Linux on Low End Macs

Many people do not realize, that one can install Linux also on older Macintosh computers. I myself have Debian installed on an old iBook (600Mhz, 384 MB RAM). A great way to resurrect a great-looking and really portable laptop that had some old version of Mac OS installed, with no chance of getting modern software. Debian offered me everything I needed, and more.

PenguinPPC.org is on of the best sources for information on running Linux on a PowerPC. More tips can be found in Linux on Power wiki. If you want to try something else, you can always try NetBSD. It is a lot easier to install NetBSD in Macintosh than in a toaster. And even that can be done...

If you can get an older Mac for free, like I did, take it and liberate it!

5 comments:

zmjjmz said...

I have on older Mac (iBook G3, 733Mhz, 128MB RAM) but the display is toast. I have to work on that.

Diederen said...

Maybe you find this link interesting..

http://mac.linux.be or
http://applelinux.org

d a v i d e said...

I get a bit confused here in fron of the huge amount of possibilities.
some time ago I freed my 3yo asus laptop using xubuntu and it has been happily running since (apart from a very minor issue).

now my boss asked me if I could save his old dear ibook (2001 model) whose OS is permanently damaged. he just want his kids to play on the internet.

what would you suggest to install?
I use pc/mac/linux every day but I'm not exactly a binary master.

Mikko said...

I'm pretty happy using Debian on an iBook with 600 MHZ processor. But then I don't need Flash (There is no Adobe Flash for PowerPC Linux) or stuff like that when browsing the net.

Diederen said...

I can also recommend Debian. It just works.