Linux on the Low End
Why Run Linux on a Low-end Mac?
- 2006.07.19
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Welcome to Linux on the Low End. Over the past year, Low End Mac has answered many of my questions about Macs. This is my attempt to give something back and to give some of you another option for your low-end Macs.
Who am I and why do I blaspheme a Mac by running Linux?
I've been using computers for about 20 years, starting with TRaSh-80s, CoCo2s, Tandy 1000s, IBM XT, etc. all the way up to my current fastest machine, a Celeron Mobile 2.2 GHz in a desktop overclocked to 2.95 GHz that I use for video encoding.
My main desktop/server is a Dell Precision Workstation 610 with Dual Pentium III Xeon 500 MHz w/ 2 MB L2 cache.
All my computers run SuSE Linux from v9.2 to v10.1. Linux is a great alternative to OS X, since it runs with less resources, which is what Low End Mac is all about.
What's with all these x86 machines? This is Low End Mac!
Because that's what I have been using forever. However, I have acquired numerous Macs over the years, and now that openSuSE is actively supporting the PowerPC platform again, I have been using it on my Macs. My son's PowerBook G3 WallStreet Series I (upgraded with a PowerLogix G3/466) is running openSuSE v10.0. My Power Mac G3 B&W (upgraded with a G4/400) is running openSuSE v10.1. My Beige G3/266 is running openSuSE v10.0 connected to a 20" Multiple Scan monitor and is used for Web browsing,
Why not run Classic or OS X?
My Old World Macs do have Classic, because I have to run BootX in order to start Linux. I use Classic for some things, and my son plays a lot of his games (like Pajama Sam) on his PowerBook under Mac OS 9.2.2.
As for OS X, I've found that not only does Linux still support a lot of the older ATI cards (like those built into the WallStreet and Beige G3s), it runs very well with just 256 MB RAM. Most users of OS X recommend at least 512 MB RAM and prefer 1+ GB. The WallStreet tops out at 512 MB and the Beige G3 tops out at 768 MB RAM.
Linux also allows me to run the current versions of numerous programs, like OpenOffice, Firefox, the KDE desktop (being a former OS/2 user, I prefer it over Gnome), and K3b for DVD/CD burning. Linux also supports most PC-based PCI cards without having to have an Apple ROM on them (other than video cards - the primary video card has to have a Mac ROM).
Finally, it's nice to be able to run the same, familiar OS on all my machines. I don't run WinDoZe at all and do not intend to use it in the future.
Isn't Linux harder to use? Don't you have to be a techie?
Nope. It can be a little more difficult to get up and running, but modern Linux distros are very polished, support most hardware out of the box, and are very easy to use.
Installing Linux presents some challenges, and that's one of the areas I intend to focus on. I plan to share my experiences installing Linux on the following machines I have available:
- Power Mac 7500 with Sonnet G3/400
- Power Mac 9600/300
- PowerBook G3 WallStreet Series I with PowerLogix G3/466
- Power Mac G3 Beige
- Power Mac G3 B&W w/ G4/400
- Power Mac 6500/225 (I haven't succeeded yet, but I am hopeful).
I recommend the following Power Macs as excellent candidates for running Linux:
- Power Mac 73/75/76/85/86/95/9600 - Up to 1 GHz G3 or 8000 MHz G4, 1.0-1.5 GB max RAM
- Power Mac G3 Beige
- PowerBook G3 WallStreet
- Any "New World" Power Mac or PowerBook
These machines may do okay but have limited RAM, so they may run better as a mail server:
- Power Mac 5400/5500/6360/6300-160/6400/6500 - Only 128 MB RAM, recommend newer video card for GUI
- PowerBook G3 "Kanga" - Only 160 MB RAM, 1 MB VRAM, 800 x 600 Max display, not processor upgradable.
I don't recommend the following Power Macs due to no Open Firmware/no PCI bus:
- Power Mac 61/71/81/9150
- Power Mac 52/53/62/6300 - Road Apples
Of course, there are various Mac clones as well, and they each have similar advantages and disadvantages.
While I primarily use openSuSE, I will be exploring Yellow Dog as well as NetBSD. Hopefully, I can answer a lot of questions about getting Linux up and running for those who are interested.
And thanks to Dan Knight for giving me this opportunity to
contribute.
- Link: openSuSE
- Link: Yellow Dog Linux
- Link: NetBSD
Recent Linux on the Low End articles
- DOS Nostalgia: Looking Back at Early Computer Experiences, 05.04. TRS-80s, the Tandy 1000HX, Radio Shack's Color Computer, Hercules card, 1200 bps modems, hard cards, and other 20-year-old technology.
- Pros and cons of using Linux on a WallStreet PowerBook, 05.06. The old PowerBook G3 Series notebooks aren't without a few quirks when running openSUSE Linux, but for the most part they are good performers.
- Picking the right cheap computer, new or used, 02.13. Unless you're working with video or hooked on 3D gaming, you don't need a lot of computing power. You might be surprised at how little will satisfy you.
- The past and possible future of Apple's Intel transition, 01.04. Going Intel has been Apple's third successful CPU transition since the Apple II era - and the future is wide open.
- More in the Linux on the Low End index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: iMac Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based iMacs ran at 1.83-2.0 GHz, came with 17" and 20" displays.
- Group of the Day: Mac Pro List is for those using a Mac Pro.
- November 23 in LEM history: 99: Should I buy a USB card? - 01: Can a low-end Mac be an only Mac? - Palm Desktop without a PDA - CyberDog saves the day - 05: How Consumer Reports could compare Macs fairly - Speakers for your Mac - Living with the hi-res 15" PowerBook - Birth of the PowerBook - Daystar 1.9 GHz iMac G4 upgrade - 1.92 GHz PowerBook upgrade
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
- IBM Model F: A Great Old Keyboard with an Outdated Layout, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 11.19. Although it used a different technology than the revered IBM Model M keyboard, the Model F was a great keyboard in its own right.
- Soft Touch Keyboards, Wireless Mouse Options, Loving SeaMonkey 2, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.18. Also the future of browsing with PowerPC Macs and the multiple mouse input bug introduced with OS X 10.5.8.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
- More deals in our archive.
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