2018 version, replacing MacOS

[groverb]

I'm interested in the MBP '18 hardware and profile, but not the software. Has anyone replaced MacOS with Linux? If so, what distro did you load and how does it perform?

 

[Leo90]

If you want to install and use Linux, why not buying another pc? You will save loads of money! The sole and only reason I still pay absurd prices for an Apple computer is due to macOS.

 

[c0ppo]

Don't do it. Every ThinkPad will work way better with Linux than any MBP. Aand you get better ports and better keyboard. Only reason to purchase MBP is Mac OS and the software.

 

[iMacDragon]

the 2018 will be an extremely bad laptop for linux, hardly any of the esoteric hardware is supported, or supported well if supported at all. ( the keyboard/trackpad, touchbar, wifi, T2, etc )

 

[maflynn]

Has anyone replaced MacOS with Linux?

What are you looking to do? Are the apps you need available in Linux? Before taking the plunge, you'll need to line up your ducks, so to speak. Ensure that the platform is capable of running what you need to run.

Then as @iMacDragon mentioned, you may be in for a lot of work finding drivers, tweaking conf files to get linux to work. I think Ubuntu may be a safe version. There's also Elementary OS, which has a somewhat look/feel of macOS, and that's based off of Ubuntu. Mint is another popular distro.

Download VirtualBox, for MacOS, and then try the distros within a VM and see if you like the way they work and/or handle what you throw at them. Also visit their support sites to see how compatible the MBP is for that particular distro.

 

[Traace]

Don't do it. Every ThinkPad will work way better with Linux than any MBP. Aand you get better ports and better keyboard. Only reason to purchase MBP is Mac OS and the software.

I like the new ThinkPad AMD Ryzen, good performance, easy swappable keyboard, M.2 slot. works good with linux.

 

[groverb]

I'm waiting for refurbished market with prices approaching reasonable numbers. Then again, the ThinkPad is a top alternative.

 

[Altis]

I'm waiting for refurbished market with prices approaching reasonable numbers. Then again, the ThinkPad is a top alternative.

Replaced my 2010 17" MBP with a 6-week old, pretty much never used ThinkPad L470 (i5, 8GB RAM (upgradeable), 1080p IPS 14", 128 GB SSD (user-replacable, supports M.2), all the ports I need, and great keyboard) for about $300 all-in (CAD$400).

It's refreshing to get so much for so little. I don't have to muck around with ports and dongles, I can service/replace the drives, RAM, and battery (which gets about 12-16 hours for what I do), and Linux (Mint Xfce for me) works without hassle (though I mostly use Windows 10 on it).

Hard to go wrong with a ThinkPad, although sometimes their pricing seems really wonky at times, at least in Canada.