My entire note got trashed, so let me give you the short version. Endeavour Linux if you have the Broadcom issue. It will install the drivers. Bodhi, MX and AntiX all work and are great for older machines. Definitely do this! They are great laptops and cheap. I tried to stick with 2011 and have a 13" now with a 17" in the mail. My 15" has a heating issue so still working on it. I also have an 11" Macbook Air running Bodhi. Great deals on Ebay if you look and drives and RAM are pretty cheap for these.
I love Linux Mint. It's very easy to customize. Proprietary drivers can be a little difficult especially with WiFi even on a HP laptop, but give it some security path updates and the Mint team fixed it.
I find Linux way more intuitive than Windows including the use of Terminal vs Microsoft powershell.
Let's not add to spyware, the CoPilot and all of that rubbish on it.
Linux Mint & most distros is digital freedom.
I could swear on Linux Mint. I am that satisfied with it.
Cool! I installed Linux Mint on all of my computers a couple of months ago. They previously ran Windows, which I just got fed up with. Windows 11 stunk. Windows 10 ended security updates. They are extremely privacy intrusive. Although there are some bugs and issues within Linux Mint, overall it is better, more private, secure, and customizable.
Really practical take on reviving old intel Macs. The Broadcom Wi-Fi driver issue is the classic trap nobody warns you about until you're already sitting there with no network access. I've hit that exact snag on a 2011 MacBook Air and had to tether through my phone just to pull down propietary drivers. Mint's driver manager saved me there too. The point about battery life degradation is understated though, Linux power management on Apple hardware can be brutal unless TLP is dialed in properly.
My entire note got trashed, so let me give you the short version. Endeavour Linux if you have the Broadcom issue. It will install the drivers. Bodhi, MX and AntiX all work and are great for older machines. Definitely do this! They are great laptops and cheap. I tried to stick with 2011 and have a 13" now with a 17" in the mail. My 15" has a heating issue so still working on it. I also have an 11" Macbook Air running Bodhi. Great deals on Ebay if you look and drives and RAM are pretty cheap for these.
I love Linux Mint. It's very easy to customize. Proprietary drivers can be a little difficult especially with WiFi even on a HP laptop, but give it some security path updates and the Mint team fixed it.
I find Linux way more intuitive than Windows including the use of Terminal vs Microsoft powershell.
Let's not add to spyware, the CoPilot and all of that rubbish on it.
Linux Mint & most distros is digital freedom.
I could swear on Linux Mint. I am that satisfied with it.
Cool! I installed Linux Mint on all of my computers a couple of months ago. They previously ran Windows, which I just got fed up with. Windows 11 stunk. Windows 10 ended security updates. They are extremely privacy intrusive. Although there are some bugs and issues within Linux Mint, overall it is better, more private, secure, and customizable.
Really practical take on reviving old intel Macs. The Broadcom Wi-Fi driver issue is the classic trap nobody warns you about until you're already sitting there with no network access. I've hit that exact snag on a 2011 MacBook Air and had to tether through my phone just to pull down propietary drivers. Mint's driver manager saved me there too. The point about battery life degradation is understated though, Linux power management on Apple hardware can be brutal unless TLP is dialed in properly.