Ubuntu 10.04 on PowerBook G4

Installed Ubuntu 10.04 on this 550mhz G4 PowerBook, which ran OS X 10.4.11 a bit sluggishly. Here's some test clicks after the first updates had installed. Used my HTC for filming this so.. the quality is "poodoo".

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ubuntu
• apple
• macingosh
• ppc
• powerbook
• g4

[spencerleehorton]

did you install from cd or install with usb stick? i cant seem to figure out exactly what version iso is needed or the best for the 550mhz powerbook, would appreciate any help if you can.

[mfgprojects]

@spencerleehorton I used the LiveCD which I burned from an .ISO file on a Windows PC. Make a Google search for: ubuntu 10.04 ppc. You should find it pretty easily. Ubuntu 10.10 is out and also available for PPC, but it doesn't fit on a CD and makes things problematic. I tried updating from 10.04 to 10.10, but my Mac didn't survive it. Didn't boot up again at all. But the 10.04 runs nicely. Hope this helps.

[dfuentes80]

I got it working.. Thank you so much now, I tested it on my mac. I works flawlessly but no flash support whatsoever. No issues with wireless drivers or anything else. Is there any .deb file to install Gnash??? thaks for your answers.

[mfgprojects]

@dfuentes80 Enable Ubuntu Backports in: System > Administration > Software Sources > find a tab there... After that you should find Gnash by searching Ubuntu Software Center under Applications. You might also want to search and install FFMPEG (Gstreamer) -plugin to run different codecs with Gnash. Hope these will work on your setup.

Keep in mind that not all common Ubuntu repositories or .deb files are compatible with PPC version of Ubuntu. Like, you can't install Google Chrome on it. Sad.

[dfuentes80]

It seems to be running really good...Can you play flash videos on it??? I have a Mac mini with G$ processor. It runs OK but flash videos are really choppy. Thanks for the video man!

[mfgprojects]

@dfuentes80 PPC version of Ubuntu doesn't swallow the original Flash player. You have to install "Gnash" to play any Flash content. I'm not sure if that is capable to play flash videos.

PowerBook on the video couldn't play Youtube videos even with the original OS X 10.4 installed! Audio was good but the video :)

Make sure you use the PPC version of Ubuntu for installation.

[imixmuan]

@gar40 It's not Ubuntu's fault, Adobe has never released a version of flash for PPC linux. Workarounds to this include: minitube, flashvideoreplacer (uses gnome mplayer to stream content) and downloadhelper. Also, one can use HTML 5, though this Powerbook at 550mhz will struggle with anything but low def video. I suggest anyone who is interested in PPC linux to check out mintppc dot org. The best linux for ppc hands down.

[MezashiTheCat]

@pd3331 its easy, just google ubuntu 10.xx or 11.xx ppc. Or you can find it under other releases on the ubuntu site.

[pd3331]

HOW!! I have an imac g4 800MHz ppc g4 and i can NOT install ubuntu 10.04 or 10.10. I want 10.04 on ot but i cant do it TELL ME PLEASE!!

[kikapoa]

I could use some help here. I´m trying to install it, but when I select the install type, it starts to load some things and then the screen turns white for ever. Could you give me some ideas? thank you and sorry for my english

[gar40]

It looks fine until you get on the web and realize that after all this bloody time and numerous releases for the PPC platform Ubuntu still cant get it right by including either the Chromium Browser or Flash in the PPC version.

And once the realization sets in that Flash comprises a minimum of 65% of the web content out there. And this becomes a glaring flaw on an otherwise solid OS.

Gnash is sketchy @ best. My opinion is don't release something that's basically web content crippled. JMO

[jesse84843093]

Can I install ubuntu 10.04 ppc on my old imac g4 700 mhz?

[foolamedia]

@MnySe8 My PB doesnt have internal wifi card, so I've used external usb dongles which logon to practically any wireless network I can think of. They work pretty much plug-n-play. I've also tried 3G dongles and found no problems with those ones either (huawei sticks).

[MnySe8]

hey mfg just tried 10.10 on my powerbook have to say it looks and runs beautifully however the wireless refuses to connect to any network. Did you happen to run into this problem? if so how did you fix it