The new introductory site

[Sridhar Dhanapalan]

On Saturday 20 January 2007 13:22, Chris Jones <chrisjones at comcen.com.au> 
wrote:
> I am aware that Ubuntu can be used on the Apple PowerPC structure. However,
> I was reluctant to include any information about it due to all Apple
> computers being sold now are using Intel hardware. Whether the PowerPC
> Ubuntu is compatible with the new Intel Macs, I have no idea. If somebody
> wants to email me and let me know that would be great. But until I am wiser
> on the issue, the mentioned information will be absent.

The standard i386 version of Ubuntu does work on Intel Macintoshes. There are 
some caveats, but not being a Mac user I'm not too familiar with them. I 
would assume that the x86-64 version would work on the newer Core 2 Duo based 
Macs.

There are plenty of PPC Macs around, and they are not going to go away any 
time soon. They are particularly well-entrenched in educational and 
arts/design fields. Apple's conversion to x86 technology has cast a shadow 
over its commitment to its legacy PPC hardware. Third-party vendors will 
gradually phase-out support for PPC Macs.

People like to be assured that their platform will be continued to be 
supported in the longer term. Witness how many Windows 98 era machines are 
still in service. They have not been replaced largely because they still do 
their jobs well enough. With Win98 unsupported, many users are increasingly 
feeling compelled to upgrade to XP or Vista, which will in most cases require 
the purchasing of new hardware.

With GNU/Linux, we can assure users of PPC Macs and Win98 machines that they 
will be supported over the long run, without the costs of new software or 
hardware.

Note that this does not necessarily carry across to Ubuntu. There has been 
some talk of ceasing Ubuntu PPC development, but at this point it is likely 
just a rumour or a far-off plan. Nevertheless, there are plenty of 
distributions with capable PPC variants. Some, like Yellow Dog, focus in PPC 
exclusively. It is still too early to say, but I suspect that the latest 
generation of games consoles (all of which contain PPC processors) will 
strengthen PPC free software development. The Cell processor (the processor 
used in the PlayStation 3) is being pushed into servers, workstations and 
consumer devices, and needs a good OS to run on it. Demand for PPC GNU/Linux 
will not abate any time soon, but the nature of that demand will change with 
time.


-- 
"The solution is patenting as much as we can. A future startup with no patents 
of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose. 
That price might be high. Established companies have an interest in excluding 
future competitors." - Bill Gates, 1991
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