Worth resurrecting a iBook G4 PowerPC?

[darrelljon]

I have come into possession of a PowerPC iBook G4. I installed Kubuntu 8.04 with much difficulty but there's not even an office suite let alone much modern useful software. I could only boot live because when installed the b43 wireless hangs the boot.

Is it worth getting all the repo discs and installing everything (only have 40Gb HDD) or should I just get Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and be done with it?

[linuxopjemac]

Have a look at MintPPC. It will run fine on your iBook G4.

[darrelljon]

Does it have any decent software? I'd be tempted to just install Debian instead. What are the advantages.

[linuxopjemac]

It is Debian Squeeze, with some extra themes and packages of Linux Mint. You will have the complete repository of Debian (30.000 packages, hope that's enough for you).

[darrelljon]

Can't find the link for Mint PPC anywhere?

[linuxopjemac]

http://mintppc.org
Make an account and read the installation instructions.

[darrelljon]

http://mintppc.org
Make an account and read the installation instructions.

Seriously? Register just for a link to the ISO, that's ridiculous.

[linuxopjemac]

have fun with Ubuntu then.

[dsandbeck]

I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 on my iBook G4 with no difficulty. Runs very nicely, and in fact I think the battery life is improved under Ubuntu from OSX (10.5). So yeah, I think it's worth it. However, I don't know your specs. I've got 1.5GB RAM and the 1.33Ghz G4.

[el_heffe]

I have a PB G4 1ghz with 1.25G Ram. It ran ubuntu with all sorts of sexiness. It was faster, battery lasted 15 minutes vs. 5 in OS X, and everything pretty much worked(except sleep- 12" )
BUT, the HD took a dump and it just isn't worth it to me to open the damned thing up just to replace the HD.

I *REALLY* wanted to try Mint based on what I have seen, but two things happened. One, I couldn't get the Debian CD I had burned to work, and two- the HD crashed... When it worked- it worked GREAT!