What I meant is that Linux requires tweaking for the hardware to work, and even then there're cases where you cannot get it working. As you say, there are Ubuntu-certified hardware vendors, but that's not the objective behind Linux, which is an OS designed to run in generic PCs. I have used Linux quite frequently years ago, even as my everyday OS, and it required tweaking. I expected it would be an OOB OS by now, but it isn't, and my experience is that it has the same issues today as a decade ago. ]
That is why one should load up a Linux LiveCD - to test all the hardware - network, wireless, SAMBA, printer additions, Skype, audio, camera (video and picture import), etc.
You may find that LM fine tunes Ubuntu to the point where many times it just a better product. If you look at LM 18, it is based on Ubuntu 16.04. For an Ubuntu 16.10 based distro you will probably need to go through distrowatch.com . For U16.10 you may need to go with ExTIX, but it may depend on what GUI you're interested in, for example KDE4, KDE5, GNOME MATE, GNOME3, LXQT, etc. It's for that very reason that Linux probably can't do OOB, since it supports 32bit, 64bit, ARM, PPC, etc.
As far as stability goes it may come down to whether you want init.d, sysV, system.d, etc.; grub, grub2, etc; .
Is there such a thing as a generic PC? Intel and AMD are the major players, but even within Intel there are many architectures to support. Heck, Apple dropped Intel 32 bit support a few years ago, and they've dropped a lot of Macs when Sierra came out, just as with every Mac OS release older hardware is dropped, and with it Mac Support is also dropped (certainly no different than Windows dropping older OS support.)
Tweaking can't be helped any more than Windows needed tweaking. Remember when everyone added the Start Menu to Windows 8.x? If you're used to multiple desktops, like in Mac OSX and Linux,
http://www.howtogeek.com/197625/how-to-use-virtual-desktops-in-windows-10/ will need to be done.
When I install MATE I already know how to set it up - first thing is to add "Mounter," "Logout," "Shutdown, and a few other apps to the task bar. Then I go to Appearance and load my Windows Themes, load DROID or Noto fonts if they're not part of the distro, then down load my favourite apps. like Rhythm Box, Clementine, USB Creator, USB Formatter, Disks, GParted, MP3Gain, Asunder, Audacity, etc.
I've spent most of today installing SuSE Leap 42 KDE5. Now there be some serious tweaking... It's as convoluted as Windows 10. Want to change the background? In Windows you click on a pic, right-click, Set As Background. KDE5? It'll take you a good half hour to an hour to figure out how to do it. Oh, you want to change your MDM splash screen? Google is your friend... Want to make the Windows look like El Capitan? Want to change to OSX icons? That'll take an hour. Now try moving the window buttons over to the left side... tweak, tweak, tweak, tweak, tweak....
It all comes down to what you're used to, what you're familiar with, what you want to do. No distro does it all, just as Windows or OSX doesn't do it all.
Disk Utility was a powerful tool, but in recent MacOS releases they changed it into a joke.
I agree. It's the reason why I keep my G5 with 10.5.8 around.
It would be endless to mention all the stuff that makes me more productive on MacOS and that doesn't have an equivalent in Linux.
Absolutely agree. Until Apple decides not to support certain hardware...
If a new powerful MacPro is released, then there might be a future for MacOS. Otherwise, the only option is to get used to Linux.
While the ball may be in Apple's court, the fact is that the Mac Pros are beast of machines and what they really need is the ability to throw in any PC video card and have it work OOB. Yes, the MAC vid cards are EFI based, but that just locks one in into a non-upgradeable path. Even if they come out with a brand new USB3.1, ThunderBolt2, NVME capable system, will it come with a 1G, 2 GB, 3GB or 4GB video card when the PC is moving to 6GB and 8GB cards? You want to work in 4K? You'll probably need a 4GB video card; having to use two ThunderBolt ports to drive a 5K monitor may seem too limiting, especially 5 years from now when everyone has moved on to 8K (which can be done today.) .
https://www.lifewire.com/4k-resolution-overview-and-perspective-1846842
The main reason for a new Mac Pro, besides the bus goodies (USB-C, Thunderbolt2, NVME, etc.) would be for power consumption. 150w processors are a little long in the tooth. Which is what you'd probably want if you're going with more than 4 cores, since more than 4 cores stopped with Skylake. So don't expect the movie studios to be in any rush to upgrade because to them there is no need. What they need are faster buses and the most powerful video cards and memory speed & capacity possible. And if Apple can't supply the major movie studios, the major engineering firms, the major auto manufacturers who use CAD/CAM, then they'll eventually move onto Intel servers (which they're probably already doing, anyway.) The gamer is already PC based. Google is cutting Apple's legs with their Chromebooks. What is left in the Education field is Apple's strengths - media creation. And once media creation moves over to the PC then Apple will lose generations of potential buyers. Game over, man, game over. IMO.
I love Mac OSX, but there are things that can only be done in Linux.
Like wiping out EFI partitions. I fix a lot of Window imaging problems that way; heck, I've fixed quite a few MAC imaging problems that way. Or I throw the HDD into a caddy and fire up OSX 10.5.8.
I can save a >10.5.8 install image, restore it to a USB stick, tshove the USB stick into a MAC that runs El Cap or Sierra and it installs just fine.
