[GLLUG] Can Linux be loaded on an old Apple PowerBook G4

[Bryan Laur]

I wouldn't be surprised if he just wants to get something useful on it.

Sounds like it's not his main computer anymore... typically upgrading 
software major versions yields a performance decrease, not increase.

Tony, do you know what model your processor is? or maybe just the clock 
speed?

Ubuntu is getting more bloated in new releases and therefore is not very 
friendly on old hardware. You could try it, but if you find it's too 
slow after ensuring that your drivers are working correctly, don't give 
up hope.

I would try lubuntu, which is a very lightweight ubuntu derivative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubuntu

Yellow Dog linux might also be a good choice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Linux

How to install lubuntu on power pc.
1) download ubuntu alternative or ubuntu minimal for PPC. (See notes below)
2) install core ubuntu.
3) sudo apt-get update
4) sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
5) sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop


ubuntu alternative vs ubuntu minimal:
ubuntu-minimal is a netinstall distro. It downloads and installs the 
core package on the fly. The problem with this is that it can be 
extremely slow with the default repo, and I wouldn't recommend it.

ubuntu-alternative includes the standard ubuntu desktop package, but you 
can choose to not select it. In this case, you'll get the core package 
installed without havng to download it on the fly.
On the other hand, you have to download the 700MB CD.. in which you only 
need like 40MB of it or something

Each method has it's pro/cons, but the outcome is the same.

sources:
1) myself as I've install lubuntu using ubuntu alternative before
2) http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1454430



PS: you've inspired me to see if my grandfather still using his G3 ibook.


Hey Karl, it looks like there are 32bit and 64bit

On 7/30/2011 11:29 AM, Karl Schuttler wrote:
> Hey Tony. You can definitely load some flavor of linux on it; be sure
> to get the PowerPC of the distro you are interested in, ad the G4 has
> a PowerPC processor and not a modern one (x86, amd64).
>
> Ubuntu PowerPC: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads
>
> Be aware that Ubuntu stopped officially supporting PowerPC several
> major versions ago (7.04 i think? Currently on 11.04), but there is a
> community that ports them over.
>
> But perhaps you are having other issues? Your computer is definitely
> outdated, but what benefits do you want from upgrading? I'm not sure
> that you'd see a performance increase.
>
> Karl
>
> On Sat, Jul 30, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Troy<w8tcc at yahoo.com>  wrote:
>> Do you or any of your friends know if linux of any type be loaded onto an
>> apple powerbook G4. The highest software that I can load is 10.4. So this
>> apple is almost totally outdated. Being that the subsystem is somewhat
>> linux, (some linux commands work in the terminal mode) I thought that I
>> could possibly put some linux distro on it.
>> Thank you Troy Creed
>>
>> 73 de w8tcc, troy -.-
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