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Linux for PowerPC
- Thread starter jrsx
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Oh and....
Debian + LXDE is a whole different universe than Lubuntu. Like, way different. It runs better, is light years more stable, and has much less ridiculous 'buntu nonsense running in the background. "Software Center?" Its called Synaptic. Or Apt. Debian does take some configuring, which was the main selling point of MintPPC, ie, he did most of the config for you. MintPPC has been stuck for two years at Mint 11, which is not the end of the world, cause you can always put a more modern Debian underneath it, but...the dream of a truly easy to install, pleasure to use PPC Linux is probably gone.
Wildy? Anyone?
Debian + LXDE is a whole different universe than Lubuntu. Like, way different. It runs better, is light years more stable, and has much less ridiculous 'buntu nonsense running in the background. "Software Center?" Its called Synaptic. Or Apt. Debian does take some configuring, which was the main selling point of MintPPC, ie, he did most of the config for you. MintPPC has been stuck for two years at Mint 11, which is not the end of the world, cause you can always put a more modern Debian underneath it, but...the dream of a truly easy to install, pleasure to use PPC Linux is probably gone.
Wildy? Anyone?
Random post.. Ubuntu 12.04 running on my G4. Hibernate doesn't work, power mgmt doesn't work, wifi of course doesn't work, surprisingly bt does work.
Check out this blog:
http://ricanlinux.blogspot.com/
He's tried several 'nixes on G4 hardware. Compared to OSX they have some advantages and disadvantages. I guess it depends on what you're doing.
http://ricanlinux.blogspot.com/
He's tried several 'nixes on G4 hardware. Compared to OSX they have some advantages and disadvantages. I guess it depends on what you're doing.
It depends upon the GPU in a PowerBook G4, if you own a 15"/17" the Radeon 9600/9700 does have usable drivers but nVidia based 12"/original 17" are stuck in software rendering as the drivers themselves weren't opensourced. Personally I never bothered with Linux on my 12" after the driver support was yanked(Ubuntu 11.04) due to underlying changes to kernel/display driver support in Debian/Ubuntu.
If you want newer Firefox+additions/extensions that work on FF39+(not all additions/extensions work properly on TenFourFox), LibreOffice, GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus, etc going the Linux route is worthwhile from a security standpoint but sooner or later you'll either install MacOnLinux or dual-booting for your OS X software.
Keep in mind Airport Extreme lacks driver support out of the CD/DVD installers of Ubuntu/Lubuntu, you need to plug-in via ethernet to grab the non-free drivers. On the Ubuntu front 14.04LTS(long-term-support) is the highest I'd recommend, the bleeding edge 15.04/15.10 may it be Intel/PPC is still rough on the edges(CPU/RAM usage) for slower systems and typically LTS builds iron out 99% of the bloat/performance complaints. I'd still recommend Debian as you have more flexibility.
If you want newer Firefox+additions/extensions that work on FF39+(not all additions/extensions work properly on TenFourFox), LibreOffice, GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus, etc going the Linux route is worthwhile from a security standpoint but sooner or later you'll either install MacOnLinux or dual-booting for your OS X software.
Keep in mind Airport Extreme lacks driver support out of the CD/DVD installers of Ubuntu/Lubuntu, you need to plug-in via ethernet to grab the non-free drivers. On the Ubuntu front 14.04LTS(long-term-support) is the highest I'd recommend, the bleeding edge 15.04/15.10 may it be Intel/PPC is still rough on the edges(CPU/RAM usage) for slower systems and typically LTS builds iron out 99% of the bloat/performance complaints. I'd still recommend Debian as you have more flexibility.