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Is it just me, or is anyone else annoyed by the way that when a commercial product is released with "Linux support" the implicit assumption is "x86 Linux only"? Since I only run non-x86 Linux (primarily LinuxPPC, although also AlphaLinux), I'm more than a little irked at that bias. Given the fact that Linux is a multi-architecture operating system, I'm tempted to say it amounts to false advertising.

Will software vendors ever wise up and say "x86 Linux" when that's all they mean? Or are we doomed to be stuck with the assumtion the "Linux" means "x86 only" unless otherwise specified as long as x86 is the dominant CPU architecture?

1. [...] Very rarely do you see a desktop G4 running anything but the MacOS.

well, Yellow Dog Linux and LinuxPPC would run fine on it im sure. if i had money to blow on a new machine, id certainly consider a G4 for *my* desktop...so why wouldnt there be other people making the same consideration?

2. [...] ...obviousely, here, it helps stability.

the fact that a weakness in the os helps workaround a problem in the processor is not, in my opinion, a Good Thing(tm).

3. [...]

er...right...its not available yet, so the only people that should be affected are overclockers (although it doesnt sound like overclocking is possible from other comments). ok, its good that theyre trying to fix it before they release the faster chips, but doesnt the paragraph i mentioned seem a little odd? i mean, theyre suggesting some people might encounter minor problems. but how can that be if a) noone has one of the effected chips yet and b) theyre going to fix it before they release it?

i think im just confused...i need a good beating. ah yes, quake...

--Siva

Keyboard not found.

Linux does already run on the 400 MHz G4s, which use the motherboard of the Power Mac G3. The 450+ MHz G4s are a different architecture, so as you say LinuxPPC isn't there yet, but it will be soon. See LinuxPPC's notes on the G4 and Yellow Dog Linux's G4 press release.

Linux does run on it. Check out LinuxPPC and NetBSD.

They don't support Linux, but they'll provide some tech notes for you to wade thru (which is very Linuxy thing to do).

So please don't just rant against Qwest et. al.
Support the folks who do listen! Let them know we approve.. and that we're watching.

Other possibility: you could try getting in touch with Groupe Bull or Motorola Computer Group (at http://www.mcg.mot.com/) about that. Both make PowerPC-based boards and computers, though AFAIK they only sell to vendors and not to little saps like us. ;-)

For that matter, if you wait a little, IBM's open hardware specs ought to also generate some interest amoung hardware manufacturers.

Last recommendation: Get in touch with Yellow Dog Linux or LinuxPPC about it. They'd be happy to help you out in finding something, I'm sure. Both are pretty quick in supporting new hardware, as well; though AltiVec is not yet supported (the code has to be "vectorized" first), meaning only that its advantages won't yet make a difference in Linux, that development is already starting to get underway.

Oh, and if you're looking for news and info about Linux for PowerPC Macs, check out my site at http://linux.macnews.de/. :-)

Ethelred

Check out http://www.linuxppc.com/hardware/.

I think an iMac running linux would be cuter. www.linuxppc.com

Try one of these:
LinuxPPC
Yellow Dog Linux

As far as I can tell (I haven't used either), LinuxPPC is a general purpose distribution, along the same lines as Red Hat, Open Linux or Debian GNU/Linux. Yellow Dog is more targetted for the server market.

----

OK, it looks like AP has picked it up. The articles are being collated at http://www.linuxppc.com/crack/, which was referenced in another thread here.

ps - Wanna bet the DEA is going nuts over the sudden surge of references to "crack" among geeks?

You're welcome. :)

--Tom

I've been collating articles and various observations at
www.linuxppc.com/crack/,

which is not the same as the crack target server, crack.linuxppc.org. :) Please don't confuse them. ;)

• BeBox
• IBM Power Series (PPC-based desktops)
• IBM RS/6000 40P, 43P
• Motorola FirePower, PowerSTACK

check them out at linuxppc.com

R5 looks amazingly like RH6.0

Anyone who thinks this competes with an iMac is a moron. It costs twice as much!!! Would you compare a $20,000 Honda Accord with a $40,000 Porche?!?!? No, of course not! Would you blame someone for choosing the Accord over the Porche?!?! No, of course not!

When will you people realize that the iMac is a great computer, it just wasn't intended for the typical Slashdot reader! And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! I bet that for 90% of the people who read Slashdot, the iMac is a great computer for their significant others.

--
Timur Tabi
Remove "nospam_" from email address

LinuxPPC - CHRP, PREP, and Powermac Linux, now at R5

Yellow Dog Linux: for Power Macintosh, G3, and iMac

MkLinux: Linux for PowerMacintosh on a Mach3 kernel

I guess some /.'ers are as ignorant of Linux as they are of Macs.

Check the LinuxPPC site for more info.

Actually, I think the best deal may be from www.LinuxPPC.com - if you buy r4 now, you'll get r5 free when it comes out.

Does anyone else sell LinuxPPC?

-Pete

LinuxPPC does have USB support. It already runs on Imacs and beige G3s.

check out :
LinuxPPC Imacs page

Might I interject that Apple's primary product is not the Mac OS, but the hardware that it runs on? While MacOS 8.5 and previous versions are very sorry examples of OS design, MacOS X shows a lot of promise. As for "Mac people talking about how good their OS is", this article is written from the context of a Mac zealot...would you expect him to badmouth MacOS?

Also, there are alternative OS's for Macs, both 68k and PPC. Allow me to submit NetBSD, OpenBSD, BeOS, and LinuxPPC for consideration. My Mac Centris (old, I know) runs NetBSD and MacOS...the primary functions of MacOS are, 1. booting NetBSD, and 2. Downloading packages to my Newton MessagePad.

All in all, I found it a nice look into the mind of a Mac addict as he views the Linux phenomenon.

As a mascot, that is.
---------------------------------
"The Internet interprets censorship as damage,

If I had had time, I would have built one with a LinuxPPC screen.

So glad I use LinuxPPC,
I see no use for glibc!