Switching Back to Linux

I am switching back to Linux as my main OS - Pop! OS specifically.

Two Year Journey

I have been messing with Linux for over 2 years. I have been a Mac guy for two decades, I was Mac when Mac wasn’t cool. Back in the days when people looked at my “Hello Kitty” iBook and said “what is that?” I once went to speak at a conference, pulled out my iBook, and heard the IT guys say “We CAN’T accommodate that” - don’t you have a different computer with the presentation on it.”

“No, I don’t - sorry”

… so I did the presentation without the PowerPoint. So it goes.

Nowadays, Mac’s are ubiquitous. And I am very happy with my Apple products and my Mac’s. Great interoperability with in their ecosystem. Well-built. Easy to use. But…..

Apple’s Intrusions

I was perfectly fine with my Apple’s until I found myself in a cabin in the woods with a crappy Internet connection. We had several devices on this crappy connection and it just kept getting crappier and crappier. So I looked into speeding it up.

What I found out was that the reason the connection was so slow was because all the Apple devices on the network (laptops, iPhones, iPads) were constantly “phoning home” - checking in every few seconds for whatever reason. I mean it was constant. Multiple pings a second. Rarely did a few seconds go by without some bandwidth use - even when the computer wasn’t being actively used. Later, I learned that Apple, like most big private companies, tracks just about everything you do on your device - for your “safety” and “a”better user experience” of course. It was crazy. And it was unacceptable. I started looking for a quieter, more private alternative.

Enter Pop!OS

I found what I was looking for in a Linux distribution, Pop!OS from System76. Its a free open source operating system that has some focus on control and privacy. Most importantly, it doesn’t phone home constantly. It isn’t tracking everything you do. It’s not as smooth as Apple’s OS, but it isnt bad.

I went back and forth using both for quite some time, but I have finally settled on using Pop!OS as my main operating system. I need to use my Mac at work still - mostly to get a solid copy of Microsoft Word (not available on Linux), but other than work, all of stuff is done my my Linux machines. I am happy … enough. And I can use them in low bandwidth environments. No snooping either.

Highly recommend switching if you are so inclined.