From M1 MacBook to Arch Linux: A month-long experiment that became permanenent
4 days ago
- #Tech-Switch
- #Linux
- #Productivity
- Switched from a MacBook Pro M1 Max to a Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G7 ARP running Linux (Omarchy).
- Pre-requirements for the switch included Obsidian notes, fuzzy finder, screenshot tool, photo program, daylight adjustment, calendar events, hibernate, and backup.
- Tradeoffs include missing Snagit for photo capturing, occasional shortcut issues, and inferior battery life compared to MacBook.
- Backup solution not as seamless as TimeMachine on macOS, but cloud sync switched from Sync.com to Filen.io.
- Keyboard shortcuts and app launchers customized using Kanata and Walker, enhancing productivity.
- Omarchy, an opinionated Arch Linux distro, provided a smooth transition with many macOS-like features out of the box.
- Big upside includes smooth navigation with Hyprland and flawless external monitor support.
- Downsides include lack of native Grammarly app, Microsoft Teams/Office, and inferior hibernate functionality.
- Hardware choice was a Lenovo ThinkBook due to affordability and keyboard quality, though CPU performance and fan noise are notable downsides.
- Learned a lot and had fun customizing the OS, with plans to continue improving the setup.