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Linux on the iMac G4
Brent Foster writes: "The staff at iMacLinux.net have Linux running on the new flat panel iMac G4s. They have an initial installation guide available here(1). It has several photos of the iMac G4 during the installation as well as cat /proc/cpuinfo. They also have some photos of the unpacking available here(2). The iMac was sponsored by PowerMax, it is nice to see companies sponsoring Linux efforts, especially in the Apple world."
John Buswell adds: "It currently works in novideo mode, but we plan on testing newer kernels and XFree 4.2 with nvidia patches later this week."
I ran Debian Linux on a 'New World' G4. It took a little tweaking to install to bootloader but once installed, I had no other issues. Why would I put Linux on it? For one, Linux screams on PowerPC. Linux and G4s make an excellent server combo. OpenFirmware is also server-class, adding to the enterprise-nature of the hardware.
Another reason is speed and maturity. Linux has run on PowerPC for years, and is well supported. I was able to run XFree86, Enlightenment, and instant-message apps with ease. These were readily available via apt. Just about every piece of OSS/FS I was accostomed to on x86 was there.
Final reason is cost. OSX isn't free of charge and you must pay for upgrades. Im not really into piracy, so spending hundreds of Dollars on a new software didn't make much sense.
Don't get me wrong. MacOS X was very attractive and neat. However, some features/differences (netinfo or whatever its called management, GUI by default, weird / layout) didn't leave me happy with its ability to serve. OSX is great for a desktop Mac user but needs a little more time to prove its worth as a server OS.
Why did Christopher Columbus climb Mount Everest? Why did Lewis and Clark make their historic journey to China? Why did Davy Crockett discover the New World when everyone around him insisted the world was flat and he'd fall off the edge? Why did Marconi make that first flight? Because it was a challenge! It had never been done before and it was exciting! Why run Linux on your iMac G4? In the immortal words of the greatest starship captain of all time: Because it was there.
I can understand why someone with an older Mac (ie, sunk cost) would investigate running Linux. Of course, the end result will be be a more expensive box than an equivalent Intel or AMD Linux box, but with your money sunk into a G3/G4, what else can you do? What I don't understand is why someone would buy a brand new, off the shelf iMac G4 and immediately install Linux. Okay, it's cool looking and unique and those are damn fine 1337 h4x0r characteristics, but think of the coinage! Was Linux their intention before buying the iMac G4? Maybe I'm missing something compelling on the Mac Linux front, but why are there people doing this?!