It's been a couple
weeks now since I started using this great OS and I have grown to love it more
every day. I make a point to use it for at least 1-2 hours a day because
diving right into something new is a better way to learn about it. This
approach may overwhelm some at first but once that passes a lot of things start
to really make sense.
The built in
software is complete enough that I only had the need to add 3 apps to make it
useful for all I need to do in daily computing. The apps I felt the need
to add are GIMP (image editor), VLC and LibreOffice. Lubuntu/LXDE include
Abiword but I have never been a fan. LibreOffice is based on OpenOffice and
I find it very capable.
For video playback
I really like GNOME Mplayer which is built in but VLC is a must have for
me. Mplayer is a bit more efficient but VLC gives you so much more
control over your playback so it's a necessity. All my Apple Partition
Map hard drives with video work perfectly over SMB networking.
With browsing I
have not explored any options outside of the built in FireFox which after
updating is at version 15. It's all I need since it's the most capable
and customizable browser on any platform. Chrome seems to be the current
default browser for the x86 version of Lubuntu and where it sits by default in
the task bar is a red circle with a line through it on the PowerPC version as
anyone who has tried it will know. I never felt the need to look for a
PowerPC alternative on Linux since I much prefer Mozilla browsers.
The experience has
not been without growing pains but for the most part it has really sparked my
attention. After about 6 or 7 years of playing around with Linux on
occasion I am now sold on keeping it along side of OS X and BSD from now on.
You should use the
Synaptic package manager to find and install all your apps. The Lubuntu
Software Centre is a resource hog and has a less intuitive interface compared
to Synaptic in my opinion. LSC has also crashed on me several times.
Based on my
experiences you could get by fine on as low as 128-256 MB RAM which is mostly
thanks to the LXDE GUI. I say that because I have never seen memory
consumption go over about 230 MB and that was with 5 apps running and playing a
video. Very impressive for modern software which points to just one of
the many best of both world benefits of Linux.
More on this as my
Linux journey continues.
I have been happily using Linux since I rescued some PC laptops from a dumpster. A little spit and polish and a new OS, and I use them all of the time. Linux on PowerPC sounds very interesting. I have a Lombard sitting around collecting dust that I want to try this on.
ReplyDeleteThats great to give new life to hardware that was considered "dead" by someone. I love back from the grave hardware stories. Computers are only really limited by the ability and imagination of the user.
DeleteYour Lombard would run well in Openbox I imagine and be usable in LXDE.
Hi there, just found the blog, it's very good!
ReplyDeleteI have a 1.67 Powerbook G4, 2GB ram on OSX10.4.
What do you think would be a better 'upgrade' Leopard or Lubunut? I'd really like to be able to install Draft Sight (free 2D cad)and LibertyBASIC when it comes out on Linux.
I don't think an upgrade to Leopard would allow me to instal DraftSight as i think it's intel only, bugger. I don't know anything about Linux, if you have it installed can you instal all linux apps?
gbar
I am not a CAD person at all so I certainly cannot comment on what your success on Linux will be like. The one thing I will say is that if it exists on Linux in an capacity there is always a good possibility of making it work with other Linux and architectures. That is not a user friendly alternative though.
DeleteIn terms of all others uses and Leopard vs Lubuntu it depends on what you will do. Your system will run both OS at a decent clip so you may as well setup a dual boot. This is what I do on my main G4 tower now and I like it a lot.
Lubuntu is a lot more up to current security standards but lacks the familiarity of Mac OS which can be a struggle for some at first. The best bet if you dual boot is to use Lubuntu for just basic internet while transitioning and try Leopard also for other uses. Try every CAD option you can find on both.
On Lubuntu I find that most of the software available in Synaptic works on the PowerPC builds but I have run into a few things that have architecture not supported errors.
Every user is different so it's always best to try for yourself. Not only is Lubuntu useful and secure but even Leopard makes your Mac OS environment more secure and capable. Leopard only really has a couple areas where security is an issue and that is because of a lack of modern java and flash development for 10.5 PowerPC. There are more modern secure browser options on 10.5 but you still cannot escape the java and flash limitations unless you're like me and just stop using both altogether.
The most liberating thing I have ever done is dump java and flash from my Mac OS world. In Linux I do use java at a limited level but I still stay away from flash.
Let me know if you need help with the growing pains.
Thanks for the reply,
ReplyDeleteI've been on the website and i see that DraftSight (really good, use it on a windows machine at the minute) offer a "Ubuntu Linux OS .deb file" so that sounds promising, not sure if it's just a click to download thing or more involved.
http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/
I'm at sea at the minute but will try and download Lubuntu PPC when i get some decent internet access again.
On another matter, what makes the Mac a 'Sawtooth' reading this blog has got me thinking of getting one, what year/spec model would you recommend? i don't mind getting my fingers dirty with any mods required. Perhaps a series of Upgrading articles would be good?
gbar
A Sawtooth also goes by the name "AGP Graphics" since it was the first with AGP. They were manufactured from Sept. 99 through to the summer of 2000 when the Gigabit Ethernet model came out. They were all single CPU and ranged from 350-500 MHz.
DeleteI will certainly put upgrade articles on the agenda because there are many people can still do very cheaply. You can buy 1-1.5GHz G4 7455 on ebay for 60-100. There is also a memory seller on ebay that specializes in old Mac RAM. He sells 2 GB (4x 512MB) kits for 30-35. Even if you do get a Sawtooth try to get PC133 so it can also be used in a Digital Audio or Quicksilver if ever needed.
I will check out that url.
I used Lubuntu on my lombard G3, and while it was pretty good, it was just a little too slow. I had tried Mintppc before, and that was great, except for the music app and video apps crashed a lot. So I just devolved to plain ol' Debian (Wheezy, the developmental branch) and I've found it to be spectacular. In fact, I'm about to install the last Ram upgrade to 512 MB, with the special low-profile ram I bought from OWC. So with that I might try to make it a dual or triple boot again. BUt lubuntu is great on my other x86 laptop with 256mb ram.
ReplyDeleteYeah... the flash thing kinda sucks. That's the only real drawback for me. And they could stand to make better audio players. I just really wish html5 would come along a little quicker!
ReplyDelete