[matwood]

Spot on. I remember not long ago trying to replace my MBP with a linux box and asking/complaining about the HiDPI situation on linux on some forum. One the responses I received was no one needs HiDPI. Huh?

I'm hoping this is just a down period for Apple. They have had issues before and corrected them, so we'll see.

[dfox]

What is somewhat ironic is that X11 is DPI aware at least since R6 (early 90's or so). But most modern applications tend to ignore that because it caused "stuff to look wrong" (as in not exactly pixel-exact same everywhere). FWIW Windows' GDI also has some DPI awareness since forever, but it didn't really work well to the extent of even Windows components having totally broken UI for anything other than 75dpi (caused by mixing of units in UI definition).

[sbr464]

Elementary OS Linux supports HiDPI pretty well.

[bodi]

Disclaimer I bought and supported Elementary OS last year. It's definitely got potential. Then you run straight into the braindead lack of UI decisions or "opinionated design" and are just kind of like ugh.. Ok.

[bitL]

Linux Mint + Cinnamon (or even + Macbuntu + Docky if you want to feel like on Mac, including switching flat dock to 3D if you liked Mavericks), then in General settings choose HiDPI in the first option. I run like that for 3 years already, on 3x 4k monitors. You can thank me later ;-)