installing linux on imac hardware

on a 2007 imac that will slow to a crawl since mountain lion, I have installed linux mint (why not debian?)

works as expected and the speed to check e-mails / browse the web is back

some bugs like this silly swapping of keys: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/214786

fix : echo 0 | sudo tee /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/iso_layout