You’ll be able to run Linux and Docker on an ARM Mac. As a bonus, users will also be able to access a much larger library of apps. “Mac users can for the first time run iOS and iPadOS apps on the. For example, Mac OS 8.1 could be written today entirely in JavaScript and run as an app on Linux, macOS and Windows. That’s exactly what Felix Riesenberg did. He turned an entire 1991 Macintosh Quadra running Mac OS 8.1 into a single Electron app that can run cross-platform. NOTE: Mac OS 8 was released in 1997.
When Apple released MacOS Majove in 2018, the minimum hardware requirements abandon lots of great hardware. While the hardware is still usable, macOS and Apple software cannot be updated to their current releases. That sucks.
This post outlines the process of moving a Mac Mini (mid-2011) to Linux.
Mac Mini
The Mac Mini I’m rescuing is a mid-2011 with i5-2415M, 2GB RAM and 500GB HDD, running macOS High Sierra (version 10.13). It’s dreadfully slow. The goal is to use this machine as a general purpose computer in a classroom for high school students. https://yellowmusic962.weebly.com/mac-os-app-cant-be-opened.html.
In addition to changing the operating system from macOS to Linux, the RAM will be upgraded to 8MB and 550GB hard drive replaced with 128GB SSD.
Steps
The overall steps:
- Order new hardware
- Upgrade RAM and Hard disk drive (HDD)
- Install Linux
Upgrade
![Linux run mac apps Linux run mac apps](https://assets.hongkiat.com/uploads/running-windows-apps-on-other-platforms/Crossover.jpg)
I use Crucial’s website to help determine the parts I can upgrade. Using the model of the computer you’re working on, Crucial will show you the options for memory, hard drive, and SSD upgrades. I often buy the parts on Amazon.
For this upgrade, I used:
- Memory : Crucial – 8GB Kit (2x4GB) DDR3L – 1333 SODIMM ~$60 USD
- Solid State Drive (SSD) : Crucial – BX500 2.5 SSD 120GB ~$22 USD
Can Linux Run Mac Apps Downloads
Upgrading this Mac mini is straight-forward. It was built in the days when ‘upgrade-ability’ was built into the hardware design. Finding a YouTube video to guide you through the steps of taking the Mac Mini apart is very helpful. I used this video from MacSales.
The parts inside the Mac mini fit just right. The first time I did one of these upgrades, the SSD wasn’t aligned properly which prevented the wifi from fitting, and the screw holes did not align. Take your time and don’t force anything.
Installing Linux
I’ve been using Elementary OS for a few weeks, and I’m impressed. I appears to be a good distribution choice for someone coming from MAC. While my day-to-day distribution is currently Pop_OS!, I’m going to give Elementary a try with this upgrade.
Installing Linux is the same basic process for any distribution.
- Download .iso file from the distribution’s website.
- Create a bootable USB Drive with the .iso. There are utilities to do that with; I use Etcher.
- Boot the target computer from the USB Drive and follow the prompts.
Elementary OS has the details of these steps outlined on the installation page of their website.
Wifi
I expected to have issues with wifi. In my experience, when installing Linux on Macs from this era, wifi does not work out of the box. I was pleasantly surprised the Elementary install screen recognized the wifi card and connected to it, and downloaded the latest software update. After the installation was complete and the computer rebooted, the wifi card was no longer recognized. I needed to install drivers. As in the past, running the following command from the terminal fixes the issue:
Up and running
This upgrade was simple and straight-forward. It’s a fun project for someone that has no experience with hardware upgrades or Linux.
Benchmarks
This is my first experience running any type of benchmark. I used GeekBench on the Mac Mini before and after the upgrade. I don’t have much insight into what these numbers mean; I expect to in the future. But my hands-on benchmark tells me this computer runs as fast as much newer hardware and is totally usable.
Before – MacOS w/2GB RAM and HDD
After – Elementary OS w/8GB RAM and SSD
Conclusion
The performance of this Mac Mini would have improved with only the hardware upgrades (without switching to Linux). But on Linux, the performance is really good. Best app to stream mac to amazon fire stick.
A more important point is that Apple abandoned this Mac Mini. When Mojave was released in 2018, the minimum hardware requirements are:
- MacBook: Early 2015 or newer
- MacBook Air: Mid 2012 or newer
- MacBook Pro: 2012 or newer, Retina display not needed
- Mac Mini: Late 2012 or newer
- iMac: Late 2012 or newer
Struck at High-Sierra, this computer would only receive security updates, moving forward. Many software applications cannot be updated either. After switching to Linux, this computer can run the latest operating system and applications available on Linux.
I did this upgrade for my friend, Chris. I look forward to see what experience he has in the classroom with Elementary OS.
(It took me 3x longer to write this post than it did to save that Mac mini)
Fancy running Mac OS 8 on your modern Mac, Linux, or Windows 10 desktop as a standalone app?
Of course you don’t ? but that hasn’t stopped Slack developer Felix Rieseberg from giving you (and the rest of the world) the unrequested ability to do it — and do it pretty darn well, I might add.
Having delivered an Electron-based version of Windows 95 in 2018, Felix is back with a new virtual machine package (and a new apology for creating it in the first place).
In macintosh.js Felix puts Apple’s ancient Mac OS 8 system in the paws of the masses. The technical feat is made possible by JavaScript and everyone’s favourite¹ app creation framework Electron.
This free-to-use-but-don’t-ask-me-if-Apple-approve version of Mac OS 8 runs like a champ on Windows, macOS and Linux (I tested it on the latter). It runs as a standalone app that boots to the OS directly, i.e. there’s no need to fuss around with installers, partitions, or set up dialogs).
“The virtual machine is emulating a 1991 Macintosh Quadra 900 with a Motorola CPU, which Apple used before switching to the PowerPC architecture (Apple/IBM/Motorola) in the mid 1990s,” Felix says of his effort.
![Can Can](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2019/08/run-macos-program-linux-shero.png)
Can Linux Run Mac Apps Windows 10
A suite of era-specific software and games come bundled as trials, demos, etc. This roster even includes well-known tools like Adobe Photoshop 3, Adobe Premiere 4,Netscape Explorer, Duke Nukem 3D, and plenty more.
While there’s no working internet connectivity (meaning the bundled copy of Internet Explorer will go largely unloved) but aside from that it is a fully functional version of Mac OS 8. All of the apps work; this isn’t a superficial reconstruction that cracks beneath its veneer.
This works.
If you want to try it out — and let’s be honest there are far worse ways to spend an idle 10 minute — you can do so quickly and easily. Just keep in mind that Macintosh.js is more of a nostalgic novelty rather than a serious attempt at platform resurrection, something Felix himself notes:
“[This is] not the best nor the most performant way to emulate an old Macintosh. It is, however, a quick and easy way to experience a bit of nostalgia if you’re not trying to do anything serious with it.”
You (and everyone else) can grab an installer from the project’s GitHub releases page.
¹ Jokes.
- Source: GitHub
- (via: Engadget)