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)
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.
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.
I wanted to offer some friendly corrections and context on a few points:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Okay then try Fedora and look into power management settings for the WiFi adaptor
How do you do that?
Unfortunately I dont have specific instructions on how to tame an angry fedora. It’s not my main so I dont have that memorized, but I do know Ubuntu likes to include some quality of life tweaks out of box that other distros like fedora can omit, including power management settings that can help tame stubborn wireless cards like these.