Distro for iBook G4 PowerPC?

[darrelljon]

Need a distro for an iBook G4 with a PowerPC (i.e. not x86) processor? Any ideas? Help!

[racepres]

The only linux I use for my mac's is Debian.
It is the only distro still actually maintained! That I know of.
The Debian forum has lots of tutorials, or drop me aPM, and I will try to help.
That said... I much prefer OS10.11 [tiger] on my powerbook!
and I still have 10.3 [Panther] on one old book.
The only place I use Debian is on a very old G3 powerbook, which struggles to run OSX.
HTH
RP

[darrelljon]

Is it fast? What release number of Debian do you use?

[Aitch]

If you don't mind a bit of reading, there are many alternate suggestions in the powerpup thread

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=39715

Also, obviously mandriva, arch, gentoo, yellow dog, and Ubuntu for PPC

or, as found by google

http://penguinppc.org/about/distributions.php

Aitch

[racepres]

Is it fast? What release number of Debian do you use?

Fast.. being relative, yes compared to OSX, No compared to OS9!
I use etch currently because the newer versions don't run on my old G3. Have run Lenny on a G4, but not extensively, as I prefer OSX on my G4's, to Any distro thus far... With the possible exception of Gentoo, which I messed with quite some time, before I gave it up, Being too "labor intensive" for my taste.
That said I would Hate to have to give up Debian, on my old G3, as it keeps the thing [semi] viable, as a working laptop, and works at least as good on an old G3 iMac!
HTH
RP


edit: If your wireless card is not recognized, you may have to step Back a release or so, By my reconing!
But if using ethernet... all has been great.

[PowerPup]

Debian or Xubuntu would be the best, or at least the easiest Linux OS to install.

There is another OS called Frugalware, but their install PPC DVD isn't bootable, and I had a bit of trouble getting X to work right away.

[Aitch]

Apparently there is no flash for linux/PPC - but there are alternatives, almost working, Gnash and swfdec.

http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/gnash/0.8.8/

http://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/rpm2html/s ... ec-mozilla

There's a petition for those interested

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/ ... i?fla4lppc

for all else PPC linux, scroogle is your friend...e.g this gem

http://lowendmac.com/linux/index.shtml

Aitch