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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Is it worth buying the Mac keyboard for a dedicated Linux PC instead of the windows one? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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What is your personal preference based on experience? I Assume because Mac is Unix and Linux is Unix based, it would be more suited, but I have no personal experience with the layout. I am willing to try something new if i hear enough merits for it, and I also find the windows layout somewhat inadequate(The grass is greener on the other side /s)

I dailydrive Gnome, I am not a programmer, but i am a power user

(On a tangent: Why is gnome so restrictive, it feels like its missing a ton of UI features that are trivial without a boatload of 3rd party extensions that break every update; why doesn't Win+Shift+number launch a new instance, every other DE does, why doesn't it?; I don't use KDE because I just don't like it, I feel Gnome could be way more if it just natively integrated the extensions ).

aesthetically the windows key annoys me and i hate putting stickers on keyboards; I like how the mac layout looks(My very minimal experience with an in store mac-book has cautioned me away from the fisher-price OS so i don't know if it is intuitive to use)

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[–] Concave1142 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Keyboard is keyboard as far as I am concerned. I'm using an old Microsoft Ergo 4000 V1 that I got probably 10 years ago. I have used this same keyboard on a Windows 10/11 install, multiple bare metal Linux installs and a MacBook Pro.

The only issue is the Command key as I recall on the MacBook but that can be remapped if I remember correctly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Those old Microsoft Ergonomic keyboards are so under-appreciated. I had one for years and it improved my typing no end and was really comfortable to use, it was like it found my fingers. Then someone bought me an expensive keyboard as a gift and I feel obliged to use it, but I do miss the old Ergo.

[–] Concave1142 2 points 4 months ago

Absolutely. I have used this model specifically since at least 2006 or so. I have been using this model so long I have to readjust back to the non ergo layout every time I just type in my laptop when it is undocked. Not looking forward to the day this keyboard dies on me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

I loved the layout of the Ergo 4000, in particular the fact they shortened the space bar and moved modifiers like the Alt keys inwards. That's one thing that's almost impossible to replicate with other keyboards.

Unfortunately they let me down in durability. I must've gone through 3-4 of them in the same span of time as OP. Obviously our use patterns must be different. The pads and keycaps would wear down and the membrane would fail.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Is the command key useful on Linux DE?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Cmd = super (Windows key on most keyboards)

Option = alt

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Not as "command", but if you map it to something else it can be useful in lots of ways:

In combinations with other keys to launch programs.
In combinations with other keys or with the mouse to manipulate windows and workspaces.
In combination with other keys to create diacritics for non-English languages or useful Unicode symbols such as ½, ⁰C, ±, € and so on.

You can map the command keys separately too because they emit different keycodes. For example I use my right-hand super key to launch programs but my left-hand key (with Ctrl or alone) to switch to the next/prev workspace.