Linux and open source software is the future

There will come a time in your life, when you will have a computer with a dated OS (operating system) and that computer won't be that old or dated .  Or maybe you got an extra computer given to you by someone and the computer has a problematic OS in which you need to reinstall a OS to get the computer functional again but you don't have to restore discs.  Or you are in my situation-- I own a few PowerPC based Mac computers in which Apple made obsolete by abandoning the PowerPC Processor platform to focus on Intel based Macs.  But any computer could be made obsolete once the computer can't run the latest OS from either Apple or Microsoft, i.e. my brother owns a Black MacBook early 2008 model with 4 GB Ram, 250GB Hard drive, with Intel x3100 integrated graphics running Mac OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard but he can't run Mac OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion though, so his computer is considered obsolete.  This is where Linux comes into play.

Linux isn't a single product.  More specifically Linux is a kernel, the core of a OS (open source operating system.)  Collectively, Linus is a free OS and its code is open source-- meaning anyone can contribute and modify and improve the source code.  It is open and can be configured anyway you like with a variety of GUI (graphical user interface) such as Gnome, KDE, LXDE, and Unity UIs just to name a few.

Linux is available for many CPU architectures such as x86 intel, amd, PowerPC and Arm based computers.  So you can run Linux from a regular intel PC to a Rasberry PI Arm based mini computer to the Playstation 3.

Linux is free and can be freely distributed to others.  If Apple or Microsoft leaves your computers behind, why not breathe new life into the machine by installing Linux?  There are many Linux distros to choose from to fit your needs.  Linux is never obsolete and is a modern OS and gets constant updates and upgrades. There Debian Linux, Ubuntu Linux, Lubuntu Linux, Kubuntu Linux, Red Hat Linux, Yellow Dog Linux, Mint Linux, MintPPC Linux, etc.  They vary, some are Mac like and some are Windows like, so the learning curve isn't too steep. You could burn to a CD a test run disc, known as a "Live CD" to try it out to see if you like it and if you do, you can install from the Live CD.  So if you got a computer that needs a reinstall and you don't want to shell out cash for a OS, why not consider Linux as an alternative?

Linux is backed by major corporations such as Intel, IBM, Google, Red Hat, Oracle, just to name a few.  Adobe supports Flash player on intel based Linux systems.  Valve, a famous gaming company is bringing Steam gaming to Linux soon.  They brought Steam to the Mac a few years ago too.  They are doing this because they seem the potential in Linux.  This is a sign that Linux is becoming more and more mainstream.  If you didn't know, there is a lot of software for Linux, freeware and payware commerical products.

Ubuntu is currently to poster boy for Linux.  Ubuntu is the most famous of all the Linux distros out there and it has a Ubuntu software center-- kind of like the Mac App Store or the iOS App Store and installing an app in Ubuntu software center is easy and straight forward like the Mac/iOS App Store.  Linux isn't just for computer geeks or command line junkies anymore but is ready for prime time mainstream audience and is easy to use via GUI.  Like what I said earlier, the learning curve isn't steep but easy because some Linux distros are Mac like and some are Windows like.

If you are on an Intel based computer, you can use the WINE compatibility layer to run windows apps natively in Linux or use virtualization software to run Windows within Linux but a copy of Windows is required for virtualization.  I recommend Ubuntu Linux for Intel based machines with some moderate cpu power.  My brother's Asus netbook has Ubuntu 12.04 on it running on a class 10 32GB SDHC card by Patriot and it works pretty well (see my earlier blog post on using and sdhc class 10 card as a boot drive for Ubuntu for more details.) My brother uses VLC to play DVDs and Rhythmbox to play music files. To play these, you need to install the restricted extras package.

My sister's iMac G3 runs MintPPC Linux 11 and I recommend MintPPC Linux to PowerPC Mac owners because this distro is tweaked for PowerPC G3, G4, and G5 and it is fast and speedy!

There is currently MintPPC 9 and the newer MintPPC 11.  If you want a more mature OS, use MintPPC 9, if you want the lastest and greatest, use MintPPC11.

I am going to install MintPPC 11 Linux on my PowerMac G4 Dual 450Mhz in the near future on my external hard drive so I could dabble more with Linux on my own machine.  This Mac currently runs Mac OSX 10.5.8 Leopard (in which I installed via Leopard Assist.) I also got to install a file to make MintPPC multi-processor aware so it could see and utilize both CPUs.  I consult the forums at MintPPC 's home website for reference and help and it is a great resource.  I recommend plugging in the ethernet cable instead of doing wireless when installing MintPPC Linux.  I am going to make this my side project for the end of summer.  I will keep you all posted.  This PowerMac uses a Nvidia Geforce 4MX video card which might be problematic, so I am going to do more research and look into this before diving head on.  I have to warn PowerPC owners though-- Linux on PowerPC computers are less supported than Intel based computers.  i.e. Flash player is available for intel but not PPC Linux computers.  However the web is transitiioning from Flash video to Html 5 video and even youtube has Html 5 trial you could join to watch their videos in Html 5 instead.  Also there are scripts you can install in your browser to have video on the web playback in Html 5.

I love Linux and it is the future of computing!  Don't get me wrong though, I am still a Mac user and the Mac can coexist with Linux just fine.  Apple Inc. will always be around for premium computing but for a free alternative to Mac or Windows, there is Linux. It is always good to have choices.

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adding two finger scrolling on pre 2005 Mac notebooks such as iBook G3 & G4 and Powerbook with iScroll2 0.3.2!

Here is another tip for PowerPC Mac notebook users who own pre 2005 PowerPC based Mac notebooks. As you may know (or not know for the matter,) our pre 2005 PowerPC based Mac notebooks' trackpad has very limited functionality.  All we could do on the trackpad is move the cursor around or similar a left click on the trackpad by double tapping it.  We could could do a right click by pressing the ctrl key simultaneously with pressing the trackpad button.  However, in terms of the trackpad by itself- there isn't much we could do with it, aside from navigating the cursor  around the screen or simulating a left click. . . and that is it.  We can't do anything else.  Mac notebooks from 2005 and up can do two finger vertical scrolling (.i.e. such as swiping two fingers on the trackpad to move up and down a webpage) and some could also do two finger horizontal scrolling (.i.e. such as moving a wide webpage left and right.)  So what are we pre 2005 Mac notebooks owners to do about this and what options can we do to get the benefits of modern day functionality of a modern notebook trackpad?  Or are we left out of such basic notebook necessities? Fret not my friends! Our answer lies in a freeware driver for PowerPC based Mac notebooks-- iScroll 2.

iScroll2 version 0.3.2 is the latest and last version released.  iScroll2 requires Mac OSX 10.4 Tiger or Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard and a PowerPC based Mac notebooke. This trackpad driver includes a system prefs pane in the installation.  Just download it and run the installer and restart and you are set.  After installation, you will notice under in the Trackpad system prefs pane, the options for trackpad gestures such as use 2 fingers to scroll and horizontal scrolling.  In the system preferences, iScroll2 system prefs pane is under other.  Inside the iScroll2 system prefs pane is 2 sections-- settings for scrolling and settings for clicking.

iScroll2 system pref pane--> Scrolling

Here you will find the controls to set and enable vertical scrolling, horizontal scrolling and circular scrolling (like the mighty mouse trackball!) You also get the option to invert direction of the scrolling and you get to set the sensitivity, the speed of the scrolling, the option to ignore the weaker axis(-- and scroll along the axis of the finger with more motion and ignore that the axis of the finger with less motion when scrolling,) and you get the set the scroll resolution and maximum event rate (which specifies the maximum rate at which the scrolling events processes are sent to the system to be processed.)

iScroll system pref pane-->Clicking

Here you will find the controls to set what kind of action you want to designate to a click (while pressing on the physical trackpad button,)  a two finger click (with two fingers on the trackpad and a finger on the physical trackpad button,) and  a tap (by tapping the trackpad with a finger.) You also get to set the down time (the time it takes to register a finger contact on the trackpad as a tap gesture) and sticky drag time (the minimum time it takes for dragging gesture to end when your release your finger from the trackpad after dragging something via trackpad on screen.)

iScroll2 version 0.3.2 is freeware and is a discontinued product.

it can be downloaded it here: http://www.macupdate.com/download/17240/iScroll2-0.32.pkg.zip

I recommend enabling only vertical scrolling because enabling horizontal scrolling and circular scrolling along side vertical scrolling is glitchy and buggy and interferes with scrolling on the trackpad in general.  However, if i only enable vertical scrolling, it works pretty well!  Try for yourself and see what works for you and what you like. It is a matter of personal preference.

If you are a owner of a pre 2005 PowerPC Mac notebook-- do yourself a favor and download iScroll2! You won't regret it and it will add extra functionality to your iBook or Powerbook!

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Software updates! VLC 2.03 and Tenfourfox 14 are released!

Software updates! VLC 2.03 and Tenfourfox 14 are released!


-VLC 2.03 was recently updated.

Get the Mac PPC & Intel versions here:

Mac PPC 32 bit: https://www.macupdate.com/download/42363/vlc-2.0.3-powerpc.dmg
Mac Intel 32bit: https://www.macupdate.com/download/36650/vlc-2.0.3-intel32.dmg
Mac Intel 64bit: https://www.macupdate.com/download/5758/vlc-2.0.3.dmg

** requires Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 and up!

What's New

Version 2.0.3:

--This release mostly targets the Mac OS X platform and adds support for OS X Mountain Lion. It also fixes the Qt interface's appearance on Windows 8 and includes improvements for the flv and ape demuxers as well as the http access module. Additionally, it includes updates for 18 translations and adds support for Uzbek and Marathi

-Tenfourfox 14 came out! 

G3: https://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/detail?name=TenFourFoxG3-14.0.app.zip&can=2&q=

G4: https://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/detail?name=TenFourFox7400-14.0.app.zip&can=2&q=

G4e: https://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/detail?name=TenFourFox7450-14.0.app.zip&can=2&q=

G5: https://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/downloads/detail?name=TenFourFoxG5-14.0.app.zip&can=2&q=

** Tenfourfox 10.0.6 can be downloaded @ its homepage:
http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

enjoy!

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ibook G4- the best cheap mac notebook for daily use

 The iBook G4- the Greatest yet overlooked deal in the aftermarket of used notebook computers

I recently bought a used iBook G4 from craigslist for $75.  It is a 1.2 Ghz G4 w/ 768mb ram, 30gb hard drive, combo drive (that still works!), airport extreme running Mac OSX 10.3.9 Panther. The seller thought his iBook G4 had a defective airport extreme card and told me the wireless was finicky and goes out a lot.  What he didn't know was that he didn't set up the networking settings properly-- he needed to specify the dns servers in the network settings and it will be ok.  He was tech illiterate and sold it to me for cheap-- one man's loss is another man's gain!

When i took it home, i wiped the hard drive and did an erase and install of Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 and installed iLife 09, VLC 2.03, MacTubes, LibreOffice, AuroraFox, TenfourFox, Ultima 3, and Power64.

I also ordered a 1gb ram stick from OWC for about $31.

My iBook G4 is truly the workhorse!  They are great for everyday usage and great to lug around for places you don't want to take an expensive MacBook or iPad.  In my honest opinion, the iBook G4 is the best alternative to a netbook.

If you want to get an iBook G4, i recommend getting ones from 1.07Ghz and up because these iBook G4s can use a 1gb ram stick and these are faster. These machines could max out @ 1.25 Gb ram or 1.5 Gb ram.

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Leopard Assist: Installing and running Mac OSX Leopard on a PowerMac G4 below system requirements

I upgraded and installed Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 on 2 PowerMac G4s in my house.  They are both below the system requirements; one is 400 Mhz and the other is dual 450 Mhz.  I was able to install it via a hack called Leopard assist.  Leopard Assist tricks the installer into thinking it is a 933Mhz machine and reverts back to normal after installation.  You HAVE to run Leopard Assist from an Admin account.

I have to say, Leopard is a lot snappier and more responsive on both the PowerMac G4s than Tiger for some reason.  Leopard on these PowerMac G4s work well! The key is to max out the ram with 2 GB and install a decent GPU; both these machines have Nvidia G4MX 64mb GPU- which is ok-- Rage 128 won't work or run in Leopard.

Leopard Assist is available here @ Macupdate.com:
https://www.macupdate.com/download/26562/la233.zip

All you have to do is provide the Mac OSX Leopard Install DVD and run Leopard Assist and that is it.

With Leopard, we get the benefit of having Safari 5.06-- remember to install the clicktoflash safari extenstion, and set the html 5 player setting resolution to 240p and this will allow a 400Mhz PowerMac G4 to play youtube videos smoothly! Ofcourse flash player has to be installed too but the clicktoflash will default the video playback to 240p html 5 video.

Leopard has breathed new life into these G4s!

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An alternative OS for older PowerPC Macs- MintPPC

I got an older iMac G3 600 Mhz, 1GB ram, Rage 128 Ultra 16MB GPU and it runs Mac OSX Tiger ok but kinda slow.  I have been researching other OSes to put on this machine that would make it snappy like Mac OS 9-- but I don't want outdated OSes like Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X Panther.  I thought of the various distros of Linux that runs on the PowerPC-- Ubuntu 11.10 and its various flavors like Xubuntu or Lubuntu (might be a bit sluggish on a G3 from what i read,) Yellow Dog Linux (a pretty good distro tailored to PPC machines,) but i got to say, Mint PPC won me over because this distro is built and tweaked to run on PPC machines and it is the fastest Linux distro for PPC machines.

Mint PPC is light weight, fast and snappy and there is a dedicated community built around it! It has user forums to answer questions and to troubleshoot problems. I got my eyes on Mint PPC 11.

It seems easy enough to setup and run. Instructions are provided on the Mint PPC website incase a problem should arise.

Remember, it is free! Mac OS X Tiger's days might be numbered on the iMac G3. . . if not maybe it will dual boot between Mac OS X Tiger and Linux Mint PPC.

There is a whole new world out there in the open source community and Linux!  There are tons of free software for Linux-- productivity apps, creativity apps, education apps, games-- you name it!

Linux Mint PPC is definitely gonna breathe new life into this iMac G3! I've watched a few videos on Mint PPC running on a G3 on youtube and i read reviews of Linux Mint PPC and they are all positive reviews.

If anyone is interested, the url to Linux Mint PPC:
http://www.mintppc.org/

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I am using TenFourFox 12 and loving it!

Tenfourfox 12, the unstable branch of Tenfourfox which recently came out is fairly stable.  In case you didn't know, Tenfourfox is based on Firefox and Tenfourfox 12 is based on Firefox 12.  I am using Tenfourfox 12 with the https everywhere extension and it is a great web browser for us PowerPC Mac users.  It runs pretty well on my Dual 867 Mhz G4 running Mac OSX Leopard and my Dual 450 Mhz G4 running Tiger. For people who aren't brave enough to run an unstable branch of Tenfourfox, they could run Tenfourfox 10.0.4.  The developers of Tenfourfox stated that Tenfourfox 11-16 will be unstable branches while Tenfourfox 10 will be the stable branch. So there you have it.

Tenfourfox unstable branches will introduce new features vs. the stable branch which will address bug fixes.  For me, I rather use the unstable branch due to the geek in me.  And yeah, i turned off all the plugins (which isn't officially supported in Tenfourfox because of security reasons due to plugins no longer being updated by their developers- and flash video . . . well just use html 5 which is better anyways and not have to worry about vulnerabilities in our outdated flash player.)

I can't wait to see Tenfourfox 13 and wonder what improvements and new features that has to offer!

Get Tenfourfox 12 here:
http://tenfourfox.blogspot.com/

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Excited about the future of Firefox derivatives like Tenfourfox on Macs!

Tenfourfox 10.0.3 has been released  a while already and Tenfourfox's future looks very promising! Tenfourfox 11 and so forth will be under their developers' unstable branch and Tenfourfox 12 will add more speed to our PowerPC Macs. I read in the Tenfourfox development blog that the developers might release another derivative of firefox for Mac OSX 10.5 only, with benefits like hardware video acceleration and support for older Intel Macs left behind by Apple Inc. They also are developing a Tenfourbird email client based on Thunderbird for our beloved older Macs.

With active development for our older Macs like Tenfourfox, i can get by a little bit longer before i make the jump to an Intel Mac when i start school.

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Another suggestion for PowerPC users-- MacTubes

MacTubes is a youtube video player and downloader and it is free.

the url is: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/28608/mactubes

It allows youtube videos to playback well on a lower end machine like a PowerMac G4 400 Mhz with easy.  Just set the playback to use quicktime.  And it is smooth and can do full screen playback too!

Now even owners of lowend PowerPC Macs can enjoy their favorite youtube videos!

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Thank you to the developers of TenFourFox!

I am a PowerPC user and i own a PowerMac G4 MDD Dual 867Mhz (with 2 gb ram & radeon 9000 pro, running Mac OSX 10.5.8 Leopard,) a PowerMac G4 AGP 400 Mhz  (with 896mb & nvidia geforce4mx running Mac OSX 10.4.11 Tiger,) a PowerMac G4 Dual 450MHz (with 2 gb ram & nvidia geforce4mx running Mac OSX10.4.11 Tiger,) and a iMac special edition G3 600Mhz (with 1gb ram & rage 128ultra runnning Mac OSX 10.4.11)

My machines are "vintage" but still very usable.  The Safari web browser is no longer being updated by Apple for PowerPC Macs but TenFourFox, a variant of the FireFox web browser is, and they stay in sync with the Mozilla Firefox releases and TenFourFox has 4 versions for PowerPC processors, one for the G3, two versions for the G4, and one version for the G5 and you will need Mac OSX Tiger or Mac OS X Leopard to run it.  I have been using TenFourFox from the beginning and i love it!  My PowerMac MDD can handle flash video but my other machines can't handle it so well (unless i lower the resolution to 240p in youtube) but tenfourfox along with the flashvideoreplacer set to use quicktime as a playback method plays videos super smooth on youtube.

So if you still use a powerpc mac and you are running at least Mac OSX Tiger, download Tenfourfox and give it a try!  the url is: http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/


Plugins are off by default but you could turn them on by entering the config and changing the values of the plugins to TRUE and the plugins will then be turned on.

My PowerPC Macs will keep on rocking for the near future!

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