----Original Message-----
From: Stan Glasoe
Windows only runs on a limited number of hardware architectures; i386-i686, x86_64, ARM, etc. Linux runs on dozens. Windows used to support MIPS and Alpha and PPC but MS dropped those because they were not selling millions of copies of each chip architecture. Those chips weren't minting them any money...
Yes, but that's also the problem. Probably 80% of the desktops are x86 based, and a full 90% of them do run windows. When I try to encourage someone to make use of Linux or OSS, I end up having to do more work for them to get them running. And, when they do get up to speed, they do something that breaks the system by trying to do something that should be simple: Installing a program. Program support and installation is much more difficult on the Linux side because of all the different things. With Windows, they can go to the store and get a program they want or download it. There are a lot of great OSS programs for Windows like Firefox, and Firefox installs easier and updates better under Windows than I have seen it do under Linux.
LSB and FHS. SUSE is actually moving GNOME 2.16 and KDE 4.x out of /opt and into /usr to more fully comply with LSB and FHS. That will help. Other distros will package things different or place files where ever they want. OSS is about choice. For better or worse!
Case in point, my desktop here as v9.2 on it. I had to hunt down an RPM for Firefox for it and install it. I had v1.5.0.3 on here. Then last night, I got a security update to v1.5.0.6 installed by YOU. I don't even know what it did. It definately should not have taken that long to get
That's a good sign, and a start in the right direction. But there is more work to be done. I think that shared libraries are useless in so many ways because they change them too much too often. Just distribute your program with the shared libraries it needs. And Dependecies are still a pain. It's irritating to have to install bluetooth, firewire, Irda, and other hardware I don't have and don't intend to use just because I want to install KOrganizer. Heck, openSuSE/PPC installs support packages for the Intel 855 chipset, which has NEVER been used on a PPC platform.....Why?? those updates......
How long should it have taken?
Not that long. That's a few months. I never got the updates for v1.5.0.4 or v1.5.0.5. Firefox is supposed to be able to update itself. But that "Scan for updates" option is no longer available. I either have to learn how to build RPMs or hunt for an updated RPM. Also, I already had v1.5.0.6 on this machine. I have no idea what the update even did.......
I'd like it if the New World Macs were supported closer to the same time frame as i586 and x86_64. The Old World Macs had spotty support back when SUSE still put out a PPC version with the i386 releases. IIRC Apple wouldn't/won't release any info on the BIOS/firmware to get everything running properly. Lots of dead-ends for video, NUBus, etc. Some distros had a relationship with Apple or somehow got the info but due to licensing couldn't share it.?.? Good old proprietary software.
Yes, there are issues with many of the old macs. But, the PCI based machines are excellent performers under linux. I have a 7500 w/ a G3/400/1M that is very snappy. My Beige G3/266 works fine as well. Even the Rev A ROM isn't a problem. SuSE installed right to the slave drive on the primary controller to a 20GB partition. Try that with OS X. There are some problems with the OpenFirmware of those machines. I posted a list of suggested supportable machines a while back. The 7300 series can go to 1GB RAM and a 1Ghz G3 or G4 and the 8600/9600s can do 1.5GB RAM. Other than a lack of AGP and the 50Mhz system bus, they are excellent perfomers. Better than the similar Celerons which had a faster bus.
Use a known working distro if you want those Old World Macs running Linux.
I do. It's openSuSE v10.0. I can't go beyond that tho. It's sad that support was renewed, and then cut off for the Old machines almost immediately. I only have 1 new world machine, a B&W G3 with a G4 upgrade, and I had problems getting SuSE to run on it properly.