Apple has long been one of the largest contributors to BSD code. And most BSDs work with Macs.
For windows users, (nearly) everything can be replaced with free or freemium, software on MacOS.
The biggest one I suggest is replacing Microsoft Office with NeoOffice. A paid shell platform over a Lebre/open office core. With expanded Mac dedicated scripting and macro programming.
With far more support for file formats than any major office system has. Binary Word from 1994? Yep. Writer from 1979? Sure etc.
Also remember that Crossover has reached the point of near-75% compatibility support for windows programs.
FUSE lets you install and run micro OS sandboxes to run Linux and BSD software. Services like HomeBrew make packs age management easy.
In reality, a Mac Mini and some low cost software can open every os platform to you for under $1000
Perhaps I should give the BSDs another go. I really need to learn the OS a bit better. I'm really more familiar with Linux and have only dabbled in the waters with helloSystem and OpenBSD. That said, my experience as an end user of those systems and macOS is vastly different. I'll look into the other things you suggested though. Thanks for sharing!
The fastest way to get into a clean BSD for learning the OS with some guardrails in place is to try out Darwin. MacOS stripped of Apple’s proprietary UI and with the terminal left wide open.
It’s still very Mac-like; yet stays completely in the BSD world.
a mix of terminal tools and a wine user interface. It basically makes tiny self contained wine installs per application.
FUSE, file system in userspace, is probably familiar to you. One of the most powerful file system tools for end users. Coupled with open source instruction translation tools,
You have more speed and stability over emulation. It’s better for playing with more exotic platforms though. Crossover really has the windows world running smooth on MacOS.
Finally, when all else fails, there’s Parallels. (.com) A package that combines emulation, translation, and hardware management in a single paid package.
The reviews don't lie! Running AMD64 windows programs on ARM windows in Parallels on M MacOS is regularly faster than the original x86-64 windows machines. However it requires a valid windows license.
Most people can move to Mac with crossover.
More experienced people will love the customisation of homebrew.
And for those with zero experience, parallels puts windows on macs in userspace side by side with Apple.
Faster than any windows machine $ for $ and spec for spec.
And as I said, almost every windows program that isn’t some company’s internal work product has a matched, or superior, replacement dedicated to Mac. Most being free.
Many people miss that Apple’s MacOS IS BSD!
Apple has long been one of the largest contributors to BSD code. And most BSDs work with Macs.
For windows users, (nearly) everything can be replaced with free or freemium, software on MacOS.
The biggest one I suggest is replacing Microsoft Office with NeoOffice. A paid shell platform over a Lebre/open office core. With expanded Mac dedicated scripting and macro programming.
With far more support for file formats than any major office system has. Binary Word from 1994? Yep. Writer from 1979? Sure etc.
Also remember that Crossover has reached the point of near-75% compatibility support for windows programs.
FUSE lets you install and run micro OS sandboxes to run Linux and BSD software. Services like HomeBrew make packs age management easy.
In reality, a Mac Mini and some low cost software can open every os platform to you for under $1000
Perhaps I should give the BSDs another go. I really need to learn the OS a bit better. I'm really more familiar with Linux and have only dabbled in the waters with helloSystem and OpenBSD. That said, my experience as an end user of those systems and macOS is vastly different. I'll look into the other things you suggested though. Thanks for sharing!
The fastest way to get into a clean BSD for learning the OS with some guardrails in place is to try out Darwin. MacOS stripped of Apple’s proprietary UI and with the terminal left wide open.
It’s still very Mac-like; yet stays completely in the BSD world.
Crossover: https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover
…is a paid version of wine. You’re basically paying for a rabid fan base of dedicated testers. Myself included.
Homebrew, https://brew.sh/
a mix of terminal tools and a wine user interface. It basically makes tiny self contained wine installs per application.
FUSE, file system in userspace, is probably familiar to you. One of the most powerful file system tools for end users. Coupled with open source instruction translation tools,
You have more speed and stability over emulation. It’s better for playing with more exotic platforms though. Crossover really has the windows world running smooth on MacOS.
Finally, when all else fails, there’s Parallels. (.com) A package that combines emulation, translation, and hardware management in a single paid package.
The reviews don't lie! Running AMD64 windows programs on ARM windows in Parallels on M MacOS is regularly faster than the original x86-64 windows machines. However it requires a valid windows license.
Most people can move to Mac with crossover.
More experienced people will love the customisation of homebrew.
And for those with zero experience, parallels puts windows on macs in userspace side by side with Apple.
Faster than any windows machine $ for $ and spec for spec.
And as I said, almost every windows program that isn’t some company’s internal work product has a matched, or superior, replacement dedicated to Mac. Most being free.
Interesting. Perhaps I'll swap drives on one of my old MacBooks and give this a go. I really would like to learn the BSD system.
Haiku has improved a *lot* since Beta 3, I urge you to try it again.
In fact, Beta 5 is almost out.
To get all the newest features, you should use a nightly build.
Good to know. I’ll probably give it a spin when Beta 5 comes out.
Beta5 has come out!