Needing Advice: Which Linux/Nix* OS for Mac Mini Mid2011?

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Hey guys,

I'm sorry to be creating another thread about my Mac Mini mid2011, but I checked with MacRumors Moderating Team and they said it was fine since this is a different question entirely.

What's the best Linux/Nix* for me to install on my Mac Mini mid2011?

My Mac Mini mid2011 specs are:
Intel i5 2.3Ghz
8GB of RAM

Link for exact specs:

Mac mini (Mid 2011) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

Thank you for any advice!

 

[casperes1996]

I mean... macOS is a pretty alright choice...

But "best" is a pretty free-floating term. There's no real objective merit to judge it from without any qualifiers.
I'm partial to Ubuntu Mate, FreeBSD, ElementaryOS and Fedora depending on purpose

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

I mean... macOS is a pretty alright choice...

But "best" is a pretty free-floating term. There's no real objective merit to judge it from without any qualifiers.
I'm partial to Ubuntu Mate, FreeBSD, ElementaryOS and Fedora depending on purpose

Thank you for your reply Casperes!

MacOS would be my first choice of OS to install and use, but I may not be able to because High Sierra may stop receiving security updates soon. I've got a thread on this that goes into detail into the problem with running High Sierra: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ed-security-support-to-november-2020.2243288/

When I say "best" I'm looking for an nix* OS that's 100% compatible with my Mac Mini mid2011 and is a very secure OS.

 

[casperes1996]

MacOS would be my first choice of OS to install and use, but I may not be able to because High Sierra may stop receiving security updates soon. I've got a thread on this that goes into detail into the problem with running High Sierra: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ed-security-support-to-november-2020.2243288/

If you want you can use DosDude1's tools to get newer macOS releases running - Here's the one for Catalina

macOS Catalina Patcher

When I say "best" I'm looking for an nix* OS that's 100% compatible with my Mac Mini mid2011 and is a very secure OS.

So hardware compatability isn't that big a concern - Pretty much anything is compatible with the hardware.

As for security; At what level? Something like OpenBSD may be the most secure option you'll find, but that comes at the cost of speed. Hyperthreading is disabled by default for example. The OpenBSD team will go so far for security that even if there is no known threat and no proven way of exploiting a system, if it is considered a theoretical possibility, no matter how tiny, they will kill it. If they need to reduce performance by 500% to get the security they want, they'll accept that, even if the risk of exploitation is basically nonexistent because no known exploit has ever been seen or thought-up.

For a "reasonable" level of security if your life doesn't literally depend upon nobody learning anything about your data, basically any *nix will be good for you.

If you want something with a nice GUI, Ubuntu Mate or ElementaryOS. If you want something more headless server oriented, FreeBSD or Debian Server

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

If you want you can use DosDude1's tools to get newer macOS releases running - Here's the one for Catalina

macOS Catalina Patcher

So hardware compatability isn't that big a concern - Pretty much anything is compatible with the hardware.

Thank you for your reply Casperes, but I've researched the DosDude1 patcher and I'm opposed to using something that's not officially made by Apple.

I'm looking into Ubuntu as you suggested.

Another thing I need to consider is what apps will run on the Nix* that I choose...

 

[2984839]

What's your experience and comfort level with Unix?

If you're completely new, Ubuntu or Mint are good choices.

If you can use a command line, OpenBSD is the best for security and ease of configuration/administration.

If you are sort of in between, MX Linux is a decent choice.

 

[iAssimilated]

I would recommend Kubuntu or KDE neon, but I am partial to KDE as a desktop environment. They are both based on Ubuntu. KDE neon uses the LTS (Long Term Support) release of Ubuntu 20.04.

 

[casperes1996]

If you are sort of in between, MX Linux is a decent choice.

BTW. don't you use Arch?

 

[2984839]

BTW. don't you use Arch?

Ha! I did actually used to use Arch, btw

 

[casperes1996]

I would recommend Kubuntu or KDE neon, but I am partial to KDE as a desktop environment. They are both based on Ubuntu. KDE neon uses the LTS (Long Term Support) release of Ubuntu 20.04.

Matter of preference, I hate KDE. - I mean, I should clarify that KDE is great in a lot of ways, but out of the box, if you don't change anything about It, I think it looks disgusting. Gnome looks great out of the box, as does Mate, the old Unity, Pantheon, etc. But I hate how KDE looks if you don't change it. - Modify it and it can look good too, but I just can't be bothered with that honestly.

 

[iAssimilated]

Matter of preference, I hate KDE. - I mean, I should clarify that KDE is great in a lot of ways, but out of the box, if you don't change anything about It, I think it looks disgusting. Gnome looks great out of the box, as does Mate, the old Unity, Pantheon, etc. But I hate how KDE looks if you don't change it. - Modify it and it can look good too, but I just can't be bothered with that honestly.

This is where linux really shines! I gives us options... if you don't like a certain DE, you can always use a different one. Don't like a certain default app, most likely there is an alternative. Don't like GUIs, use CLI. Etc etc.

I do get the default look of KDE can be a bit off putting to some. I feel it tries to be too much like the Windows UI 🤢. I have my KDE configured to almost exactly mirror macOS. Dock on the bottom using Latte Dock, menu bar on top with Global Menus turned on to match macOS. I changed the application window's title bar to match the button layout from macOS. Etc etc.

I haven't used Gnome since Red Hat 6.5. I never got into it, again, personal preference.

The best part about linux (for me) is that it got me off Windows, much like AA gets people off booze . Once I experienced the world linux had to offer I couldn't go back. A lot has changed since back then too, where now days it is actually quite easy to have a wonderful gaming experience on linux without jumping through a bunch of hoops.

 

[casperes1996]

This is where linux really shines! I gives us options... if you don't like a certain DE, you can always use a different one. Don't like a certain default app, most likely there is an alternative. Don't like GUIs, use CLI. Etc etc.

I do get the default look of KDE can be a bit off putting to some. I feel it tries to be too much like the Windows UI 🤢. I have my KDE configured to almost exactly mirror macOS. Dock on the bottom using Latte Dock, menu bar on top with Global Menus turned on to match macOS. I changed the application window's title bar to match the button layout from macOS. Etc etc.

I haven't used Gnome since Red Hat 6.5. I never got into it, again, personal preference.

The best part about linux (for me) is that it got me off Windows, much like AA gets people off booze . Once I experienced the world linux had to offer I couldn't go back. A lot has changed since back then too, where now days it is actually quite easy to have a wonderful gaming experience on linux without jumping through a bunch of hoops.

Absolutely agree. It's weird though because I'm simultaneously a tinkerer who loves to fool around with these things. But a lot of the time I just also can't be bothered configuring things. If I cared to set up KDE the way I like a DE to look I'm sure I could get along nicely with it - I've seen some nice KDE setups. But I just don't want to spend the time configuring it. - And yet I've spent days configuring an i3 desktop that was basically throwaway anyway. - Something I really like about the Mate desktop is that Mate Tweak Tool has a really great theme picker. - So you can just pick if you want it to set it up in a similar way to Windows, Gnome 2, Gnome 3, Unity, macOS or one of their more unique themes, and all the themes are excellent, retaining both some unique style of Mate as well as mirroring not just the look, but a lot of the behaviour of whatever you pick, like the global menu at the top with Mutiny and Cupertino.

But speaking of where Linux shines - The open source collaboration of all of this means that even if we use different DEs, if my DE of choice finds an issue with X11 or Wayland, and sends a fix upstream, your DE benefits too, and vice versa - That's great stuff. And also applies to macOS now that we are on MacRumors after all

Also, XQuartz on macOS (or the old Apple-bundled X11 server when that was a thing) allows for a lot of fun having these Linux desktops running inside a macOS environment. Though while you can tweak them so they run, it will be on top of Quartz and Aqua, you can't replace Aqua and Quartz with Gnome and Compiz. Though if you could a lot of macOS apps would also break too and you'd be stuck only with your GTK and QT apps... Though that's fun too, hehe - And with X11 forwarding you can send rendered windows from another Unix box over to Quartz and have them display on the Mac. It's bloody great.
Love *nix systems

 

[hwojtek]

I may not be able to because High Sierra may stop receiving security updates soon. I've got a thread on this that goes into detail into the problem with running High Sierra

High Sierra just recieved a bunch of security updates. What exactly makes you think it's not going to be "secure" for years to come?

Thank you for your reply Casperes, but I've researched the DosDude1 patcher and I'm opposed to using something that's not officially made by Apple.

What did you research about the patcher?
It does not modify any kernel code in the OS.
It does introduce drivers from previous MacOS to run on the current OS with minor "allowed version" edits allowing them to run on the target OS. If you did some actual research, you'd know it. They are still drivers from Apple.
It does introduce some additional patches that are optional, if you don't want them - don't install 'em.

Will you run Chrome? Word? Photoshop? Neither is made by Apple.

While being security-conscious is generally wise, your doubts are exaggerated to say the least. MacOS that has a single character in a single configuration file changed in order to boot on an unsupported Mac is still MacOS, as Apple intended.

You were asked several times what kind of software do you intend on running on your computer. Turns out it's nothing that needs any additional security beyond what a 20-years old OS X Puma would provide.

You put up yet another thread in relation to a problem that does not exist. Now you want to install "a Linux" without even a clue if there is a Linux version of whatever you might need to run on it. Or how to make it secure (which will include a lot of command-line typing and a lot of understanding of how computer and network interfaces work, trust me).

It's not a problem your High Sierra will eventually be considered vintage. It will not be hacked. Your Linux distro, developed by hundreds of independent and sometimes anonymous programmers around the globe would be hacked first. Fortunately, neither you nor me are a target for forced remote entry into our computers. And if you run a worm or download something that is a virus, you'd do it on a Linux, Windows or MacOS system with just exactly the same ease.

I say just use your High Sierra and don't make a non-issue an issue.

 

[Boyd01]

High Sierra just recieved a bunch of security updates. What exactly makes you think it's not going to be "secure" for years to come?

The OP already has a long thread about this...

Advice Please: What To Do With Mac Mini mid2011???

Hey guys, Sorry to be making a new thread, but I know MacRumors is the community which has the most experts on Macs on the internet. I searched the forums and I couldn't find a previous thread related to my severe problem. My biggest fear has come true: Apple will stop giving security updates...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[hwojtek]

The OP already has a long thread about this...

Been there in a futile effort.

 

[serpico007]

I’m using Pop!_OS on my Mac Pro. Been very happy with it. Tried Elementary OS but it was too simple for me. But it is very nice too. Xubuntu is another option I use on an old netbook.

 

[throAU]

I've been playing with openSUSE leap recently and its nice.

Been using linux since the 90s, openSUSE seems very well done to me.

Pop! is also a good new user option.

I'd stick with Linux of some form however as the BSDs will be less complete in terms of hardware support.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Going back to the original question ...
I would look at Linux Mint 19 in the first instance because you may need to install an older kernel and it is easy with LM 19. ( I use LM on my 2015 iMac, and run it with kernel 4.15.). I have been using LM on Macs since about 2010.
For a higher performance Linux, look to the up and coming Ubuntu Mate 20.10, which is still in beta as of today, but will soon be released. In that case you will need to use UKUU to select an older kernel.
If you wish to multi-boot, then you will need the ReFind Boot Manager.
I would also install the Linux OS on an external USB SSD if you want decent performance.

 

[hwojtek]

I would also install the Linux OS on an external USB SSD if you want decent performance.

How do you define "decent" using USB2? How much faster is it compared to a slowest possible HDD hooked to SATA3?

USB2 tops out at theoretical 60 Mbytes/sec (about 52 Mbytes/sec sequential reads in artificial tests, closer to 40 Mbytes/sec in reality).

An ancient Hitachi Travelstar 5K500 5400rpm, 320 GB SATA hard disk (kind of those installed in Mac Mini 2011) benchmarks sustained reads of 65 Mbytes per second.

How on Earth is an SSD connected using the slowest possible interface "decent" compared even to slowest possible hard disk on SATA? Here's the same SSD (Samsung PM851) connected to SATA2, USB2 and USB3. Can you tell which picture corresponds to which interface?

 

[clueless88]

Thank you for your reply Casperes, but I've researched the DosDude1 patcher and I'm opposed to using something that's not officially made by Apple.

I'm looking into Ubuntu as you suggested.

Another thing I need to consider is what apps will run on the Nix* that I choose...

Am trying to understand what you are saying. You are opposed to using something that's not officially made by Apple so you are looking into Linux???

Using non Mac OSes on Mac products may not be sanctioned by Apple, but it can be done. Likewise, workarounds in getting the Mac OSes that have security updates to run on older Mac products likewise may not be endorsed by Apple, but it can be done.

You own your Mac, you really can do whatever you'd like, it may be good to remain in an OS you are comfortable with.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

How do you define "decent" using USB2? How much faster is it compared to a slowest possible HDD hooked to SATA3?

USB2 tops out at theoretical 60 Mbytes/sec (about 52 Mbytes/sec sequential reads in artificial tests, closer to 40 Mbytes/sec in reality).

An ancient Hitachi Travelstar 5K500 5400rpm, 320 GB SATA hard disk (kind of those installed in Mac Mini 2011) benchmarks sustained reads of 65 Mbytes per second.

How on Earth is an SSD connected using the slowest possible interface "decent" compared even to slowest possible hard disk on SATA? Here's the same SSD (Samsung PM851) connected to SATA2, USB2 and USB3. Can you tell which picture corresponds to which interface?

Because it's not just large file throughput (which is what Blackmagic tests) that makes a drive useful to put an OS on. More important is the average seek time.
On a HDD, that is typically 16 msecs, while even on a slow SSD, you are looking at 0.2 to 0.5 msec, some 30 to 80 times faster.
When you are booting up your system is reading lots of little files scattered across the drive, so seek time becomes very important. Once you have booted up, the first time you load a large application (like LibreOffice) it may take 10 to 20 seconds, but after that, if you have enough RAM, it will be cached and will reload in about 3 seconds.

And now for some real-world figures
Pause while reconfiguring Mac to boot Ubuntu Mate 20.10 from USB 2 SSD ...
Boot time - 30 sec
Load LibreOffice - 8 sec
Reload LibreOffice - 1 sec

Reconfigure Mac to boot Ubuntu Mate 20.10 from fast HDD (this is exactly the same Ubuntu Mate as above, duplicated via dd command)
Boot time - 60 sec
Load LibreOffice - 8 sec (under Ubuntu Mate 20.10, takes 15 to 20 sec under Linux Mint 20 and macOS Catalina)
Reload LibreOffice - 1 sec

Certain large and complex tasks like compiling a long LaTeX document take the same length of time regardless of the drive technology, despite the process involving many hundreds of small files. Processing the TexLive document lshort.tex takes 14 sec under Ubuntu Mate 20.10, 18 sec under Linux Mint 20 and macOS Catalina, whether it's on a slow SSD, fast HDD or Fusion Drive.

So, overall, I would prefer to run an OS from a slow SSD rather than a fast HDD.

There is a caveat there, though. It needs to be a good quality SSD. I have had a few cases of an OS freezing up on me on cheapy SSDs.

And now for some speed tests.

USB 2 SSD

Fast HDD

Conclusion -- If a slow SSD is better than a fast HDD to run an OS, then a slow SSD will be even better than a slow HDD.

 

[hwojtek]

Not on USB2, though. Interface limit, USB2 is 480 Mbps, can't overcome this.

 

[Jessica555]

I would recommend Kubuntu or KDE neon.

Yeah,i like KDE neon,it did a good job.

 

[ChrisA]

I'm looking into Ubuntu as you suggested.

Another thing I need to consider is what apps will run on the Nix* that I choose...

What do you need to do? The Chrome browser works well and is a lot like Safari.

As for photography, I have not yet found anything that is as good as Adobe Lightroom. The CAD software I was using on MacOS will not run on Linux. But other than those two you are best off using Ubuntu over macOS.

To get around the above I run Windows 10 inside VMware Player. I use Windows to run the 3D CAD software and any Adobe products and if I needed MS Office, that too.

To run Linux, VMware, and then Windows you need lots of RAM. It will work with 8GB but if you want to do media editing and 3D CAD, you want to max-out the RAM to at least 16GB or much more if you can

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Thank you for all your replies!

Am trying to understand what you are saying. You are opposed to using something that's not officially made by Apple so you are looking into Linux???

Using non Mac OSes on Mac products may not be sanctioned by Apple, but it can be done. Likewise, workarounds in getting the Mac OSes that have security updates to run on older Mac products likewise may not be endorsed by Apple, but it can be done.

You own your Mac, you really can do whatever you'd like, it may be good to remain in an OS you are comfortable with.

I really wish Apple would continue to provide security updates for MacOS High Sierra, but they aren't... I'd much rather stay with MacOSX than move to Linux, but I need to know that my Mac Mini mid2011 is getting security updates.

I'm leaning towards Ubuntu because it seems like the Linux distro with the biggest community.