What other operating systems will run on an iMac?

[TechnoPro]

I recently inherited this iMac.

Just curious if it can run Linux or even Windows? Any body have experience with this?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Which model?

Linux, NetBSD and OpenBSD run on some (all? most?) of them. I think all recent versions of Windows are x86/amd64 only.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Which model?

Linux, NetBSD and OpenBSD run on some (all? most?) of them. I think all recent versions of Windows are x86/amd64 only.

Awesome, thanks! So I will have my very own dedicated Linux box. Now for the age-old question of which distro... I haven't the faintest idea which model it is since it's sitting in a plastic bag in my car and I don't want to venture out into the rain to retrieve it. Appearance wise, however, it is identical to the one I linked to.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Which model?

Linux, NetBSD and OpenBSD run on some (all? most?) of them. I think all recent versions of Windows are x86/amd64 only.

Awesome, thanks! So I will have my very own dedicated Linux box. Now for the age-old question of which distro... I haven't the faintest idea which model it is since it's sitting in a plastic bag in my car and I don't want to venture out into the rain to retrieve it. Appearance wise, however, it is identical to the one I linked to.

Most of the PowerMac G5s look the same on the outside too. It's the inside that counts.

I'm not sure what distros support PPC these days.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Check here for all Linux distros supporting PPC. If you are new to Linux then I recommend Mandriva (latest PPC release is LE2005) or SuSE, but Ubuntu or Kubuntu may be worth checking out as well.

 

[Skitzer]

Hmmm ..... why not run OS X on it?

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Skitzer
Hmmm ..... why not run OS X on it?

If you don't have OS X on it already, that would require money to do the upgrade... not to mention that if the old iMac's graphics capabilities suck, so would the OS X experience. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea if it can be tested for free, but if it would have to be purchased, Linux would be an attractive alternative.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: Skitzer
Hmmm ..... why not run OS X on it?

Not worth investing a dime on this system.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Check here for all Linux distros supporting PPC. If you are new to Linux then I recommend Mandriva (latest PPC release is LE2005) or SuSE, but Ubuntu or Kubuntu may be worth checking out as well.

Great link, thanks!

I've played with Ubuntu before so I'm hoping that will work.

 

[timswim78]

Fedora supports PPC, as does SUSE (in my opinion, SUSE gives new Linux users the best experience).

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Check here for all Linux distros supporting PPC. If you are new to Linux then I recommend Mandriva (latest PPC release is LE2005) or SuSE, but Ubuntu or Kubuntu may be worth checking out as well.

Great link, thanks!

I've played with Ubuntu before so I'm hoping that will work.

The bootup method is different for Macs then PCs. There are no bioses or anything like that. You have to deal with the 'openfirmware' of Apple machines. Pay close attention to the installation directions for partitioning and such. It's not hard, it's just different.