Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How to Install Debian on Mac mini

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the because-you-can dept.

wikinerd writes "After the hype about Mac mini, a Linux consultant wrote a detailed guide on how to install Debian on Mac mini. The whole procedure takes about an hour, but you will need to erase the hard disk and learn to live without the AirPort Extreme, since it's unsupported. The guide also explains how you can dual-boot with Mac OS X and Debian and gives you ideas on how to set up your partitions."

3 of 527 comments (clear)

  1. Why - Because OS X and BSD are not Linux by jayloden · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can think of a reason right off the top of my head why you might want to install Debian on a Mac. There are plenty of people making comments that this is stupid, but guess what? I like Macs, and I really want a Powerbook, but I'd like Linux on it in addition to OS X for two reasons.

    1) I like Linux, and I like to switch it up sometimes - maybe on Tuesdays I dont feel like running OS X
    2) When I'm working in an all Linux environment, it's often more convenient to have a full Linux OS to test on, work with, and interface with the rest of the system. YES, OS X has BSD under there, but that's not Linux, as any BSD fan will be quick to point out, and there _is_ a difference between being able to fun some linux apps on your OS, and actually having Linux on your machine.

    -Jay

  2. Re:Why? by slux · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Is it such an absurd concept for you that some people might actually prefer GNU/Linux to OS X for whatever reason? You can't really get *every* Linux application installed so easily under OS X. At minimum, software installation is easier and the apps tend to integrate better on a Linux desktop.

    Seriously, could someone explain to me why similar remarks about Windows aren't modded up on stories about x86 hardware? What about all the other proprietary UNIX-like operating systems in addition to OS X. Why doesn't every Linux story have a modded up comment about HP-UX, Solaris, Irix and others asking "why use Linux?". What's so special about OS X? Sure, it's a nice OS but in no way is it equal or better than Linux in every possible aspect and for everyone.

    Linux has many things going for it that OS X does not. And even if it didn't, some people would use it just for the freedom. I personally have an iBook running Ubuntu and my sister is dual booting Fedora & OS X. I also have a friend using debian exclusively on his iBook for many years.

  3. Re:Why? by legirons · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "What is absurd is that people would buy a Mac Mini to run Linux."

    How is that absurd? It's no worse than buying a PC to run Windows.

    "Why not just buy a Shuttle XPC instead?"

    Because for the same price as the Mac, you'll get a shuttle PC without a motherboard, CPU, memory, disk, or drives. An actual working Shuttle PC, built, to similar specifications will be about $950

    "By not using OS X, you negate the main factor behind buying a Mac in the first place"

    Indeed. Unless your reasons for buying were the price, the size, or the neat design.

    and in so doing significantly reduce its value when compared with equivilently priced PC hardware."

    What equivalently-priced PC hardware? For that price, in a shop, you'll get a beige box PC filled with the cheapest components they could find. Try selling that in 2 years, and compare it to the price of a secondhand Mac Mini then