MX 18.3 to MX 19.2 on Dual-Boot Mac. Should I?

[fpuhan]

Rather than ask for help, I thought I'd seek opinions. I have a "sandbox" MacBook Air that last year I set up as a dual-boot computer, macOS and MX Linux 18.3. After some wrangling and tweaking I got it working the way I wanted (including the ability to mount the Mac partition in Linux). I go between OSes when I find I have a specific task to do that is done better on one than the other. I routinely keep both OSes up to date.

I saw recently on Distrowatch that MX Linux 19.2 was out. Then I learned that there is no upgrade path, and that a fresh install is required. Intrigued, I created a bootable USB drive to take a look. I haven't dug too deeply into the latest release, but the new desktop image and conky output make no mistake it's different from 18.3.

But how much different? I tend to like to stay current with software, so my first inclination was to back up my personal data and then install the 19.2 version and then "roll forward." We're still in COVID-19 lockdown in my part of the world, so it's not like I don't have time or opportunity to do so. But should I? Are there specific benefits to the newer MX that I would see on a six year-old Mac?

-Computer-
Processor : 4x Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4260U CPU @ 1.40GHz
Memory : 3980MB (1767MB used)
Operating System : MX 18.3 Continuum
Resolution : 1366x768 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Mesa DRI Intel(R) Haswell Mobile

[Huckleberry Finn]

If it was difficult to make MX work on Mac, just stay with it. It's lighter (also due to Xfce 4.12 and Gtk2) and mature (I'm currently on that, too) Also it'll go on being supported for a few years more..

And, as you might already have done: Create your own .iso (MX Snapshot) and keep it somewhere no matter you decide to install 19.2 or not ..

[fpuhan]

And, as you might already have done: Create your own .iso (MX Snapshot) and keep it somewhere no matter you decide to install 19.2 or not ..

Thanks! I hadn't thought of doing that, but I will!

[Huckleberry Finn]

You're welcome. That's something very useful because not only backup, you can use your own system as live-session for emergency cases, either to repair your system or help someone start pc / recover files .. And can re-install back whenever you like.

Also before snapshot (just a recommendation), you can download Chroot Rescue Scan (A new MX Tool included in 19, which is another wonderful tool together with MX snapshot) then take snapshot after that. That way you'll have it, too..

Code: Select all

git clone https://github.com/BitJam/chroot-rescue

Code: Select all

git clone https://github.com/BitJam/cli-shell-utils

(To start it):

Code: Select all

sudo chroot-rescue/bin/chroot-rescue-scan

[m_pav]

I'm in a different camp on this one. I have 64-bit MX19.1 running on my sons 14 year old 2006 Core2 Duo iMac 5.1 with a 4200rpm 250GB spinning platter hard disk. It's no speed demon and it runs out of memory due to the stupid 32-bit restriction Apple built into their firmware, but it can play all the flash games he likes and flash is the most bloated piece of junk ever made. If it can run on that, then it will definitely run on your 6 year old Macbook Air, as opposed to MacOS Mojave (2018), that will make it bomb. I have a 5 year old Macbook air too which was trampled on and bent up badly. I managed to straighten it and boot it with MX19.2-ahs. I haven't installed it yet due to time constraints, but I can tell you now, the hardware loves it.

I think you need to put aside any concerns over the heavier Xfce because it's minimal, and the kernel is heavier too, but I'll bet you $100 that the Mac OS is heavier than both MX18 and 19 combined. We're talking grains of rice here in light of the processing power on your machine. If you download MX-19.2 ahs version, you will get a very handsome improvement to your intel graphics which will more than offset any grain of rice additional weight you might experience.

I'd also recommend having a 3-partition setup for MX, root-20GB, home -all you can spare less 4GB and swap-4GB. Do not fall into the trap of using a 2-partition setup with root and home on the same partition. Having a 3-partition layout for MX Linux makes upgrading, even across Debian releases a 10 minute affair if you choose to keep /home.

[longbottom leaf]

i have my daughter's old white macbook that was sitting in a closet. ran debian 9 no problem but would not instal 10 due to less than a gig of ram. yes - really. anyway - since i am running 19 on a bunch of other laptops i got 19 to work no problem. just slow and due to ram have to be careful. but it does what i need in my workshop. tunes, a few files and internet access as needed.

[Sonik]

Hello. I’m new on the forum.
Could someone explain me how to install MX LINUX dual boot with Osx 10.7.5 on a Macbook 4.1?
I’m tryng from the last 3 days without success.
I tried 19.2. I usb live mode works perfectly.
All is working good. Wifi, Bluetooth, graphic card and all the rest.
First doubt. Which version to use? 32bit or 64bit?
Lion Os is 32bit but a friend of mine said me that the architecture is 64bit.
Mx 64bit does not start in live usb. So I think 32bit is the right release.
I have refit installed. I tried different ways. I tried to do it manually, choosing partition and mounting points, but only 1 time I’ve seen LInux logo on Refit. Most of the times Mx says “Installation successful “ but Mx partition is not visible by Refit.
I tried also Linux Mint and Ubuntu but with the same bad results.
I tought that maybe I get wrong with mounting points.
So, for the last trying I made, I decided to clone the osx partition, to format the whole disk. I tried Mx installation choosing “use entire hd”. After Mx installation I copied the cloned osx partition and activated Refit.
Even on this way not solved.
I’ve seen some of you saying to have Mx installed even on Mac older than mine.
This MacBook still works really good. 2 years ago I installed on it an Ssd disk. 4gb Ram mounted.
Unfortunately is not useful on the internet anymore.
From few days Chome and Mozilla get crazy. Not possible to use Mega, Dropbox, email servers and even YouTube.
With Mx in usb live mode this Macbook has a new life... it would be great to install it.
I hope that someone can help me.
Thanks in advance.

[Huckleberry Finn]

Hi Sonik , welcome.

Just, it's best to open a new thread and start with the QSI (as in my signature - you can take on 32bit live session).
You can also copy your above post there and go on ...

[Sonik]

Ok. Thanks