Linux on an older Mac?

[Janna]

I have two Mac Performas (PowerMacs) at home (at work right now); got them free via Freecycle. They came with two keyboards and one mouse, no monitors.

The problem I'm facing is that they both require an OS installation. I'm interested in Linux, but don't know much of anything about it. Someone told me that I could probably burn Linux to CD and then install it on the computers, but I don't know for sure what I ought to be downloading & burning, and I use a PC at work (it has a CD burner, at least; my home PC doesn't). My best friend has a G4 at her house, and there's CD burner on that, so if it would be better to burn from a Mac I could do that tomorrow night when I'm over (we're finally on the last disc of Firefly - I've seen it but she hasn't, and once we're done the series we're going to watch Serenity).

They're a Performa 6320 and a Performa 6400. Anyone have any information or sources for me? (I know they won't run OS X, and I'm hoping for a free or at least cheaper OS.)

Yes I've done a (simple) search. Yes I've checked out the two stickies in this section, and printed myself a copy of all the information there about programs and links and so on. I can probably figure it all out on my own (I'm pretty much a do-it-yourself kind of girl) but if anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

-Janna

[faulkner132]

I use Ubuntu Linux at home and I know it has a PowerPC install CD image. You could download that and give it a try.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org

[freakitchen]

Second the recommendation for ubuntu. Probably the most supported linux out there at the moment, and it runs flawlessly on a friend's mac G3.

Freakitchen

[Mac Medic]

One of the most popular distros on the Mac is yellow dog, not sure why but most people who use linux on Apple hardware seem to use it. It could be that they have all the drivers for the mac.

http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/index.shtml/

[Janna]

I love your sig, Mac Medic.

I went over to the ubuntu site but couldn't tell which file(s) to download (there are at least 3 options for each type of the newest version) and I couldn't find anywhere that said exactly which Macs it'll work on. Tried to read the forum, but that wasn't working (probably the crappy internet connection here - I'll try again when I'm home tonight). I'd place an order (free programs are GOOD!) but I don't want to land up with a bunch of useless CDs, you know?

I'm not sure why with the YDL either, since it costs money. (I particularly like that you can get a "Geek Edition" - no manuals, no support, for $30US.)

Maybe I can convince my best friend to try Linux on her G4... she needs a new machine with OS X on it anyhow (she's thinking laptop - she's a graphic designer and portability would be good).

Thanks for the tips, keep 'em coming!

-Janna

[doctorgonzo]

Go here for the right download: http://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/5.10/

[Mac Medic]

or here for yellowdog for free, they only charge if you order the CD's. The download is completely free.

http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=12

[Janna]

Cool, thanks! Maybe I'll put one on the 6400 and the other on the 6320. Not that I have monitors for both of 'em, but whatever.

-Janna