Apple to Linux Journal - Two months, enjoying the journey!
2025-05-01
Happy May Day! It's been over two months since my first install of Linux Mint on my old 2012 Mac Mini, now dubbed LinuxMini. I've got quite a few posts covering various apps and aspects of the migration but thought I'd write up a two month status report.
My initial plan was for Linux to be an experiment and eventual migration while my initial main goal was just to begin the process of migrating away from iCloud. Instead my enthusiasm got the better of me and I ended up moving far faster than planned. Once I determined that Scribus on the LinuxMini could replace Affinity Publisher it was a done deal. Secondary to that was confirming that Inkscape could replace Affinity Designer and it can.
My iPad pro is powered off for the first time in years. I have one particular client that prefers files delivered in the Affinity file formats so those jobs will still happen on the iPad. It has many years of service still to go and the battery will last even longer if I'm keeping it shut down when not in use.
Once I was confident that I was all in on the transition to Linux/Scribus/Inkscape I wanted a computer I could use on the porch. I couple weeks ago I ordered a used Lenovo t480s from eBay for $250. Released in 2018, these are highly recommended for their durability and repairability. This is true of most of the older ThinkPads and there are quite a few of them on eBay, often in excellent condition. The one I ordered looks like new. I booted it into Windows 11 to confirm everything was working then installed Linux Mint. I spent the evening installing the various apps I've come to rely on over the past month:
- Bluefish for html/css coding
- Obsidian for writing in the OBTF
- Ghost as a compliment to Obsidian for processing Markdown
- Signal for texting
- Scribus for document layout/design
- Inkscape for vector design
- Zen for the web
- Evolution for email though I installed Mailspring last night and am pretty sure I'll stick with it
- DigiKam for photo management
- Rhythmbox for music
- Syncthing for keeping all my files in sync between the LinuxMini and the M1 MacMini
Though I've not used it on the battery much it looks like I can expect 3-4 hours of battery life. I work from home and always have an outlet nearby so I'm not too worried about it. The speakers are fairly weak but I had no problem pairing my AirPods Pro and have been using those.
A few app/workflow updates
Scribus I've now delivered several client projects that were produced in Scribus. It's been a pleasure to use and I have zero doubts about it's feature set or my ability to use it. I'm so glad I pushed past the first couple days and initial experience. I judged too harshly and erroneously based on my own lack of effort. I've still got more to learn but I'm feeling really comfortable in this app.
Inkscape I've not spent enough time in Inkscape to get comfortable with it yet but I've used it enough to know it will get the job done. And I discovered it has a feature still missing from Affinity Designer: bitmap tracing. Last week I was working on a website for a new client who does not have her logo in a vector file, only a jpg with white background. Tracing the logo with Inkscape was just a couple clicks.
Surprise! Bluefish has been the biggest surprise in my website workflow. An old-school code editor that doesn't seem to be getting much in the way of active development that may be my favorite for updating html/css files. It does exactly what I need it to do without extras I don't need. I'm using it in conjunction with gedit/xed, both really great text editors that offer html syntax highlighting.
Web browsers and Email Clients I think I've finally settled into the Zen browser for the web with Vivaldi as a back-up. For email I thought I'd settled into Evolution but a few days ago came across Mailspring and I prefer it for a variety of reasons though I'll keep Evolution around for contact management. Mailspring has a very helpful unified inbox and keeps threads together better. Performing searches in intuitive and, for the first time in any email client on any platform, search feels nearly instantaneous. The visual design is very well done and reminds me of Apple's mail app but with much better performance.
Linux and FOSS Outreach This will get it's own post soon. I've been reading of the coming deadline for users of older computers that Microsoft has deemed unworthy of running Windows 11 and, not surprisingly, I'm also seeing a campaign developing to help facilitate the upgrade of those computers from Windows 10 to Linux. As I live in a fairly low income rural area where access to computers is already a problem, this seems like a worthwhile local project and it looks like I'll have some support in getting it rolling.
I don't have comments but I love email or you can find me on Mastodon.
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