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

My other thought on this that I have realized, is I have quit "caping up" for corporations. We really don't matter to them anymore, so I should I care about them? I use what works for me and if it doesn't I move on.

I used to only buy Toyotas for instance, then realized that you pay an unnecessary premium if a Honda or Subaru will work just as well. Same here. Go with what works for you. I am done romanticizing and/or glorifying my tech companies.

I like my Lenovo gaming laptop, it's really nice and premium. But I am not going to ignore every bad thing said about it and pretend like everything is great with the company just because I like my laptop. As a for instance.

 

[pshufd]

I used to only buy Toyotas for instance, then realized that you pay an unnecessary premium if a Honda or Subaru will work just as well. Same here. Go with what works for you. I am done romanticizing and/or glorifying my tech companies.

OT but Toyota's quality has dropped for 2025 and 2026 models. It might be the pressure of tariffs which have made a mess of the car business overall but now we have the added issue of higher gasoline costs and shipping costs for parts to get here. I'm on r/Camry and am watching complaints of 2025 and 2026 new car buyers. If I had to buy a car today, it would be a used Toyota from model years that didn't have issues. I could also be convinced to buy a Mazda or Honda but I'd have to learn the good and bad years.

I wouldn't touch Subaru. A friend of mine has a ten-year-old Outback and the frame is rusting and it would cost a ton of money to replace or fix it. There were a couple of years with that known problem. New England is home country for Subaru and they should be able to deal with salt roads in the winter.