Computer question: for help with visual sensitivities

[Outdated]

I am looking for something that allows me to turn all of the special effects off. Does Linux let you do that? Thanks

I also hate all those effects and have them turned off. I've also turned off image animations in Firefox web browser because they annoy me too much. I can still see actual videos but most adverts are just a static still image.

Now you've got me thinking..... I wonder if I should get a new PC or if I can wipe this 2015 macbook pro and put Linux on it. Does Linux Mint work on older mac hardware?

Some versions of Linux are more friendly with older computers than others but a 2015 MacBook Pro should be fine. Pretty much anything that has at least a dual core processor and 8 gig of ram is good. Macs are all Intel hardware inside which is compatible with almost anything.

You don't have to actually install Linux to try it out. The installers are "Live Desktops" and can be run straight from a USB memory stick so you get to play with it and find out if it's what you want or not before actually installing. In that state it won't remember any settings you change and will be slow to start up but it'll give you a reasonable idea.

All versions of Linux come with Firefox web browser and Libre Office suite already installed as well as a selection of different programs for watching movies and playing music, etc.

My preferred version is Fedora, although I'm using Ubuntu at the moment.
Fedora Cinnamon Spin

And here's instructions on how to turn the downloaded file in to a bootable USB stick in Windows. If you're using Mac at the moment then I can find other easy to follow instructions for you.
Creating and Running a Fedora Linux Live USB stick on a PC with Windows 11 - GeeksforGeeks

 

[Judge]

In case you don't have access to a PC....

How to Create a Bootable Linux Live USB on Your Mac - UMA Technology

Create a bootable USB stick on macOS | Ubuntu

 

[MC1Rcat]

First off, understand that Linux is completely different than Windows or Mac in just about everything.

That it takes time to get acquainted with the entire OS. And that there is no centralized support. If you run into a problem, you have to use a search engine to find a solution.In terms of apps, in most cases you'll have to start from scratch with a Linux equivalent of any Windows or Mac programs. Though there are certain programs that have various degrees of success in running windows apps. I use Wine 9.0 to run a 27 year old version of Photoshop. But that's the exception, not the rule.

Personally I find the "Libre Office" Suite a suitable replacement for Microsoft Office.

Each distribution comes with it's own "software manager", or "repository". A fancy name for a "software store" at no cost to the user. And the default repositories are vetted by the OS for security purposes. You simply download what you want, and can easily remove it if you want to try something else. Linux Mint has a rather large selection of software to get most any job done.

Newbie friendly? Seriously.....uh.....no. I cannot say that. I was being very accurate when I said everything is different. And I mean everything. Forget whatever decades of experience one has with Windows. It won't help in transitioning to Linux. Though Mint IMO makes the installation process easy, as well as providing all the basic software you may need, without so much "bloatware" that Windows dumps on all users.

So you'd best keep your existing Mac for emergencies until you feel comfortable in transitioning over to Linux. Above all the have patience and perseverance. All free of charge other than the time it takes you to get comfortable with it. You'll likely find that Linux in general runs considerably faster than Windows, and is immensely more secure in comparison.

It might be a good metaphor for most anyone to approach Linux much like learning a foreign language.

Thank you so much for this info... good to know. So I will hang on to the computer I have now and get a PC to try the Linux on....since I will be able to reduce the screen motion dynamics, etc. Now I just have to figure out which PC laptop to get. I went to the Linux mint site and did a bit of reading. I think I will take a look thru their install guide and see what they have to offer.

 

[Judge]

Thank you so much for this info... good to know. So I will hang on to the computer I have now and get a PC to try the Linux on....since I will be able to reduce the screen motion dynamics, etc. Now I just have to figure out which PC laptop to get. I went to the Linux mint site and did a bit of reading. I think I will take a look thru their install guide and see what they have to offer.

It's definitely something to take your time with. To be able to approach it like a new hobby. More akin to a commitment than simply learning a new OS.

One thing for sure, Linux doesn't have all the ridiculous hardware demands of Windows. If you prefer "lean and mean" in an OS, Linux does it quite well, just as it can also be extravagant.

 

[MC1Rcat]

I also hate all those effects and have them turned off. I've also turned off image animations in Firefox web browser because they annoy me too much. I can still see actual videos but most adverts are just a static still image.

Some versions of Linux are more friendly with older computers than others but a 2015 MacBook Pro should be fine. Pretty much anything that has at least a dual core processor and 8 gig of ram is good. Macs are all Intel hardware inside which is compatible with almost anything.

You don't have to actually install Linux to try it out. The installers are "Live Desktops" and can be run straight from a USB memory stick so you get to play with it and find out if it's what you want or not before actually installing. In that state it won't remember any settings you change and will be slow to start up but it'll give you a reasonable idea.

All versions of Linux come with Firefox web browser and Libre Office suite already installed as well as a selection of different programs for watching movies and playing music, etc.

My preferred version is Fedora, although I'm using Ubuntu at the moment.
Fedora Cinnamon Spin

And here's instructions on how to turn the downloaded file in to a bootable USB stick in Windows. If you're using Mac at the moment then I can find other easy to follow instructions for you.
Creating and Running a Fedora Linux Live USB stick on a PC with Windows 11 - GeeksforGeeks

Oh wow... that is great! I didn't know you could try it out on a USB! Thank you !!!!

 

[MC1Rcat]

In case you don't have access to a PC....

How to Create a Bootable Linux Live USB on Your Mac - UMA Technology

Create a bootable USB stick on macOS | Ubuntu

I think I will try this and see how I like Linux.... and how it works on my old computer If it all goes well...I won't have to get a new computer yet... and if not, I will have time to learn how to use Linux

 

[Judge]

I think I will try this and see how I like Linux.... and how it works on my old computer If it all goes well...I won't have to get a new computer yet... and if not, I will have time to learn how to use Linux

Yes, as @Outdated mentioned, when you boot up the iso flash drive of Linux Mint 22.1, you have the option of simply playing with it as the operating system itself, without actually clicking the CD icon that installs it. Giving you a sense of how it looks and feels in a default setup.

 

[MC1Rcat]

@Outdated and @Judge
Thanks so much!! You guys are the best!!! I really appreciate all of your help

Yes, as @Outdated mentioned, when you boot up the iso flash drive of Linux Mint 22.1, you have the option of simply playing with it as the operating system itself, without actually clicking the CD icon that installs it. Giving you a sense of how it looks and feels in a default setup.

This is great.. that way I can see which programs Linux is compatible with and have time to find replacements as needed. I use Google docs for work and protonmail for email... and I like that there is free desktop software for Linux that is replacing Excel and Word. I think paying $70 subscription fees for Microsoft office yearly is not fair. Especially since I do not want to store my data in anyone's cloud. Also, I am really not a fan of Windows at all. That's the reason I have been a mac user for many years. So, maybe Linux will be a really good fit for me.

 

[Judge]

@Outdated and @Judge
Thanks so much!! You guys are the best!!! I really appreciate all of your help

This is great.. that way I can see which programs Linux is compatible with and have time to find replacements as needed. I use Google docs for work and protonmail for email... and I like that there is free desktop software for Linux that is replacing Excel and Word. I think paying $70 subscription fees for Microsoft office yearly is not fair. Especially since I do not want to store my data in anyone's cloud. Also, I am really not a fan of Windows at all. That's the reason I have been a mac user for many years. So, maybe Linux will be a really good fit for me.

Frankly I think most former Office users are thrilled when they see the suite of applications that Libre Office provides for free. And in as much as Linux is different as an OS, Libre Office may actually seem familiar to many Microsoft Office veterans. Apps that seriously challenge MS Office.

 

[Judge]

Forgot to mention something many newbies might appreciate. The Linux distribution (distro)
Zorin OS17. It's the one Linux distro that offers a deluxe version for around $50 that also provides official phone support, along with a version that allows you to change the OS GUI "on the fly", whether you want something different, or a Windows or Mac interface.

The other versions are of course free. Another Ubuntu-based distro.

 

[Outdated]

Now I just have to figure out which PC laptop to get. I went to the Linux mint site and did a bit of reading. I think I will take a look thru their install guide and see what they have to offer.

Almost anything is good except a Chromebook - they're not actually PCs and are more closely related to phones and tablets. Just before Christmas I bought myself a new laptop to travel with, it only cost Au$400, that's around US$240.

As long as it has a dual core processor and 8 gig of ram it should be good. Higher specs required for intense video games of course but for an office type computer you need nothing more. I bought mine for internet access and for editing photos while I'm away.

 

[MC1Rcat]

Frankly I think most former Office users are thrilled when they see the suite of applications that Libre Office provides for free. And in as much as Linux is different as an OS, Libre Office may actually seem familiar to many Microsoft Office veterans. Apps that seriously challenge MS Office.

That sounds really good. I have been using WPS and it's okay, but rather wonky and slow because it has to go thru their website and cloud system anytime you want to open it, or a word document using their software. It also does not do everything that Word does, as far as making track change copies and leaving comments on stuff you are editing/ collaborating on.

 

[MC1Rcat]

Forgot to mention something many newbies might appreciate. The Linux distribution (distro)
Zorin OS17. It's the one Linux distro that offers a deluxe version for around $50 that also provides official phone support, along with a version that allows you to change the OS GUI "on the fly", whether you want something different, or a Windows or Mac interface.

The other versions are of course free. Another Ubuntu-based distro.

This sounds good for those of us that are new to Linux. I like figuring things out, but when you are in the middle of a project with a deadline and something goes wrong with the computer..... you don't have time to tinker with things and sort it out. So support can be invaluable at times. Thanks

 

[Judge]

This sounds good for those of us that are new to Linux. I like figuring things out, but when you are in the middle of a project with a deadline and something goes wrong with the computer..... you don't have time to tinker with things and sort it out. So support can be invaluable at times. Thanks

Download - Zorin OS

 

[MC1Rcat]

Almost anything is good except a Chromebook - they're not actually PCs and are more closely related to phones and tablets. Just before Christmas I bought myself a new laptop to travel with, it only cost Au$400, that's around US$240.

As long as it has a dual core processor and 8 gig of ram it should be good. Higher specs required for intense video games of course but for an office type computer you need nothing more. I bought mine for internet access and for editing photos while I'm away.

I am gonna take a look at PCs at a Staples a block away from my house and see how the screens affect my eyes/ dizziness. I also will see what their return policy is. If I can do a Linux USB trial on the computer and see if I can tweak it enough through Linux to fix any screen dynamics that are bothersome, I hope to be able to find something that works for me. I don't need anything fancy, since I am not gaming at all. It's really awesome that Linux can be used w/ the USB! That way I don't have to wipe the computer software to try it..... so I could still return anything that does not work well for me.

 

[Judge]

It's really awesome that Linux can be used w/ the USB!

To add to your enthusiasm, I'll point out the favored operating system of former NSA contractor and whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

His most preferred Linux OS is called "Tails". A Debian distribution that operates exclusively from a USB stick or DVD. It opens and closes in resident memory. In essence, when you close this OS, it's gone from whatever computer it was running on.

Tails - Home

 

[Outdated]

His most preferred Linux OS is called "Tails". A Debian distribution that operates exclusively from a USB stick or DVD. It opens and closes in resident memory. In essence, when you close this OS, it's gone from whatever computer it was running on.

Tails is more of a stealth system mostly only used by people up to no good because it doesn't retain any session information and it comes with Tor Browser which accesses the net through the onion networks and also doesn't save any cookies, history or usage data. Not suitable for every day use.

 

[Outdated]

It's really awesome that Linux can be used w/ the USB! That way I don't have to wipe the computer software to try it..... so I could still return anything that does not work well for me.

If you're going to be trying a few different computers I strongly suggest you stick to Fedora as your test version of Linux, it's actually the test version of a commercial product and uses the average user to help find problems, and it has support for a much broader range of hardware than any other system. In that regard no other system even comes close, it'll run fine on your old Mac and it'll run fine on the latest hardware and technology available.

I went through the same issue when I bought my little laptop, Ubuntu couldn't recognise half of it's hardware and failed to boot to the desktop. Installed Fedora instead and everything's sweet.

Fedora Cinnamon Spin

 

[Judge]

Tails is more of a stealth system mostly only used by people up to no good because it doesn't retain any session information and it comes with Tor Browser which access the net through the onion networks and also doesn't save any cookies, history or usage data. Not suitable for every day use.

True, though my point is just to show how versatile Linux can be compared to its competitors.

 

[Judge]

If you're going to be trying a few different computers I strongly suggest you stick to Fedora as your test version of Linux, it's actually the test version of a commercial product and uses the average user to help find problems, and it has support for a much broader range of hardware than any other system. In that regard no other system even comes close, it'll run fine on your old Mac and it'll run fine on the latest hardware and technology available.

I went through the same issue when I bought my little laptop, Ubuntu couldn't recognise half of it's hardware and failed to boot to the desktop. Installed Fedora instead and everything's sweet.

Fedora Cinnamon Spin

Interesting. Good point.

I've used test versions of Linux without actually loading it on my current computer, but point taken about an older Mac laptop. Never tried it on my older 13 year+ computer. Though a formal installation of Mint 22.0 went fine on my older system.