E: I AM NOT USING FEDORA. Please stop linking to guides for Fedora. They will not work. uBlue/Bazzite does not use dnf.

I got a free iMac. Installed Linux on an external drive. Bazzite, specifically. WiFi does not work. My research leads me to a problem with proprietary Broadcom drivers but no solutions. If you know how to get this working, your advice would be appreciated.

Also if there’s another distro that works “out of the box” on Macs with GNOME I’d be open to installing that as well.

E: “System information” says it is a

Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.77.111.1 AirPortDriverBrcmNIC-1772.1)

  • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org
    1·
    4 hours ago

    My experience (from using Linux since 1998) is that the best way to use Linux is to get compatible hardware (that is, unless you want to develop device drivers). And this doubly and triple for laptops and graphics cards. Refurbished business Thinkpads are a very good option.

  • muusemuuse@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    This is probably not the best system for bazzite. Stick with something with a longer track record like Debian/ubuntu or better documentation like arch.

    Those old macs can get really pissy with Linux sometimes but it can be done. Their WiFi chips are incredibly obnoxious to deal with. Worst case scenario you can swap wifi cards in some those or even simply use a USB WiFi card instead.

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      if there’s another distro that works “out of the box” on Macs with GNOME I’d be open to installing that as well.

      • muusemuuse@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        Google used to use Ubuntu on MacBooks though I’m not sure if that’s still the case. It has a reputation of being straightforward and well supported but not everyone likes what canonical is doing anymore.

        Fedora is weirdly more complex and its documentation isn’t as great as it looks on the surface. It’s worth a try but honestly documentation is more important than out of box support at this point.

        Arch needs a lot of handholding and it’s a bit of a handful but the wiki is amazing and frankly the best part of that particular distro. Unlike Ubuntu you would get a virgin GNOME experience more similar to fedora but it’s also easier to break things in arch than elsewhere so keep that in mind before you head down this road. Arch is an excellent education but not always a best place to live in.

        Start with Ubuntu if you want to see how that hardware is supported. If it is a pain in the ass in Ubuntu, it’s likely to be a pain in the ass elsewhere too. Consider using a usb wifi nubbin and just moving in with that.

        • youmaynotknow@lemmy.ml
          1·
          8 hours ago

          I wanted to offer some friendly corrections and context on a few points:

          1. Google using Ubuntu on MacBooks
              While there have been rumors and isolated internal reports over the years of various corporate users trying out different Linux setups on Mac hardware, there’s no verified evidence that Google officially used Ubuntu on MacBooks as a standard environment. Google’s internal usage tends to be quite varied and often kept under wraps, so the claim might be more anecdotal than fact-based.

          2. Canonical and Ubuntu’s direction
              You mentioned that “not everyone likes what Canonical is doing anymore.” While Canonical’s moves (like the snap ecosystem and various design choices) have sparked debates, many users still appreciate Ubuntu’s focus on ease of use, hardware compatibility, and community support. It’s all about personal preference and the tradeoffs between innovation and long-term support.

          3. Fedora’s complexity and documentation
              Saying Fedora is “weirdly more complex” might be an oversimplification. Fedora often targets users who appreciate the latest upstream software and development practices, which can feel more hands-on. Its documentation is actually quite robust and maintained by a passionate community—even if the style and depth might differ from Ubuntu’s more streamlined guides. It comes down to what learning experience you value more.

          4. Arch Linux and its learning curve
              Your take on Arch is fair: its wiki is indeed one of the best resources out there, which is why many users swear by it as a learning tool. However, while it’s true that Arch offers a very pure, “vanilla” GNOME (or any desktop environment you set up) experience—similar in spirit to what Fedora might provide—it’s also worth noting that Arch’s philosophy means it won’t hold your hand. For newcomers, that means more risk of “breaking things,” but also an invaluable hands-on learning curve for those willing to dive in.

          5. Starting with Ubuntu for hardware compatibility
              The suggestion to use Ubuntu to test hardware support is a practical one. Since Ubuntu has a broad driver base and a large user community, it’s often a good first check for MacBook (and other hardware) compatibility. However, sometimes even if Ubuntu exhibits some quirks, other distros might work just as well or even better depending on the kernel versions, desktop customizations, or community-contributed fixes. A USB Wi-Fi adapter can indeed be a good temporary workaround for connectivity issues if they arise.

          In summary, each Linux distribution has its own strengths and challenges. It really boils down to your priorities—whether it’s stability, a polished user experience, cutting-edge software, or a chance to learn more about the inner workings of a system. All these distros contribute to the vibrant, diverse Linux ecosystem, and exploring them is part of the fun!

          Hope this helps provide a clearer picture, and just enjoy tinkering with Linux!

        • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
          1·
          1 day ago

          Ubuntu is literally the only distro that I object to LOL but I will give Linux Mint Ubuntu a try on this machine. I haven’t tried it before.

          • muusemuuse@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            14 hours ago

            Mint is in a weird place right now with their transition to Wayland. It’s not complete yet and in my opinion it’s not ready for daily use.

            • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
              1·
              12 hours ago

              Well the Wifi on Mint worked out of the box but the cursor would flash in and out, the audio didn’t work, Steam wouldn’t launch and my webcam was constantly lit up for some reason.

  • HexagonSun@sh.itjust.works
    3·
    1 day ago

    I have WiFi problems on most distros with my 2012 Retina MBP. Generally I can’t get it working.

    I didn’t have as many issues in the past, but the only two distros I can get it working on these days are EndeavourOS and Linux Mint.

    Mint requires installing the proprietary drivers after installation, which is easy to do.

    EndeavourOS is actually easier and works “out of the box” for me. But I need to change it to use WPA2 instead of WPA3 for it to work on my Mac, being as old as it is.

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Mint requires installing the proprietary drivers after installation, which is easy to do.

      I could do that. I’ve never actually tried Mint before. Do you have a link or instructions?

      • HexagonSun@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        1 day ago

        From memory….

        If you open Driver Manager after installation it will say you need to either connect to Ethernet or insert the installation USB. Using the Installation USB is fine.

        It should then automatically detect you have a Broadcom WiFi module and just give you a checkbox you can click next to the correct driver.

        It will install the driver from the USB, say you need to restart and then you should be done! Upon rebooting your Mac should immediately recognise available WiFi networks and let you join them.

          • HexagonSun@sh.itjust.works
            1·
            24 hours ago

            Amazing!

            That distro is highly deserving of the praise it gets.

            Hope you get on ok with the rest of Mint (and Cinnamon) 👍

            • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
              1·
              18 hours ago

              Unfortunately the audio outputs are not detected, the cursor blinks and disappears constantly, Steam wouldn’t launch, and my camera is activated constantly for some reason…

              😔

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
    4·
    2 days ago

    Broadcom chips aren’t open source, and depending on which model of Mac you have, YMMV. Can you at least lock down the year or model number?