This is essentially a updated re-post from what I did on the supermac list a while back. I'll probably put this up on my site when I get the time. It has more then linux, but its a good general over-view of everything. Hope it helps To answer your question if it stacks up to osx, There is mac-on-linux, which is essently classic for linux but its a bit different. Its far from as finished as the classic in os x is, and you can only do it in a window or in a console window. You can't have full screen intermingled programs. As for a programming standpoint it depends. They both use gcc, for the compile for c,c++,etc. For java, it has the jdk built in (and in the kernel I believe) so it can make your java programs in java 2.0 (normal mac-os is only 1.8). You can download jdk off the web for linux though (2.0 too). For others, you probably have to download the source to get it to work in os x. Of course also running os x on a 8500 would require a hack in itself. For os x is supposed to only work on new world mac's (imac and up). So Os X won't work right out of the box either. The linux would have more support for some things, and os x for others. It depends on what you are doing. Most linux programs just compile on the spot on a ppc while in os x (darwin) you probably would have to modify the source and/or makefile to get it to compile. -- There is a lot of linux distro's but not as many for power-pc (mac). There is Linuxppc (http://www.linuxppc.com) Its the more common linux distro for mac's (more or less) Yellow dog linux (http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/) Until recently was mainly aimed at server. There is a new version out (2.0) that's supposed have a new gui installer, more user friendly,etc but I haven't tried it out (yet). There was one mirror for a while (and I had my linux box on 24/7 trying to download the thing) but couldn't get the whole thing. I gave up when they started scanning my system ;(. There's a bunch of new mirror's so I'll probably try to get a copy. Suse (http://www.suse.com/us/products/susesoft/ppc/index.html) Its essently a catch for all Linux distro. If you buy it, the box comes with 6 cd's (The pc version can come on dvd).It has LOTS of applications (1200).Its supposed to have a pretty good gui installer, but I haven't tried it myself. Although you can only get 1 cd from the website (downloaded) though. Mklinux (http://www.mklinux.org) Its the only one that works on nubus mac's, and runs on the mach kernel. It was originally developed at apple, but they stopped in '98. There is a new version in beta , for its now a community run now but its QUITE dated, more difficult to install and manage, and is slower compared to linuxppc. Linux-Mandrake (http://www.linux-mandrake.com) They currently have a beta version for power-pc. I have done a install on a pc and it is just great. A great gui (graphical) installer, its simple and powerful (like the mac). You can select all defaults, and it will auto-partition your hard-disk if you like (and don't know which sizes to use). Just about everything is gui based, so configuring your system won't be that different then what your used to. I feel that its the easiest to install of the bunch, but its still in beta (for mac) so I would be a bit weary if you was going to setup a server or a machine that needs to be stable. I there are multi-cd versions (not sure about the beta though) that you pay for and can only get the 1st cd. NetBSD (http://www.netbsd.org) Its "linux like" As steve jobs said, in that its open source. Its about the closest to the lot to os x (well besides darwin) for darwin is based on netbsd, but still its own breed. I haven't installed this (yet) but It looks a bit tricker to install but is supposed to have better hardware support (although now that the ppc tree has migrated back into the linux 2.4.3+ kernel, I'm not sure if that counts anymore). Its based off of bsd , so the format should be familiar if you use solaris machines at school. Darwin (http://www.darwin.org) This is the core of os x. Although it doesn't have a gui (well out of the box anyway, you can compile one in later), and is mostly for hard-core junkies that missed their time on linux. Although officially its not supposed to work on pre-g3 machines, it has been known to work on some. There is little support out right now (especially with old machines) So I suggest you stay away unless you REALLY know what your doing. Well, it looks like it's turned into a world of its own. There is a community of people that are working on it and there are some "homemade" distributions out there, that aren't from apple, that contain X servers (gui) and software packages. Although they are still much a work in progress, and its not official from apple. So the support for other programs is good, its not as good if you used a linux distro you would have to compile most of your programs ,that don't come with it sense there are few binaries. I feel that your best bet is linuxppc. It has the community already in place to answer questions, has good support for devices,has been around for awhile. its a good in general all around linux distro. Of course I could be biased sense I use linuxppc ;) Also a relatively simple gui installer and the whole thing can be downloaded (for free!). Its also what yellow dog and suse are based upon. Although linuxppc the company has become a non-profit, so if your between yellowdog and linuxppc, I bet yellowdog would have more (commercial) support (as in tech support people on the phone). Of course, if you don't buy a copy (and download off the site) then you won't get their support. Well, without paying $$ anyway. ---- Others BeOS http://www.be.com They did make a version for mac's a while ago, (and a copy shipped with powercomputing machines) but there is no support for non-new world mac's (Imac and up). I don' think they make a version for the mac anymore period, but I'm not sure.The os didn't catch on that well anyway, but figured I'd list it here anyway. Debian http://www.debian.org Its another linux distro for the powerpc. I know its all gnu, and has its own package system (.deb versus .rpm in all the others) which is good/bad depending on how you look at it. I don't know much more then that (if someone could enlighten us?). Hope this helps. If anyone else has more comments,info etc let me know so I can add it to the list thanks -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 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