Mac Linux Links

Linux, a freeware Open Source operating system has been receiving a lot of press. Note that there are two popular versions of Linux for the Power Mac: MkLinux, which will run on any Power Mac, and LinuxPPC, which will not run on NuBus Power Macs. The Linux/m68k team is porting Linux to 68K Macs (you'll have to visit their site for a list of currently supported models).

Contrary to some rumors, Linux does not run on the 68000 CPU; it requires a 68020 with PMMU or a more recent CPU.

Be sure to visit our Mac OS X News & Links page for the latest developments on Apple's new OS. And for Unix fans, there's also MacBSD, a freeware alternative to Unix and Linux.

Mac Linux Mail Lists

• MaX, especially for those getting started with Unix/Linux
• Linux PPC mailing lists, LinuxPPC.org
• NetBSD lists for 68K and PPC Macs, NetBSD
• Linux/m68k mailing list, MacLinux (click on Resources)
• MKLinux lists, MkLinux (search on linux)

Other Mac Linux Links

• Pros and cons of using Linux on a WallStreet PowerBook, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2008.05.06. The old PowerBook G3 Series notebooks aren't without a few quirks when running openSUSE Linux, but for the most part they are good performers.
• Taking Linux to Mac OS X with virtualization, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.03.17. Thanks to products like VMware Fusion, it's easy to run your favorite Linux distro alongside Mac OS X.
• Moving data from Linux to the Mac, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2007.12.17. When switching operating systems, the best advice is to use standard cross-platform file formats whenever possible.
• Is Mac OS X 'a better Linux than Linux'?, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2007.11.28. Is Apple really competing with Linux, or do the two operating systems have very different goals?
• When to pick Tux over Windows and Mac OS X, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2007.10.15. There are two areas where Linux wins over Macs and Windows: the cost and flexibility of a Linux-based server and the verifiably high levels of security.
• Command Line Mac, Keith Winston's resource for Linux users making the move to Mac OS X.
• Installing Ubuntu Linux on the Beige G3 Mac, John Honniball, 2005. Step-by-step guide to installing Ubuntu Linux on a beige Power Mac G3.
• Drag and drop problems with flash drive, troubleshooting a Mac with Linux, G3 video problems, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.03.27. Also FireWire boot drives, bootable partitions, bootable external DVD drives, and maximum hard drive size on older Macs.
• Is Ubuntu Linux a sensible alternative for Mac users?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.18. If your Mac can run OS X decently, is there any reason to try Ubuntu Linux? If it can't run OS X well, is Ubuntu a reasonable choice?
• Installing Linux on a PCI Power Mac, Part 1, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.09.05. Preparing your PCI Power Mac (or clone) for Linux and getting openSUSE Linux installed.
• Preparing your PCI Power Mac for Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.26. How powerful a CPU do you need? How much memory? Do you need a faster drive controller? Are some video cards better than others?
• Why run Linux on a low-end Mac?, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.19. Linux supports older video cards and requires less RAM than Mac OS X, and it lets you run modern browsers not available under OS 9.
• Getting Ubuntu Linux up and running on a PowerPC Mac, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 2005.12.14. Ubuntu may be the easiest Linux to install on your Mac. It only requires you burn one CD and have an Internet connection.
• Using Linux to give an aging Mac more zip, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 12.07. Older Power Macs and newer versions of OS X can be a sluggish combination. Linux can perk up your old Power Mac and still let you use a graphical interface.
• Why does anyone use Linux?, MacSlash, 2002.10.27. In a world with Mac OS X, why would anyone continue to use Linux?
• A Linux user defects, Simon Cozens, Apple, 2002.10.18. "...the dream of Unix on the desktop had been realised. It is indeed possible to have the best of both worlds."
• Apple-Linux merger powers "Mac" switch, Paul Andrews, Seattle Times, 2002.10.14.
• Apple pitches Mac OS X to Linux fans, Matthew Broersma, ZDNet, 2002.10.10. "This year Apple attended Linux Expo for the first time to explain why Linux fans should take a look at its operating system."
• Mac poses as much of challenge to Linux as to Windows, Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe, 2002.09.30. "How long before Linux desktop loyalists abandon the digital wrestling match and switch to Apple as well?"
• Mac OS X rapidly catching on with *nix geeks, Dirk Pilat, Down But Not Out, 2002.09.27. Linux lovers and Unix users are discovering how easy, flexible, and powerful Mac OS X really is.
• Flirting With Mac OS X, Moshe Bar, Serving With Linux, Byte, 20002.09.23. "I am switching my laptop [from Linux] to Mac OS X."
• OS X: Mac-on-Linux supports Mac OS X (including Jaguar), Peter Cohen, MacCentral, 2002.09.07. Mac-on-Linux (MOL) now supports Mac OS X 10.1-10.2 natively on Macs running PowerPC Linux while still working with Linux.
• Linux and BSD Unix for older Macs, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.08.13. Linux and BSD Unix distributions for 68k Macs and pre-PCI Power Macs.
• Another look at Yellow Dog Linux, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.08.06. "Almost any PCI machine from an ancient Power Mac 7200 to the latest iMac will run YDL 2.3 well."
• PPC Linux: The end?, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.07.29. PPC Linux resources - and the possible end of the road for the PPC Linux column.
• Why a Quadra 605?, Dana Siberia. Chipped Q605 runs Linux and Apache - and is serving pages very nicely on the Web.
• Open source reality check, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.06.06. Open source idealism, business pragmatism, and the real reason programers write software.
• Beyond Linux apps: Mac on Linux, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.05.30. Running Linux but need a Mac app? Mac on Linux lets you run classic Mac software on your PPC Linux machine.
• A sampling of Linux software, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.05.23. A quick taste of browsing, productivity, graphical, media, gaming, and other software for PPC Linux.
• Learning Linux on a PC?, Dirk Pilat, Down But Not Out, 2002.05.17. Why in the world is Dirk running Linux on an ugly beige Pentium box?
• Yellow Dog Linux for PPC 2.2, Charles Moore, Applelinks, 2002.05.17. "Linux will support a whole passel of older Macs that aren't officially supported by OS X."
• Bring out the GIMP, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.05.16. No, Linux doesn't have Photoshop, but it does have GIMP.
• The Penguin lockup mystery, Adam Loiacono, Unix & the Mac, 2002.05.13. Something was locking up the Mac tight when booting into Linux - but what was it?
• Why Linux instead of OS X?, Jason Walsh, PPC Linux, 2002.05.09. Too many Power Macs can't run OS X - or can't run it well.
• Installing Linux on your low-end Mac, Adam Loiacono, Unix & the Mac, 2002.03.19. Getting Debian Linux up and running on an SE/30 - and lessons learned.
• Preparing your low-end Mac for Linux, Adam Loiacono, Unix & the Mac, 2002.03.18. Choosing and prepping your old Mac for a Linux installation.
• OS X and the future of Linux, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 2002.02.19. Some claim that OS X dooms Linux; I believe it renews Linux.
• more links in the Mac Linux archive: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998

About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts

Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2008 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Advice presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
  LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
  Access our RSS news feed at http://lowendmac.com/feed.xml.
  Email may be published at our discretion; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. If you prefer your message not be published, mark it "not for publication." Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
  PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.
  Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iBook, iMac, eMac, iPod, PowerBook, MacBook, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.

Have a question?
Ask an expert!

Navigation

Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
   Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
   Mac FAQ
Abandonware
   Petition
Mac vs. PC Info

Affiliates

The Apple Store
Mac Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com

Advertise

All of our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For price quotes and advertising information, please contact at BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.

Problems viewing this page with Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6? It works fine in other browsers, including IE 7. We recommend Firefox for those using Windows, as it is standards based and more secure than IE 6 (and earlier). More LEM visitors use Firefox than any other browser.