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-Cheap- Linux workstation recommendation?
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Vincent M
*nix forums Guru


Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 1332

PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 3:01 pm    Post subject: -Cheap- Linux workstation recommendation? Reply with quote
Hi all,

I'm shopping for a cheap, used computer that I want to use only Linux
on. The hard part (for me at least) is finding something that's cheap
but still fairly well built, that's when I thought about maybe getting
an older Power Mac, maybe a G3 or older? Any recommendations?

I'm using Debian Sid (Kanotix) dual boot with XP on my main system
(Duron 900) but want a cheap system to make 100% Linux. What about an
old Sun Sparcstation, or would that just over complicate things?

I might just pick up a stripped down Pentium III, but thought I'd try
something a bit more "exotic" ;-)

Thanks
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jim bob and joe bob
*nix forums addict


Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 3:13 pm    Post subject: Re: -Cheap- Linux workstation recommendation? Reply with quote
gobigkahuna wrote:
Quote:
Hi all,

I'm shopping for a cheap, used computer that I want to use only Linux
on. The hard part (for me at least) is finding something that's cheap
but still fairly well built, that's when I thought about maybe getting
an older Power Mac, maybe a G3 or older? Any recommendations?

I'm using Debian Sid (Kanotix) dual boot with XP on my main system
(Duron 900) but want a cheap system to make 100% Linux. What about an
old Sun Sparcstation, or would that just over complicate things?

I might just pick up a stripped down Pentium III, but thought I'd try
something a bit more "exotic" ;-)

Thanks
As far as I know you will need to get a 'new world' mac if you want to

have linux only. The 'old world' beige machines all need at least a
small MacOS partition to run Bootx. It is my understanding that the
newer more colorful macs can be booted either directly into linux or
from open firmware.
kk
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sam tygier
*nix forums beginner


Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:25 pm    Post subject: Re: -Cheap- Linux workstation recommendation? Reply with quote
jim bob and joe bob wrote:
Quote:
As far as I know you will need to get a 'new world' mac if you want to
have linux only. The 'old world' beige machines all need at least a
small MacOS partition to run Bootx. It is my understanding that the
newer more colorful macs can be booted either directly into linux or
from open firmware.
kk


yes, you will save your self a lot of effort and time if you get a new world mac. This includes pretty much any mac since the original imac. if it has usb and is not beige it is new world. so the blue and white G3s, imacs, any G4.

new world macs have a thing called open firmware, which makes the job of getting a boot loader going much easier. something like ubuntu or yellowdog is fairly painless to install, not really much different from x86

you might find that a mac mini is a good deal.

also i recommend that you get an something with an ati graphics card. the nvidia and ati binary drivers are x86 only, but the open source ati driver is pretty good.

also watch out for the ADC display connectors, unless a ADC to VGA adapter is included.

there are a few fanless models which are quite nice, some imacs and the cubes.

you might want to look around http://www.lowendmac.com/ it is a pretty good resource.

also remember that things like the macromedia flash, adobe acrobat reader, real player etc type things only exist in x86 linux. java can be more a pain than usual aswell.

old macs tend to be pretty good machines, i think apple put more care into choosing components than most x86 box manufacturers.

have fun

sam tygier
http://www.tygier.co.uk
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þó¡ÿ-Þõ!ý m@ñ
*nix forums Guru Wannabe


Joined: 04 Apr 2005
Posts: 107

PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 10:32 pm    Post subject: Re: -Cheap- Linux workstation recommendation? Reply with quote
Search yardsales! I got a powermac 7100/66av (with 20" screen, scsi
stuff, etc.) for $10. It will run MkLinux, but needs a mac partition.
Still, go for the yard sales!
poly-p man
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Google
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