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Author Topic: ibook g4. Success. Linux installed!!!  (Read 4295 times)

Offline bones113

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ibook g4. Success. Linux installed!!!
« on: May 31, 2011, 09:41:05 AM »
I just acquired a used Mac ibook g4. the specs are: ppc 1.2ghz cpu, 1.25 gigs of ddr memory, 80gig 5400 rpm hard drive, Dvd/Cdrw combo drive, Airport extreme wifi(Broadcom based), Ati mobile video, 12.1 inch display. I was curious if Linux can be installed on this thing. It has OSX 10.5.8 leopard installed now. It's funny but OSX tries real hard not to be unix but in the end it is unix. There is a lot of familiar things about OSX that I could operate it rather easily. There is not much on the net about current distros made for Macs. It is a little old but it runs really well. I would love putting Linux on this thing. Just curious.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 02:31:44 PM by bones113 »
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PCLinuxOS 2011.9 Kde on a MSI cx700 laptop with dual core t4200@ 2ghz, 4 gigs ddr2 , 320 gb sata hd, 17.3 hd wide screen, ati Radeon 4330 video @512 mb, dvdrw multi drive. PCLinuxOS 2011.9 Kde on Dell optiplex 755, Core2 duo@2.66 ghz, 4gig ddr2, wd 320 gig sata hd, dvdrw, Ati Radeon 2400 @256 mb.

Offline T6

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2011, 11:53:33 AM »
g4 using old cpu, not intel?

no, pclinux doesn't have support for that architecture

there is distros with support for power pc processors

the ubunfantastic between them

when you find the right distro for it, use gnome on it, small cpu won't work nice with kde4
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Offline trinux

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2011, 12:11:44 PM »
Here's a link to some guides for installing linux on macs, unfortunately I don't see one for pclinux.
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/apple.html


And Apple doesn't hide the fact that osx is unix, they advertise it:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/
http://images.apple.com/macosx/technology/docs/L416017A_UNIX_TB_FF.pdf
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Offline T6

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2011, 01:34:48 PM »
"Here's a link to some guides for installing linux on macs, unfortunately I don't see one for pclinux"

it doesn't mention because it doesn't exist for power pc, only pc on 32 bit os, also known x86
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Offline bones113

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2011, 02:14:00 PM »
Quote from: trinux on May 31, 2011, 12:11:44 PM
Here's a link to some guides for installing linux on macs, unfortunately I don't see one for pclinux.
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/apple.html


And Apple doesn't hide the fact that osx is unix, they advertise it:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/
http://images.apple.com/macosx/technology/docs/L416017A_UNIX_TB_FF.pdf


I know they advertise it but the total commercialization of the OS is whats gets me. Under the hood it is a lot like our own PCLinuxOS with even a home directory, Similar file system and feel. To me it is no better than PCLinuxOS in operation capabilities and stability. The only thing they have is software, Deep pockets and a niche in the market place. Our modern distro is just as capable. I got this for a little of nothing just to play with it and see what all the hoopla about OSX is all about. Really I don't see it. This little Ibook runs good though and kudos to apple for making a well built machine. Oh well I guess Linux on this thing is out of the question. What a let down.

P.S. I was able to get Firefox, Amarok and Mplayer installed on it. Maybe there are more Linux apps I can put on it. The search begins.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2011, 02:19:12 PM by bones113 »
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Offline T6

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2011, 02:54:22 PM »
"Oh well I guess Linux on this thing is out of the question"

but why do you say this?

there is many linux distros with power pc support, pclinux is not one of them

the reason is that nobody likes power pc architecture anymore, not even apple, only one big company is using it, sony in the ps3 and ps4 afik won't use it anymore, this is why very few linux distros support it

about gpl software on mac, practically everything you have in linux is present on mac except for desktop specific apps but many others like gimp, pidgim, songbird, firefox, opera, libreoffice, vlc between others have a mac port
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Offline bones113

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2011, 03:08:10 PM »
Quote from: T6 on May 31, 2011, 02:54:22 PM
"Oh well I guess Linux on this thing is out of the question"

but why do you say this?

there is many linux distros with power pc support, pclinux is not one of them

the reason is that nobody likes power pc architecture anymore, not even apple, only one big company is using it, sony in the ps3 and ps4 afik won't use it anymore, this is why very few linux distros support it

about gpl software on mac, practically everything you have in linux is present on mac except for desktop specific apps but many others like gimp, pidgim, songbird, firefox, opera, libreoffice, vlc between others have a mac port

I tried vlc. It is only intel supported. I will give opera a shot. It has MS office for Mac installed but I will try Libreoffice. The only distro I might try is Yellow dog but even it is very old with a a 2.6.17 series kernel. I was hoping against hope that there was a PCLinuxOS port for PPC. I will use this for travel. I feel experimentation coming on. I have the leopard dvd so what have I got to loose?.
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Offline T6

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2011, 03:17:46 PM »
"The only distro I might try is Yellow dog but even it is very old with a a 2.6.17 series kernel"

i was going to suggest you this distro, the kernel is not a problem ,remember that this hardware is old, it is a notebook isn't?  you won't add new hardware and usb support on that kernel should be very good, also for the wireless and ethernet card (if it has one) so i don't think this should be a problem on your particular case  :)
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Offline bones113

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2011, 03:30:19 PM »
Quote from: T6 on May 31, 2011, 03:17:46 PM
"The only distro I might try is Yellow dog but even it is very old with a a 2.6.17 series kernel"

i was going to suggest you this distro, the kernel is not a problem ,remember that this hardware is old, it is a notebook isn't?  you won't add new hardware and usb support on that kernel should be very good, also for the wireless and ethernet card (if it has one) so i don't think this should be a problem on your particular case  :)

Will do. It is gonna be interesting. I love breaking things. ;D ;D ;D
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Offline Hootiegibbon

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2011, 03:49:25 PM »
bones113,

Over looking the distro-talk rule at this time , as your machine is incapable to natively run PCLinuxOS.

I would suggest the following alternatives over and above the aging version of YellowDog.

CruxPPC

Slackintosh

NetBSD << this runs on pretty much any processor (inclusing toasters)


Please - this is for everybody reading - rememeber this is currently at an exception to the no distro talk , the moderators reserve the right to pull this thread as required, keep the talk on what bones113 has asked, and no speculation etc

EDIT: bones - I would be tempted to go for as light as possible with as few as apps etc, and load qemu or bochs on it then you will be able to run PCLinuxOS on it...... I would research a minimal netbsd ppc version with support for the hardawrae X and qemu

Thanks

Jase
« Last Edit: May 31, 2011, 03:52:56 PM by Hootiegibbon »
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Offline blarney

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2011, 05:26:24 PM »
How about Debian? They have a powerpc version which comes with Gnome.

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/6.0.1a/powerpc/iso-cd/

http://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/inst/install

Cheers,
Blarney
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Offline T6

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2011, 10:05:10 PM »
debian sounds very good

"Will do. It is gonna be interesting. I love breaking things"

but, what would happen if everything ends up well?

don't forget to have at hand the mac installation disc at hand, just in case
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Offline bones113

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2011, 07:59:14 PM »
Quote from: T6 on May 31, 2011, 10:05:10 PM
debian sounds very good

"Will do. It is gonna be interesting. I love breaking things"

but, what would happen if everything ends up well?

don't forget to have at hand the mac installation disc at hand, just in case

I see it like when I first got into linux. I broke many installs in the process. Maybe it wont end up that way but I aint holding my breath. If I have time I may start on it this weekend.
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Offline ka9yhd

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2011, 06:28:37 PM »
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Offline djohnston

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Re: ibook g4
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2011, 06:36:07 PM »
Quote from: ka9yhd on June 12, 2011, 06:28:37 PM
And there is MorphOS

http://www.morphos-team.net/index.html


It's not Linux, though. That's an Amiga type OS.

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