LinuxPPC 2000 Update

Ryan writes: "LinuxPPC 2000 Q4 includes the "first graphical versions of the yaboot and miboot boot software" and the installation CD-ROM is now "bootable on all PCI-based Apple Power Macintosh computers, including the dual processor G4, the G4 Cube, and the FireWire PowerBook" (previous versions would only boot on older Macs)." They've got a press release up and everything.

Where is the product?

CDs not available until MacWorld? Download not available yet? What gives? Did slashdot fall for an early announcement? The product is called LinuxPPC 2000 so I assume if it was announced in 2001 that would be bad. Sounds like slashdot reprinted a 2-bit marketing ploy.

Re:os X

I don't think OS X will affect LinuxPPC all that much. There are those that like Apple hardware but hate Apple software and many of those are probably the types developing LinuxPPC in the first place:). Also, another thing to remember is that Darwin is BSD based while Linux is svr4 based. Those what would be interested in Darwin for it's unix flavour probably wouldn't be interested in Linux anyway (it might, however, affect the prospects of {Free,Open,Net}BSD ppc ports (do they exist?), but I can't say in which direction). The most likely scenario I forsee wrt Darwin and Linux is new Darwin users (because they baught the PPC machine with Darwin) finding out about Linux and going "hrmm, what's this? I think I'll give it a go". Some will like it, some will hate it, but in the end, I feel Darwin is actually an opportunity for LinuxPPC (and mklinux, I imagine).

No matter what, LinuxPPC (and Linux in general) is and will be creating interesting times :)

Bill - aka taniwha
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Re:I hope that Linux becomes more popular...

Why doesn't cheaper non-x86 stuff exist?

One word: Volume

I work at API NetWorks. We have an ATX sized Alpha motherboard with USB, sound, ethernet, PCI, etc... A -complete- system is about $3000 or under from our resellers. (We don't sell direct, tho you can buy the board/CPU alone thru a distributor of ours)

Back to the volume answer. Without volume, you don't get price. Everyone would "love" an Alpha but in the real world, the people that buy it are the people that need it. (scientific/high performance computing) There's NOT a large influx of Slashdot readers knocking our doors down looking for an alternative. Why? #1 issue: Cost. My first 486 cost $4000. Most Slashdot readers will be damned if they pay more than $1000 for a PC. Tell me, how is Alpha, or any other "non-x86" CPU supposed to compete at those price levels?? I'd really like to know! CmdrTaco likes to "avoid stories about the businessy side of the whole Open Source thing" but quite frankly, it's the "businessy" (sic) thing that pays MY paycheck.

os X

What do people think about the prospects of linux ppc with os x just around the corner and darwin just now gathering steam? I hope it survives just to provide some variety and so the projects can benefit from each other, but i think its outlook is rather grim on all but older macs.

Re:I just want the nice designer hardware

Darwin?

Excellent

As a nerd, I'm always interested in good hardware and good software. We've been blessed with good software for a while :) And now with the excellent Apple hardware, I think we have a winner. If your a videophile, then I think this is the best place to start messing. I've done some coding on the video encoding/decoding side for mpeg and would really like an excellent firewire implmentation worked out. The current kernel has some really nice hooks and latches for firewire and soon this would go into PPC's. I know a number of mac users who would jump onto Linux just as soon as the video software on it gets better. Right now, with gimp, coreldraw and so on we do have a pretty good image editing collection. One other media related improvement would be something to do with sound (which seems to be totally ignored). I would help if I understood the many qualms in coding sound software. Wont it be nice if SoundForge dudes ported their software to a free OS? (Probably to i386 Linux :( ).

I hope that Linux becomes more popular...

...so that we can throw off the encumbrance of hardware compatibilty completely. It would be so great, when I choose a pc, if I could choose every little detail of my preferred architecture. The problem with the x86 line is that it is dominated by Windows, and so must be hardware compatible with the earliest 8086. If Linux became a force in the market, then instead of having to piggy back on systems designed for other OS's, complete systems could be designed specifically for linux from the ground up.

I am not an expert in these matters, so I ask you, is this possible? Could we have completely unique hardware setups that cater for Linux specifically? I hope so, I think it would be very liberating.

Who said is was just for "Mac"?

LinuxPPC also runs on a large number of RS/6000's, Amigas, Tivo, and others [linuxppc.com]. You should probably check into it before you starting spouting shit about Macs and LinuxPPC.

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Re:os X

Well, I hate to argue this, because it all depends on one's definition of UNIX.

"A layer buried deep under Aqua"

Hahahaha! :) How long does it take someone to get a shell, after it's been installed? Two seconds? Three? Doesn't seem terribly buried to me. XFree86 has already been ported. GCC already works. What more do you want.

"can be made to compile"

That makes it sound like you've got to absolutely FORCE things to compile, with endless tweaking and modifications. Frankly, by the time OSX is released, there will be relatively little pain in porting over apps(at least those apps that took any amount of portability into concern).

I'm sorry, but you must not know what you're talking about. There is a huge, massive, big-ass UNIX layer under Aqua. Just because you can't figure out how to get to it doesn't mean it's "not even UNIX like" nor "deep under".

Sorry.

Dave

Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)