Installing Linux on a Powerbook

cmoyer posted this at 01:27 — 6th July 2009.

Joined: Jun 2008

Hey All,

I am preparing to install linux on my Powerbook g4 seeing as apple will completely discontinue powerpc support with the release of snow leopard.

I have chosen to install Debian as my choice and will ask questions and share my experiences here.

For the most part I will be following the guide on This Site considering most of the specs seem similar.(To get to the ppc section you have to scroll down about a third of the page)

So wish me luck as I dive into Linux

I will also be putting a web page together with pics documenting my experiences to be posted for the linuxonlaptops.com site.

luke777 posted this at 13:32 — 7th July 2009.

They have: 8 posts

Joined: Jul 2009

powerbook? do you mean notebook?

cmoyer posted this at 01:34 — 8th July 2009.

He has: 131 posts

Joined: Jun 2008

No I mean Powerbook as in Apple PowerBook, you can read up on different ones Here. Power Book also would refer to the PowerPC Chip inside.

cmoyer posted this at 01:56 — 13th July 2009.

He has: 131 posts

Joined: Jun 2008

I successfully install debian now and it works OK. The things I wish worked better were the graphics card and my wireless. It knew the keyboard/trackpad from the installation as well as the special function keys. Sound works fine and it recognized the resolution for the screen.

Here is a basic list of what works and what doesn't

Radeon9700 mobility        works - no 3d
apple bluetooth            doesn't work - may be a simple fix
battery/pmu                works
keyboard/trackpad          works
usb                        works
firewire                   can't test
RALINK 2860                found drivers but can't compile
superdrive                 works
suspend to ram             works

per440 posted this at 17:24 — 7th October 2010.

They have: 11 posts

Joined: Oct 2010

if you mean PowerPC then i think there is separate download link available on the site as it is of different architecture.