The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    new macbook air 13.3 inch 2017 linux issues

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by Jelky Bellyl, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. Jelky Bellyl

    Jelky Bellyl Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I want to buy macbook air 13.3 inch , the newest model from 2017 and install on it linux ( debian, eventually arch / fedora / other distros )
    My question is are there unresolved issues with compability I should expect ( e.g. Slow wifi due to poor quality reverse-engineered driver / not working webcam / mic / lack of control over fan etc. )?
    Cheers
     
    Jelky Bellyl, Sep 20, 2017
    #1
  2. PrecisionBassed

    PrecisionBassed Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Lots of good info on this page: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/mac

    In my (very limited) testing of Fedora Linux on a MacBook Air, I had to install the "non-free" Broadcom driver for the wireless.
     
    PrecisionBassed, Sep 25, 2017
    #2
  3. Jelky Bellyl

    Jelky Bellyl Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    yeah, but nothing there adressses specifically New macbook air, only old models.
    wh
    at model of macboik air do you have?
     
    Jelky Bellyl, Sep 25, 2017
    #3
  4. PrecisionBassed

    PrecisionBassed Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I think I tested on an 11" 2013 MacBook Air.

    I included the link to Arch because they have a pretty smart user base. But additionally you should check the wiki for whichever distro you want to try. For example, if you are interested in Debian: https://wiki.debian.org/MacBook

    In my experience, Linux Mint generally has the best hardware support out-of-the-box, because they include "non free" drivers on the install medium. If you get it working in Mint, you can figure out which drivers/modules are in use, and then replicate it on a different distro like Debian.
     
    PrecisionBassed, Sep 25, 2017
    #4
    Jelky Bellyl and Vasudev like this.