The Linux Thread for Early Intels

[mortlocli]

My iMac 7,1 (20" C2D 2.4 from mid-2007, 6GB RAM and 256GB SSD) refused to boot any version of Mint + other distros except MX-21 Wildflower 32 bit XFCE, which I now have dual booted with Snow Leopard.
So I now have my favourite Mac OS complete with support for PPC apps and games, plus a modern secure OS for internet use.

Cheers

Hugh

Ta Hugh - Ive been thinking of having a similar set up and using linux mainly for going online. Ive recently have been trying antiX which apparently (distrowatch) has a connection with MX.
Found antix was quite good as theres a preboot menu that allows me to 'Xorg=safe' to fix the screen prob I usually have with linux.

One prob I discovered with antiX is lack of fan temp control while watching a movie online: Sudden appearance of vertical bars across the screen due to GPU over heating. Ive since added a temp reading at the top of the screen...as suggested in one of the antiX discussions.

Ive only been using it from a USB stick so far..

 

[swamprock]

Running Debian 11 on my Blackbook 4,1, with XFCE as WM. This is one case where I take speed and a modern OS over period-correct software. Blazingly fast.

I've mentioned this before, but here's a hint for sticky trackpads in Linux on these machines (and maybe other Macbooks)- install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics and reboot. Sticky trackpad is gone. Libinput steps aside and is only used for keyboard input at this point.

 

[mortlocli]

Running Debian 11 on my Blackbook 4,1, with XFCE as WM. This is one case where I take speed and a modern OS over period-correct software. Blazingly fast.

I've mentioned this before, but here's a hint for sticky trackpads in Linux on these machines (and maybe other Macbooks)- install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics and reboot. Sticky trackpad is gone. Libinput steps aside and is only used for keyboard input at this point.

'Period-correct software'..that's an interesting term of phase.
I've been trying various Linux distributions as my iMacs have issues (screen factors and booting) to future proof them, but recently have decided to go 'back in time'..and just use a live distrowatch only when going online.

Why?
All that software on Macintosh garden. I'm sure that would entertain me for yonks.

 

[swamprock]

'Period-correct software'..that's an interesting term of phase.
I've been trying various Linux distributions as my iMacs have issues (screen factors and booting) to future proof them, but recently have decided to go 'back in time'..and just use a live distrowatch only when going online.

Why?
All that software on Macintosh garden. I'm sure that would entertain me for yonks.

I use my Whitebook 4,1 for music writing/demoing/recording, and that runs OS X 10.8.5. My "period-correct" comment was geared more towards the OS, and I only came to that opinion once I installed Debian on my Blackbook and realized how amazingly fast that machine ran with that OS. In that case, the more modern OS made that machine much more useable for modern tasks. My Whitebook has true period-correct software other than just my music applications (which are all no longer supported with one exception) and I still enjoy using that machine for other purposes, but it does show its age when pursuing those endeavors. It's still fun to push it, though.

 

[mortlocli]

I use my Whitebook 4,1 for music writing/demoing/recording, and that runs OS X 10.8.5. My "period-correct" comment was geared more towards the OS, and I only came to that opinion once I installed Debian on my Blackbook and realized how amazingly fast that machine ran with that OS. In that case, the more modern OS made that machine much more useable for modern tasks. My Whitebook has true period-correct software other than just my music applications (which are all no longer supported with one exception) and I still enjoy using that machine for other purposes, but it does show its age when pursuing those endeavors. It's still fun to push it, though.

That's a good way to go, and my experience has lead me to the same conclusions. Have been trying out haiku on my 2009 iMac and in the discussions there's lots of more recent Mac owners with hardware issues. It's like a 'horses for courses' sort of thing. I've unsupported Catalina and recently discovered I can go to the next OS..but it won't run my 32bit eyetv..and yep..apparently one can make 32 bit work...but do I really wanna go there..no - not really..
So 'period correct' looks good to me...an OS designed for that particular hardware..and anything online - current Linux from a USB stick or external SSD.