Older (Intel) MacBook for Linux recommendations

[Klandel]

Ok -- as in the title. I'm based in Canada and I'm toying with the idea of buying an Intel based MacBook (Air or Pro). There are tons of these on Facebook Marketplace for around 100-150 CAD with model years around 2017. Newer usually a bit more for asking. 

My use case would be travel with light gaming (2D), light web, etc. so not so demanding workload. 

The reason I am considering a MacBook is because I had a horrible experience with hinges on an HP and want something with good build quality (which Apple has, by reputation). The reason for Linux is because I have a long standing hatred of all things Apple (this is not rational, but I was forced to write a term paper on an underpowered Mac that I could type out several words before anything would appear on screen -- I'm not a fast typeset). That also means Intel based mac as it looks like support for Apple silicon isn't quite there yet. 

 

So need advice for any considerations on this era machine. One of my bigger concerns is with battery health. There are iFixit kits to replace the battery - but this pushes the price close to a new low end laptop (which lacks the build quality, but would possibly outclass on CPU as even low end hardware today is better than mid range from a decade or more ago). 

 

So -- what should I consider? Are there any particular advantages to particular years? USB-c charging would be nice maybe (I think some of these have thunderbolt 3?).  Other thoughts?

[Electronics Wizardy]

Have you considered something like the business grade laptops like Thinkpads/Latitudes. Generally better linux support, better value for the hardware you getting. Those 2017 era macbooks had multiple issues like the keyboards and display cables. The USB C only generally of macbooks from about 2016 to 2020 were kinda duds, and many had the T2 chips that makes linux support worse. 

Can you show the exact models your looking at? 

 

[TudorFinalBosz]

It's a bad idea due to differences in power management. Apple wrote very specific kernel parts that carefully manage their hardware power transitions.

So if you repurpose that hardware to work with another OS, some things might not work optimally in time.

[asdasdasdasdasdasd]

1 hour ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Have you considered something like the business grade laptops like Thinkpads/Latitudes. Generally better linux support, better value for the hardware you getting. Those 2017 era macbooks had multiple issues like the keyboards and display cables. The USB C only generally of macbooks from about 2016 to 2020 were kinda duds, and many had the T2 chips that makes linux support worse. 

Can you show the exact models your looking at? 

 

 

I concur

 

Build quality on old Thinkpads/Latitudes is great. I purchased a Dell Latitude for £50 as a cheap media machine and it's still going strong. 

[Needfuldoer]

I have a 2018 Macbook Air that I got cheap and fixed. It's kind of a dog compared to an M1 Mini, or the Latitude 5290 I use as my everyday carry portable machine (even though both have 8th gen mobile dual-cores). Cooling was a serious compromise on the later Intel MacBook Airs. If you're going to get an Intel MacBook from that era, get a MacBook Pro. 

 

Since you're not going to be running MacOS, I highly recommend a Dell Latitude instead. Build quality is much nicer than big-box "home" laptops (or even laptops from PC component manufacturers like ASUS), and parts are both readily available and cheap. You'll also have M.2 and DIMM slots you can fill with whatever you want.

[Klandel]

Well okay then

I can't say that I was prepared for the consensus to be this is a dumb idea do something else but I can work with that. I do like Dell laptops and have had them before. 

I wasn't aware of the power management issues on some models (only the support for Apple silicon) - as far as I read on other forums, I thought Intel Macs ran "ok" with Linux. But good to know. 

I guess I'll table this idea for now and look into business grade laptops and see what I can find there. 

[Ha-Satan]

Linux can be fine on Intel Macs but there's no real reason to go out of your way to buy one for Linux when used business laptops like the Latitude and Thinkpad exist. My 2013 Latitude is still going strong with Mint XFCE.