How do i partition my mac for Linux instead of windows?

Problem with direct booting Linux on a Mac is Apple that provides hardware drivers for Windows 7 (only now) that allows the opertaing system in use to access the WiFi, tone down fans etc.

What occurs over time is people write drivers for newer Mac hardware, but it takes time as there are not that many Linux on Mac users, then of a level that can code, then supply that code to others to use.

Basically with Linux if your asking questions, that means you don't have a firm grip of how computers work and will likely get yourself into serious trouble.

So your best and safest bet is to run Linux in a virtual machine program in OS X, because if you try booting a Linux live cd on a Mac it could hose it, the hidden EFI partition too, which would nearly brick the machine.

With the virtual machine, you can opt to force quit it and be right back in OS X and in control.

Want to try Linux?, read this

I would use a virtualization to install Linux. VirtualBox is free and google can help you locate it.

This external link might be useful:http://scottlinux.com/2011/06/14/how-to-dual-boot-os-x-and-linux/

I just recently installed Ubuntu on VrtualBox. Very easy.

I did it this way because dsstore (a senior cntirbutor who has been doing Mac since long before Apple Stores and who lives 300 miles from an Apple Stroe now) advised VM instead of actual bootable partition.

According to him (and others) the process involves loading a special program (rEFIt) into the boot-loader-EFI portion of the bootable disk. Then re-starting twice so it will actually "take" into the boot portion, and hoping the Mac-boot-portion is not corrupted (not common, but you are messing with something that worked).

Sorry to be a buzz-kill.

I concur that Linus is a Unix-like variant that has a lot less polish and civilization than OS X (officially Unix-certified), and will let less-than-expert users fall thru the cracks rather easily. Unfortunate but true, no matter how much the Penguin lovers may object. Is why Windoze still reigns and refuses to fade away. Virtualization will give you a sandboxed layer of protection not afforded if you dare go bare-metal. And given a suspicious collusion between Apple and MS, in that BootCamp now only supports Win7 exclusively, going against the grain in both the hardware (EFI) and the software is really courting disaster.

steve359 wrote:

According to him (and others) the process involves loading a special program (rEFIt) into the boot-loader-EFI portion of the bootable disk. Then re-starting twice so it will actually "take" into the boot portion, and hoping the Mac-boot-portion is not corrupted (not common, but you are messing with something that worked).

rEFIt hasn't been updated in a long time, it's ok for older Mac's pre 2011 running Snow Leopard 10.6, but not so for 10.7 and later machines.

Basically what occured is the Open Source community found out about 10.7's "App Store" with it not allowing open source software becaues everything on the AppStore is copy protected.

They read it (correctly) that Apple is closing their walled garden up on Mac's much like it is on iPhones and iPads. With 10.8's "Gatekeeper" giving Apple a 2/3 advantage and scaring users into thinking that all outside software is bad, interest from the Open Source Community is now basically hostile because there is no future on Apple's hardware for a alternative OS or free software.

With Windows 8, Microsoft is taking a similar path as well, so instead of convergance between the three operating systems they are all (like Ubuntu's Untiy) going off in seperate UI directions and almost all locking down hardware.

The winner of this game is going to be Microsoft, Apple is going to go with a touch screen UI and hardware for Mac's in a small nitch of dumb consumer users, the Mac "Pro" users are already bailing for Windows 7.

Those who want to run Linux will basically order a machine with it, or build their own, or run it in a VM in Windows 7, as eventually VM software for OS X will be gone as they will never get AppStore approval.

Three machines, three ecosystems, three "cloud" versions, all intentionally incompatible with each other. Apple's and Microsoft's will be spying on everyone and their data.

The Digital Dark Ages descend upon us....

(maybe that's what the Mayan witch doctors had in mind in their 2012 predictions!)

Smartphones as buy/sell devices.

666 - can't buy or sell without the mark of the beast on the hand or forehead,

(sounds like a ancient person trying to describe a person using a cell phone to me)

Gog and Magog

Google and Apple 😝

😁

You make me very sad.

I thought Apple products ans OSX, for their stability and (after owning one and learning about them) "usability" features such as screen zoom (I do seriously like it).

Seems I came in just around the time it is time to leave.

Darn you to heck.

Imagine the dismal times, when two "senior" members who've been Mac'ing around since Steve Jobs was young get so negative....