these days i tested some linux distributions which can be used in conjunction with my old powerbook g4. Since it is a PowerPC 667 MHz this machine is too slow running a current version of Mac OSX. Beside this the internal DVD Drive is broken. So I tested some Linux Distributions.
Opensuse works well, but since I used Suse since Version 5.1 1997 I know, where the hecks and bugs are. I run a LiveCD and it seems to be fully functionaly but I did not installed the system.
Fedora Core / Redhat isnt a choice for an european citizen :-)
Debian Etch was easy to install in 2 hours. I got some problems with PCMCIA/Airport issues.
So I walked on using Ubuntu. First I installed the latest Version 6. This Version works well, but got the same issues with Airport. After Feisty Fawn was released I downloaded the needed installation mediums but the boot progress freezed after loading X. After 4 hours trying to fix the issues I give up using Ubuntu/ppc .. fuck ..
After examing these distributions I ended at Gentoo. The Installation Manuals for PPC are very good. Everything is descibed in details, which is essential for setting up a PowerPC step-by-step. The installation process remembers me how it should be .. without graphical assitents .. because if you leave the standard hardware way, you have also to leave the standard installation way ..
The biggest disadvantage of Gentoo is, that with emerge all packages are compiled in realtime during installation. it took nearly 2 days installing a base system with KDE/Konsole. But since all packages are compiled at your machine you can tweak the compiler to your machine .. -G4 *haha ..
It is fast as hell !
These days I will replace KDE with Fluxbox and testing some alternative compilers like D/Digitlmars an stuff.
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