I am making an effort to get lubuntu to work. It is mostly the iBook G4 I have used and fully dedicated it to lubuntu. It could easily have been a different distro like debian, fedora or mintppc, but I ended up working with lubuntu mostly because I got more feedback and support from other Ubuntu ppc users. You would get support for any distro you choose, but I happen to talk to a Ubuntu G5 powerpc user when I installed lubuntu, and I got really into it. All the main linux distros have much the same challenges like graphic drivers that needed to be sorted out and browser embedded media streams needing work-arounds.
I know Debian and Ubuntu both have a team that keeps up their powerpc versions. If you are interested in open source and happen to have an old iBook, or old G3, 4 or 5. I would happily suggest trying a linux distro.
I have tried all the four distros I mention, and they all need attetion to a few challenges to get powerpc to work well. Open source is rather vulnerable regarding powerpc, mainly because of few users, and little feedback during alpha and beta testing before it is launched. If you are interested in linux and open source there is a chance to test for the Beta 2 which will be launched later this month. Beta 1 is already available, at least the alternate version for ppc.
What I want from my powerpc is:
- Stable system and easy booting
- A fully working Office like OpenOffice, LibreOffice or SoftMaker.
- Updated browser compatible with latest BankID, Java, and alternatives for media / video streams I use.
- A fully working mail client, like Thunderbird or similar.
- Support for all hardware like graphics card, CD/DVD/burner, WiFi, microphone, sound.
- Full support for any regular use and applicatin I happen to need.
I have made all if this work fine on my iBook G4. It does look like Gnash media player requires around 1.42GHz or better CPU to work. It is the closest thing to real flash and shock wave there is for powerpc. I don`t even attempt video editing, but simple video editing is possible. For browser embeded play there is a few challenges with the best media players like Gnome Mplayer, VLC and Totem. I have no problem streaming Youtube, web version of local TV channel, both live and archived shows.
These applications and flash alternative are soooo close to work all fine on powerpc. Most are already available but with a few bugs needed to be sorted out.
If you are interested in open source on powerpc, it is availble, and all it needs is for you to make an effort and stick with it for a while to find all the fixes. If you could spend time testing for alpha and beta releases, or generally report back on the bugs you find in the stable releases, these issues will get attetion.
To sum it all up, linux for powerpc is still there and available. My experience is that with a bit of effort linux can work just as well as osx. The devs and package builders are keeping the powerpc versions updated. All they need are users who are willing to stick with the distro for a while and give feedback. If there are powerpc owners interested in linux who can test and report back to Ubuntu and Debian these issues will be sorted out.
Linux and open source powerpc are alive and work!
I know Debian and Ubuntu both have a team that keeps up their powerpc versions. If you are interested in open source and happen to have an old iBook, or old G3, 4 or 5. I would happily suggest trying a linux distro.
I have tried all the four distros I mention, and they all need attetion to a few challenges to get powerpc to work well. Open source is rather vulnerable regarding powerpc, mainly because of few users, and little feedback during alpha and beta testing before it is launched. If you are interested in linux and open source there is a chance to test for the Beta 2 which will be launched later this month. Beta 1 is already available, at least the alternate version for ppc.
What I want from my powerpc is:
- Stable system and easy booting
- A fully working Office like OpenOffice, LibreOffice or SoftMaker.
- Updated browser compatible with latest BankID, Java, and alternatives for media / video streams I use.
- A fully working mail client, like Thunderbird or similar.
- Support for all hardware like graphics card, CD/DVD/burner, WiFi, microphone, sound.
- Full support for any regular use and applicatin I happen to need.
I have made all if this work fine on my iBook G4. It does look like Gnash media player requires around 1.42GHz or better CPU to work. It is the closest thing to real flash and shock wave there is for powerpc. I don`t even attempt video editing, but simple video editing is possible. For browser embeded play there is a few challenges with the best media players like Gnome Mplayer, VLC and Totem. I have no problem streaming Youtube, web version of local TV channel, both live and archived shows.
These applications and flash alternative are soooo close to work all fine on powerpc. Most are already available but with a few bugs needed to be sorted out.
If you are interested in open source on powerpc, it is availble, and all it needs is for you to make an effort and stick with it for a while to find all the fixes. If you could spend time testing for alpha and beta releases, or generally report back on the bugs you find in the stable releases, these issues will get attetion.
To sum it all up, linux for powerpc is still there and available. My experience is that with a bit of effort linux can work just as well as osx. The devs and package builders are keeping the powerpc versions updated. All they need are users who are willing to stick with the distro for a while and give feedback. If there are powerpc owners interested in linux who can test and report back to Ubuntu and Debian these issues will be sorted out.
Linux and open source powerpc are alive and work!
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