I'm looking for an Apple MacBook Air M2 alternative that could run Linux.

I need something fanless, super lightweight with very long battery life. The only apps I use are Shotcut video editor, Chrome and Firefox.

Any advice?

Is it a good idea to get a MacBook Air m2 and use something like Asahi Linux or should I wait for arm linux laptops to become available.

  • helenslunch@feddit.nl
    ·
    6 months ago

    I think most people don't realize this but Apple Silicon is a quantum leap in computing. The only company that can achieve that kind of both power and efficiency is Apple. I say this as a proud Apple hater.

    "Fanless" is mostly unheard of otherwise. Maybe some ARM SBCs but those are also very low powered.

    • ShortN0te@lemmy.ml
      ·
      6 months ago

      The only company that can achieve that kind of efficiency is Apple. I say this as a proud Apple hater.

      It is not about efficiency, we already know for some time that x86 is not really efficient compared to newer architectures like arm and risc.

      But no other ecosystem exists that can force such an architecture move without much much more problems.

      So i would rephrase it as "The only company that can force that kind of fundamental change on its user and developers is Apple"

      I am not saying it is a bad thing (just alone the rosetta translate layer is actually really impressive). Would love to have some actually good and mainstream arm options such as Linux Laptop.

    • triplenadir@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      6 months ago

      it's a "quantum leap" only in the original scientific meaning of "the smallest distance something can possibly move"

      • helenslunch@feddit.nl
        ·
        6 months ago

        Yeah you just made that up

        Noun

        (quantum mechanics) The discontinuous change of the state of an electron in an atom or molecule from one energy level to another.

        (figurative) An abrupt, extreme change.

        (figurative, informal, nonstandard) A large, massive, significant change.

        • triplenadir@lemmygrad.ml
          ·
          6 months ago

          The entire concept of "quantum" is that it's the smallest possible unit.

          A "quantum leap" is the smallest measurable change in electrical charge.

          The Planck length, based (it's a long story, links below) on that smallest possible charge, is around 1.61×10−35 m. (That's 0.00..00161, with about 31 more zeroes). Which is about as much societal/technical progress as I think Apple has made.

          https://www.snexplores.org/article/explainer-quantum-world-super-small https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/06/26/what-is-the-smallest-possible-distance-in-the-universe/?sh=518af32248a1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_units