I just want to remind/let all Xubuntu devs know that I use this distro on my OldWorld Mac, an Apple PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet"). I've been using Ubuntu off an on over the past year and a half or so on this 'Book, and Xubuntu off and on since project was first announced. I've had it installed since the Dapper version was officially released, and I use my PowerBook (along with Xubuntu) every few days, surfing the web (both using a 802.11G wireless card and ethernet), editing text documents, reading PDFs and other documents, learning programming, learning Linux/Unix commands, chatting/communicating using xchat, outlining research using an OPML editor, and various other tasks.
I attempted to install this distro from the existing Xubuntu (Dapper) installer CDs, but I have only been able to install the distro by installing Breezy server, then upgrading to Dapper server, then installing xubuntu-desktop. There are probably many other potential PPC users who are unable to use Xubuntu simply because they are having tremendous difficulty installing the distro, so I hope -- and plead with you -- that some development/attention will continue in the area of compatibility with PPC systems (including OldWorld Macs). Speaking for myself, I really enjoy using Xubuntu, and find that the distro is quite stable and useful as a desktop OS on my PPC-based system. I've also encountered others -- some who have emailed me, others I've met in IRC channels and discussion lists and such -- who've expressed an interest in installing and using Xubuntu. Unfortunately, the inability to install Xubuntu (from the CD, using BootX) to many Macs has presented a barrier for many potential users of the distro.
Using BootX to boot and install is currently the standard method of running Linux on older PPC systems. This method worked without issue using versions of Ubuntu prior to Dapper. Again, I am requesting/pleading/hoping against all odds that some Xubuntu (and generally, Ubuntu) developers will look into making this process work again, as it was in the past. This is in *no way* to insinuate that Xubuntu devs have neglected the platform; indeed, I don't know if anyone expressed an interest, during the past several months of Xubuntu's development, in making distro compatible with these OldWorld Macs, or if any testers were available. (I should have made myself available.) In any case, I am hoping my message/request will be considered and taken seriously, and I would be most interested in being able to more easily install Xubuntu, and to help others with getting the distro installed on other OldWorld PowerBook/Power Mac computers.
Thanks for you time and consideration.
Appreciative of your efforts,
Harold J. Johnson
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