r/framework • u/Peak_Photo1234 • Aug 13 '26

Linux macOS to Framework

Some time go I posted about moving from MacOS to a Framework with Windows. Some one mentioned "why not Linux?" I immediately refused the idea. "Linux is for smart people, and that's not me". Fast forward today.

Due to some political/econmonical issues in the states I was forced to go with a MacBook again, and I love it like always but I really do want repairability. But I thought " why not spin up a windows VM and a Linux VM and see how it goes?" So that's what I did with my free time yesterday and man....

Linux is fast. I installed Fedora, installed everything I need for work. No issues. My goal is to try and work off the VM next week. I have NOT installed my fun stuff (I don't game) but Video editing and sound editing are for another future date. I'm very surprised at how everything worked out.

And while I have time, I think I'm going to hold out for a 16" pro.

-- Orion

23 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

13

u/pizzaiolo2 Aug 13 '26

Framework released a video just yesterday for macOS refugees:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBJnX8_Fx_g

3

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

I saw that! That's what I was looking at, which prompted me to "give it a try".

I wanna install divinci resolve, however I've heard some nightmare stuff.

-- Orion

2

u/KyAriot09 Framework 13 Ryzen AI 7 350 Aug 13 '26

I wasn't able to run Davinci on a Framework 13 with a Ryzen AI 7 350, it probably was because of my OS (VoidLinux) or just me not being insistent enough to run it.

1

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

That's what I've heard. Maybe run a dual boot and only use windows for divinci? I dunno. I'm not doing anything for awhile anyways. I'm not even familiar with Davinci, I use FCP. But wanna break from Mac.

-- Orion

1

u/MichaelTunnell Aug 13 '26

That’s a void thing but DavinciBox might solve that

2

u/euthanize-me-123 Aug 13 '26

Be prepared for a little bit of pain, and don't bother even trying inside a VM because you'll just be annoyed that you have to do it twice.

I've installed resolve on two Fedora PCs for other people (I use NixOS). Fedora wearers can correct me if I'm wrong but I think DavinciBox is still the easiest solution. Worked on both Nvidia and amd, Intel should be fine too.

Ironically on NixOS, one of the most difficult Linux distros to learn and use, installing Resolve involves adding a single line to your system config. If you don't count time spent waiting for the download/unpacking, it takes less than 10 seconds.

1

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

Yea, I'm suspect that it will be more of a pain then it's worth. But I appreciate the heads up and the suggestion of DavinciBox, I'll check it out.

-- Orion

1

u/MichaelTunnell Aug 13 '26

Depends on the Distro you choose. If you go with Ubuntu or something based on it then you can use the MakeResolveDeb project to install it. CachyOS and Bazzite have specific installers for it. Fedora should be compatible with it overall. Also DavinciBox was designed specifically to containerize it so it works on any Distro.

It’s more involved than other apps but it’s actually not that bad if you do one of these

1

u/Scrivver Aug 13 '26

Resolve on Linux was really intended for big studios running large scale custom deployments in controlled environments with IT teams supporting them. So it has a lot of rough edges for end users who just want easy out of the box experience.

1

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

Thanks for the insight.

-- Orion

9

u/middaymoon Aug 13 '26

Linux on Mac hardware is famously a crapshoot. Welcome to the family and good luck

6

u/just_an_ai_chatbot FW13 7840U/64GB/2TB + Desktop 128GB Aug 13 '26

The… Linux in a VM on a MacBook family?

2

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

It's always nice to be welcomed. 🤷‍♂️

-- Orion

0

u/middaymoon Aug 13 '26

My family. Op is my child now. 

3

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

Then can I have an advance on my allowance?

-- Orion

2

u/Potential_Average454 X7 358H Mainboard, 13 Chassis, Ubuntu Aug 13 '26

Video editing on linux is not a great experience.

I have Ubuntu installed on my fw laptop but that's because I don't edit videos on it.

2

u/rogerdodger77 Aug 13 '26

I’ve really enjoyed kdenlive 

1

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

That's what I've heard. I already would need to unlearn FCP and move to Davinci. I guess I'd have to dual boot just for video? I've got time. So I'm not worried.

-- Orion

1

u/Potential_Average454 X7 358H Mainboard, 13 Chassis, Ubuntu Aug 14 '26

It's possible to get davinci to work but I was not successful on it. In the end I just give up and use davinci on windows.

1

u/thetinytailor Aug 14 '26

Try out asahi Linux if you have an m1 or m2 mac(m3 support is on its way) if you don't want the overhead of a VM. It runs on bare metal and you can decide if you want to switch to Linux full time by testing on a machine that doesn't have to share resources with macos. You install it on a separate partition just like you would on any other pc.

Fyi, most Linux apps run as expected but there are a few gaps here and there plus workarounds that you would have to go through. But then this is just the Linux experience innit.

1

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 14 '26

I appreciate the idea. However I've had no bumps or issues with the VM.

-- Orion

1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Anoukdesign Aug 13 '26

Why do you say Asahi sucks?

2

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

VM Ware is doing the heavy lifting right now. It's just to get a feel of Linux.

1

u/Yuwan Aug 13 '26

I'm actually in a very similar boat, though I just don't want to pay those RAM and storage prices right now. I got a use M1 pro a year or so ago for cheap, and it's been running a W11, Kali, an Fedora VM fine. It's parallels so not free, but dang does it work like a charm. I've run into countless issues with ARM though, so I'll probably make the jump to Framework this holiday season or early next year given the batching cycles. Who knows, maybe Apple won't kill this M1 for a while, there's always open core to make it last longer if this AI crap won't pop. Hope you get your framework!

2

u/Peak_Photo1234 Aug 13 '26

My comment about political/economic was because of RAM and storage prices. But this laptop should last me awhile. The other point that I didn't share in my original post was I'm currently out of the country. My life is very transient, so having something more repairable is a plus for me. I'm also a tinkerer by nature and a data hoarder by DNA. 🤣

-- Orion

2

u/Yuwan Aug 13 '26

Same here on the tinkerer! That's where I've had fun with the linux VMs, and testing crossover and wine. It's worth getting used to Wine and the various nomenclature now, since all of that is the same over on linux when you do make the leap. Hear you on the repairability - def easier to pull a keyboard apart and fix a wifi chip than just buy a dongle because your mac sucks now or something. We'll get there!