On Sun, 2009-08-09 at 16:21 -0500, Dennis Myhand wrote: > Mac User #330250 wrote: > > I'm not happy with the fact that the PowerPC version of OpenSUSE is a > > 32-bit > > distribution. Okay, it does matter only when an application needs more than > > 4 > > GB of RAM, allright. But my G5 has 16 GB RAM inside and I'm now trying to > > get > > a working 64-bit Linux if only the kernel would run! > > > I'm a bit confused as to your reason for wanting to do this. You want > to run a 64 bit *nix system on a G-5. I thought that was what OS X was. ... > do. But (and ymmv) I have run Linux, and I have run OS X, and I much > prefer OS X for fit, finish, and functionality. Peace, Dennis
Howdy, He doesn't say why he wants to do this, but I can imagine several reasons. In fact, I plan to do this when the G5 Macs get cheap enough for me. An air cooler dual 1.6 or 1.8 GHz machine with Linux would make a nice machine for me. I don't think this is something very many users will be interested in and I would not recommend it for many people. OSX is prettier than any Linux setup I have seen. OSX has alway had the characteristic that the things it does well are very well done and easy to use and the things it does poorly are very hard to figure out and use. Linux has better overall usability for me because Apple does not always fully implement utilities. For example, samba on my current Mac does not work nearly as well as Linux from the same time frame. Linux is much easier to install most utilities on. The major distros have package managers(apt-get, yum, emerge, etc) that each make it a snap to install, say Postgresql or Mysql, or many other utilities not from Apple. On OSX, if a drag and drop installer is available, it will probably work OK, but you have to go find it somewhere and sometimes they are not available. The license on Linux is much better and I always feel more comfortable using software with user friendly licenses. I am always frustrated when it is time to upgrade OSX because I have to stop and read and study multiple lengthy license agreements to see what affect they will have on me. I know most people don't do that, but I am picky about the legal agreements I enter into. On Linux, software uses several license that I have studied beforehand and they are not regularly removing my rights with new versions of the license, like Apple does. And finally, running Linux is a good idea, just because it is there. I run a bunch of operating systems here at home. My main one is Linux, but I use OSX and it has it's place. Just trying and learning about them has it's own value. I don't have Linux running on a current Mac. I last used it regularly on a 700 MHz iMac. I asked on my local Linux mailing list and I'll report back to Andreas what I find. I am pretty sure our Vice President runs his main machine as Linux on a dual G5, but I don't know if he uses 32 or 64 bit Linux. He uses plain old Debian. Have a good day, Ralph --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
