My parents have this old 2015 MacBook Air that they wanted to use but couldn’t due to no security updates and slow running. I convinced them to let me load up fedora on it instead of junking it. They only really need it for some basic document writing, email, and web surfing so I figured this is perfect for them.

Made a bootable drive with Fedora 43 work station on it, figured gnome would be the most Apple like spin. Everything went super smooth until I realized that the WiFi drivers weren’t installed lol. I also didn’t have a Ethernet adapter for usb-a so I had to overnight it to me while my parents swore I bricked their Mac all night. Got the adapter this AM, hooked it up, installed the drivers and other necessary tweaks, and viola! This Mac has new life.

So far my parents are liking it and understanding it (even though my mom seems more excited about the snoopy wallpaper and Firefox theme, lol). Getting their emails on thunderbird was driving me crazy. Nothing to do with thunderbird, they just didn’t know their passwords smh. All in all not bad. To new Linux converts

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[–] 72 points 9 months ago (3 children)

I got a laugh at the end as I have also experienced that the hardest part about converting parents to Linux is them not knowing their passwords.

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  • [–] [S] 33 points 9 months ago

    Oh the pain. You should’ve heard the accusations of someone else changing their passwords…somehow. Yet they’ll both bring up me bricking the fam computer dl linkin park from limewire…like 20+ years ago lol

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  • [–] 22 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    This. Migrating my father to Bluefin was absolutely eventless. Except the 8 hours of fighting over passwords. Because I'm supposed to know all his passwords, apparently.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Mine didn’t want to migrate and I had to build them a new PC with Win11 (their old one was barely able to run win 10 and had already some hardware problems, so a new one was on my bucket list for a while) - but… yeah the most time was spent tracking down all these passwords and accounts they were constantly using without knowing which email address and which password was used for the account…

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  • [–] 46 points 9 months ago

    I’m confused. How did you save your parent’s Masters in Business Administration? /s

    (Sorry. I can’t help but think that every time someone acronym’s Macbook Air.)

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  • [–] 25 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Webcamera also should not work btw, cause it need firmware which is not part of linux-firmware package also webcamera need color correction files ,I wrote 2 scripts which fix it,if u need webcamera let me know

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  • [–] [S] 8 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Oh that would be great if you could. I’d appreciate it!

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  • [–] 32 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    First one

    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    set -euo pipefail
    
    
    URL="https://updates.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/041-88431-20191011-e7ee7d98-2878-4cd9-bc0a-d98b3a1e24b1/OSXUpd10.11.5.dmg"
    RANGE=204909802-207733123
    OSX_DRV="AppleCameraInterface"
    OSX_DRV_DIR="System/Library/Extensions/AppleCameraInterface.kext/Contents/MacOS"
    FILE="$OSX_DRV_DIR/$OSX_DRV"
    
    DRV_HASH="f56e68a880b65767335071531a1c75f3cfd4958adc6d871adf8dbf3b788e8ee1"
    FW_HASH="e3e6034a67dfdaa27672dd547698bbc5b33f47f1fc7f5572a2fb68ea09d32d3d"
    
    OFFSET=81920
    SIZE=603715
    
    
    WORKDIR=$(mktemp -d)
    cd "$WORKDIR"
    
    echo "Downloading macOS driver..."
    curl -k -L -r "$RANGE" "$URL" | xzcat -qq -Q | cpio --format odc -i -d "./$FILE" &> /dev/null || true
    
    mv "$FILE" .
    
    echo "Extracting firmware..."
    dd bs=1 skip=$OFFSET count=$SIZE if=./$OSX_DRV of=./firmware.bin.gz &> /dev/null
    gunzip ./firmware.bin.gz
    
    
    echo "$DRV_HASH  $OSX_DRV" > firmware.sha256
    echo "$FW_HASH  firmware.bin" >> firmware.sha256
    
    sha256sum -c firmware.sha256
    
    
    TARGET_DIR="/lib/firmware/facetimehd"
    echo "Installing firmware to $TARGET_DIR (requires sudo)..."
    sudo mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR"
    sudo cp firmware.bin "$TARGET_DIR/"
    
    echo "Done. Firmware installed."
    

    and second

    #!/bin/bash
    
    set -e
    
    BOOTCAMP_ZIP_URL="https://download.info.apple.com/Mac_OS_X/031-30890-20150812-ea191174-4130-11e5-a125-930911ba098f/bootcamp5.1.5769.zip"
    TMPDIR=$(mktemp -d)
    FIRMWARE_DIR="/lib/firmware/facetimehd"
    DAT_FILES=(
        "9112_01XX.dat:1663920:33060:479ae9b2b7ab018d63843d777a3886d1"
        "1771_01XX.dat:1644880:19040:a1831db76ebd83e45a016f8c94039406"
        "1871_01XX.dat:1606800:19040:017996a51c95c6e11bc62683ad1f356b"
        "1874_01XX.dat:1625840:19040:3c3cdc590e628fe3d472472ca4d74357"
    )
    
    
    for cmd in unzip unrar dd md5sum curl; do
        if ! command -v $cmd &> /dev/null; then
            echo "Missing required command: $cmd"
            exit 1
        fi
    done
    
    
    cd "$TMPDIR"
    echo "Downloading Boot Camp Support Software..."
    curl -L -o bootcamp.zip "$BOOTCAMP_ZIP_URL"
    
    
    echo "Extracting Boot Camp package..."
    unzip bootcamp.zip
    
    
    cd BootCamp/Drivers/Apple/
    
    
    echo "Extracting AppleCamera64.exe..."
    unrar x AppleCamera64.exe
    
    
    if [[ ! -f "AppleCamera.sys" ]]; then
        echo "AppleCamera.sys not found!"
        exit 1
    fi
    
    
    cd "$TMPDIR"
    
    
    echo "Extracting calibration data..."
    for entry in "${DAT_FILES[@]}"; do
        IFS=":" read -r filename skip count expected_md5 <<< "$entry"
        echo "Creating $filename..."
        dd bs=1 skip="$skip" count="$count" if=BootCamp/Drivers/Apple/AppleCamera.sys of="$filename" status=none
        actual_md5=$(md5sum "$filename" | awk '{print $1}')
        if [[ "$actual_md5" != "$expected_md5" ]]; then
            echo "Checksum mismatch for $filename (expected $expected_md5, got $actual_md5)"
            exit 1
        fi
    done
    
    
    echo "Copying .dat files to firmware directory..."
    sudo mkdir -p "$FIRMWARE_DIR"
    sudo cp *.dat "$FIRMWARE_DIR"
    
    
    echo "Reloading facetimehd module..."
    sudo modprobe -r facetimehd || true
    sudo modprobe facetimehd
    
    echo "Done. Please Reboot ."
    
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  • [–] 24 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    MBA

    I'm glad he specified it later, but dereferencing the jargon the first time it's used - especially an initialism often linked to something else - is much better.

    Hands up if you also saw "Masters of Business Administration" and were a little confused.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago

    Same, I was incredibly impressed that installing Linux ended up getting them a masters degree in business admin, and then realized they meant Macbook Air. I was let down a little, but still happy to see life of technology extended further.

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  • [–] 22 points 9 months ago

    That hardware still has plenty of power for basic use. It should be good for another 10 years running Linux.

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  • [–] 16 points 9 months ago (20 children)

    Gnome is closer out of the box.

    But you can make KDE work almost exactly like macOS. The top bar context menu, power menu, bottom dock, left-hand window buttons, etc.

    It just involves changing a bunch of settings.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago

    Yeah KDE is incredibly flexible. You can get most of the way there downloading a Global Theme from KDE's settings menu (such as MacOS Big Sur) - that lays out all the panels, including the top bar context menu, power menu, dock, left sided window buttons. There are then some extra visual themes such as cursors, icons that people can get separately if they really want to completely mimic a Mac.

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago

    I in the process of doing that, but the most problematic thing is the keyboard shortcuts IMO. All the apps have their own default shortcuts, all defaulting to ctrl + * instead of cmd + *

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    I personally use Fedora plasma on my thinkpad. Love it even though I’ve done like no customizing of it. I chose gnome for my parents cause I wanted a close out of the box experience…and I also wanted to play with Fedora workstation 43 before upgrading my plasma os

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago

    KDE is genuinely incredibly flexible - you can make it into pretty much any GUI that exists. The default windows like set up is fine, but there are so many easy tweaks and changes you can make to get it however you want. I have a floating dock-like set up instead of a window-like taskbar, with application launcher, icon-only view, system tray, clock and power button.

    For simple tweaks yoy can right click on most component of your KDE panels and select "Show alternatives..." to see different official versions of the same component. For example, the Application Launcher offers an alternative Application Menu with cascading menus like an old-school windows start menu, or a full screen gnome-like Application Dashboard. And there are also loads more user made tools if you right click and select "Add or Manage widgets". Every component of the desktop is a widget and can be moved, swapped out, duplicated or replaced.

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    [–] 16 points 9 months ago* (2 children)

    Where did you got wifi drivers? From the distro repo? Why didn't you used a flash drive to pass them w/o an adapter?

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  • [–] [S] 20 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    I enabled the free and non free repos and entered

    sudo dnf in broadcom-wl

    That got everything working. I used the Ethernet method cause I am a noob and was not aware of using a flash drive until just now lol. Guess I got something else to learn

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  • [–] 13 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    You can also just hook your phone up via usb and enable usb tethering, allowing the PC to use wifi or mobile broadband via the phone.

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  • [–] [S] 5 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Someone told me that too, lol. I’m learning all sorts today. Oh well. At least now I have Ethernet adapters for every sort of port

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  • [–] 9 points 9 months ago

    No one is born knowing this stuff; everyone learns it somewhere. But omg it's still frustrating after you spend days taking the difficult route and someone says "oh you could have just done this in 2 mins". My sympathy to you! :D But GG on getting your parents onto Linux and saving them from wasting money on a new laptop!

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    [–] 14 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Why do people hide local ip address on fastfetch.

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  • [–] [S] 20 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Overly cautious and slightly tech illiterate. I’m working on the latter though!

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    For reference, sharing your local IP address is a little like saying “I’m in room 223” (local IP address) and not saying what building (network) you’re in. Someone can’t walk into 223 in a different building and get to the same room you’re in.

    Honestly, even if someone knew what network you were on, a local IP address wouldn’t be that useful because even if they successfully got on your network, as long as you have a properly-configured firewall and no vulnerable network-exposed services on your system, they can’t really do anything.

    Honestly, while it’s still not a bright idea to tempt fate like that, even sharing your public IP isn’t that bad for the same reasons if it’s a competent home user; the worst that can happen on a properly-configured network is that someone tries and fails to exploit vulnerabilities that aren’t there and MAYBE drum up your internet bill. Also, for most ISPs, your public IP changes pretty often anyway, usually something like every few days to a week, due to changing DHCP leases.

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  • [–] 14 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Congrats on saving your parents' master of business administration!

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    [–] 11 points 9 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 10 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    I like the snoopy wallpaper as well. I'm glad your parents seem to enjoy it (the wallpaper and the computer lol).

    Also, why is there a toothbrush on the right?

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  • [–] 10 points 9 months ago

    Love to see it! I got my parents onto Linux Mint about a year ago and it's been great for them.

    Their home PC is way too old to upgrade to Windows 11, plus I didn't want them subjected to Microsoft's trash software and spying, so Linux it was.

    Themed it similar to Windows 10, even changed the "Start" menu icon to the Windows 10 logo so my parents felt safe using it lol.

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    If only my mom was also open minded about switching to Linux.

    Offering her IT assistance wasn’t enough..

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    [–] 4 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    What are the instructions for behind the MacBook Air? Gundam model?

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 9 months ago

    That’s for my girlpla kit to the right of the mba. I just have the right leg to finish lol. It’s the Ludens kit made by Kojima and Kotobukia. Really great kit so far. No fitment issues yes and tons of features

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago
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