Run a virtual machine
The best way to run Linux or Windows on an M1 Mac for the present
REQUIRES
macOS 10.13 or later, Parallels Desktop 17 ($79.99, parallels.com) YOU WILL LEARN
How to install and use virtual Ubuntu Linux IT WILL TAKE
20 minutes, plus download time INTEL MACS CAN run Windows in Boot Camp, but there’s no equivalent on Apple silicon Macs, where the best way to run Windows or Linux is in a virtual machine (VM) in Parallels Desktop.
Until the release of Windows 11, running that or Windows 10 on an M1 requires you to join Microsoft’s Insider Program to gain access to pre–release versions for ARM systems.
Fortunately, Linux is simpler, as Parallels offers four different distros for ARM systems, including the excellent Ubuntu. Until native Asahi Linux ships, that’s actually the best way to run Linux on your M1.
Intel Macs have a far wider choice of many different versions of Windows, half a dozen easy–install Linuxes, Android, and the numerous versions of macOS from 10.7 to Monterey.
In each case, installing the VM is similar: download the right distro for your type of Mac and run its installer in the VM. This is most straightforward when Parallels already offers to do that in its Installation Assistant.
Once your VM is up and running, Parallels Tools then shares the folders in your Home folder, making it easy to transfer files, and integrates your guest operating system with copy and paste, and your Mac’s hardware, including networking and printers. What you end up with is the best of both worlds without the need for any additional hardware, and you can tune VM performance to your needs.