[techtalk] A friend's question

[Nicole Zimmerman]

There are, as usual, several options in the linux on a PPC mac
department :o)

LinuxPPC (latest) works and has specific kernels/info for specific
hardware. It is redhat based and has a graphical installer.

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

The bronze g3s from 1999 (lombard, I believe) are compatible (for USB
and ethernet info, check here:
http://www.linuxppc.com/about/hardware/apple/lombard/ ) and the 2000 g3s
are "somewhat compatible", thanks to the firewire (check here:
http://www.linuxppc.com/support/updates/product/?category=2000&subject=firewire_G3_portable
)

I would assume that debian is the usual debian, so if she doesn't want
to know the ins and outs, it's probably not going to be what she's
looking for (as usual with debian). 

YellowDog I am not familiar with, however I know it is also redhat based
and I'm pretty sure it also has a graphical installer. 

Last year when we were going to install linux on our bronze powerbook,
we were going to use linuxPPC, it looked the most expansive and well
developed along with fairly easy to install (and use given it's basis on
redhat). A close second was YellowDog (reminds me of mandrake in the
documentation of installation (et al) department). There are others out
there, check out http://www.linuxppc.org for options.

The latest version of linuxPPC offers different dual-booting solutions
(previously, you had to install an application that came up after macOS
booted up asking if you wanted to use macOS or linux, they have somehow
built another option which allows direct booting to linux), sports a
bootable CDROM, uses GNOME, has a graphical partitioning utility, and
"mac-on-linux" options for "runtime" software (not totally sure what
that entails). For info on the "new" stuff,
http://www.linuxppc.com/products/2000/

I don't know if purchasing a CD is an issue, linuxPPC off of their
website is $20.00 + $6.00 shipping; YellowDog CDs (install, source, and
a rescue) are $24.95+shipping off of their website.

-nicole

> I've been asked to ask the list a set of questions I couldn't answer.
> 
> > I've become overwhelmed by a crushing desire to install Linux on my
> > Powerbook G3. Which distribution would you suggest? Do they all offer
> > dual-boot with MacOS - and can I repartition my drive without totally wiping
> > it?
> 
> She wants an 'I just want to use it' distro - she's interested in
> Linux but not interested in the guts. (Yet. Muahahahaa!)