Linus Torvalds switch to Apple hardware

dubbz · Mar 9, 2005

Spotted this on slashdot.org

Linux creator Torvalds switches to an Apple Mac

In short, his new computer is a Dual G5 @ 2GHz, which he got for free. He runs Linux on it, though, but you whouldn't expect anything else from Mr. Linux, whould you?

Edit: Actually, not news. He mention that he's running on PPC in this interview from January...

JFreak · Mar 9, 2005

well, torvalds is a clever man. he is after all a finn

Kato C. · Mar 9, 2005

JFreak said:
well, torvalds is a clever man. he is after all a finn

A very well-off Finn.
I liked his quote at the end of the article:
"Oh, and part of it is that I got the machine for free," said Torvalds, "I'm really a technology whore."

virividox · Mar 9, 2005

free is free

at least hes not supporting the evil wintel hardware suppliers!!!

Lacero · Mar 9, 2005

What's the point of running Linux on a Mac? Good quality commodity hardware can make a Linux box at least as good and more cost-effective; and on Mac hardware, MacOS X has advantages over Linux (it's more stable for one, and will run MacOS software). Buying a Mac and getting rid of the OS seems like buying an expensive sports car and replacing the engine with one from a family sedan.

JeffTL · Mar 9, 2005

One word as to why Mac Linux is a serious endeavor: Xserve.

Linus may be using a Power Mac, but the same software will run on the Xserve, a comparatively cheap fast 1U server.

Lacero · Mar 9, 2005

I remember the early days working for a dialup ISP company. They used old Intel 486s running Linux. Running Linux on powerful hardware such as PMs and Xserves, imagine the uses for such machines.

minimax · Mar 9, 2005

Lacero said:
Buying a Mac and getting rid of the OS seems like buying an expensive sports car and replacing the engine with one from a family sedan.

Actually...taking a volvo bodywork and put it on a rolls would be more accurate; it's still the best engineering money can buy (at least that's what the people that buy one say) and the new body is nice as well...but you have nothing left to show off

Mechcozmo · Mar 9, 2005

Lacero said:
I remember the early days working for a dialup ISP company. They used old Intel 486s running Linux. Running Linux on powerful hardware such as PMs and Xserves, imagine the uses for such machines.

Imagine a 286 running Linux... wonder how much use it would be? Hmmm.....

Anyway, at least the $$$ went to Apple even if he didn't personally fork 'em over.

Abstract · Mar 9, 2005

Well he's using a PM because he got it for free, and not because its the sexiest machine on the planet. Its not really a compliment to Apple now, is it.

Mechcozmo · Mar 9, 2005

Abstract said:
Well he's using a PM because he got it for free, and not because its the sexiest machine on the planet. Its not really a compliment to Apple now, is it.

SILENCE!

wrldwzrd89 · Mar 9, 2005

Mechcozmo said:
Imagine a 286 running Linux... wonder how much use it would be? Hmmm.....

Anyway, at least the $$$ went to Apple even if he didn't personally fork 'em over.

From what I know about Linux, a PowerMac 7200/75 would be a fine machine to put Linux on, and I happen to have one of those at home. Heck, if you could compile Linux for 68k, you could probably get Linux to run well in text-only mode on any of the 68k Macs.

kg9ov · Mar 9, 2005

wrldwzrd89 said:
Heck, if you could compile Linux for 68k, you could probably get Linux to run well in text-only mode on any of the 68k Macs.

Hmmm....

JFreak · Mar 10, 2005

Mechcozmo said:
Imagine a 286 running Linux... wonder how much use it would be? Hmmm.....

zero actually, as linux has not been compiled for 16bit hardware and i guess it never will. an old 386 however performs nicely.

748s · Mar 10, 2005

JFreak said:
well, torvalds is a clever man. he is after all a finn

yes, but not even torvalds comes close to the greatest finn of all time.......Aki Kaurismaki.

JFreak · Mar 10, 2005

748s said:
yes, but not even torvalds comes close to the greatest finn of all time.......Aki Kaurismaki.

well... kaurismäki is a creative person whereas torvalds is a techie... you just cannot compare the two

although, torvalds is creative in tehcnology and kaurismäki is technical in creativity, so maybe you can after all

Mechcozmo · Mar 10, 2005

JFreak said:
zero actually, as linux has not been compiled for 16bit hardware and i guess it never will. an old 386 however performs nicely.

Well then, I guess that answers my question. Now, to FIND a 386.... almost easier to find an old PIII nowadays than something older IMO.

RealDeal · Mar 11, 2005

so too Grady Booch with Apple- one of the good OO guys

see link http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/dw_blog_comments.jspa?blog=317&entry=60341&ca=dgr-mw01Bo

cb911 · Mar 16, 2005

i thought that Linus had been using Mac's for a while now. at leas way before the start of this year?

well i remember reading or hearing something about it at least 5 or 6 months ago...

wrldwzrd89 · Mar 16, 2005

cb911 said:
i thought that Linus had been using Mac's for a while now. at leas way before the start of this year?

well i remember reading or hearing something about it at least 5 or 6 months ago...

Of course he used Macs to test Linux on PPC...he just didn't have one as his primary machine at the time. Now he does...or at least that's what I believe to be the case.

mvc · Mar 16, 2005

Mechcozmo said:
Well then, I guess that answers my question. Now, to FIND a 386.... almost easier to find an old PIII nowadays than something older IMO.

Easy, take a plane trip to any chinese city, grab a shovel and head for the tip. That's where they all went to die, after the gold and components had been stripped from the circuit boards.

Linus Torvalds switch to Apple hardware

macrumors 68020

macrumors 68040

macrumors member

macrumors 601

macrumors 604

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 604

macrumors 6502

macrumors 603

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 603

macrumors G5

macrumors member

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68040

macrumors 603

macrumors member

macrumors 601

macrumors G5

macrumors 6502a

Our Staff