Should I Install Debian 10 Linux on 600mhz iMac G3

[Appleuser201]

I would like to install a form of modern Linux on my 600mhz G3... preferably Debian 10.
Has anyone tried the new Debian 10 on a G3 yet? I imagine it won't be snappy, but is it slow to the point of being unusable?
The second thing is someone mentioned that installing any form of Linux (2014 and later) on the eMac is very difficult or not doable due too graphics issues with the CRT display. Will my iMac have the same issue as it also has a CRT?

Overall, (if it even works) is it even worth it to install it? It would be cool to have a brand new OS and Firefox 52 on this thing

EDIT: The Debian website is showing all iMac G3 models as supported under Debian but anyone get around the CRT/Graphic issue thing?

 

[Dronecatcher]

Overall, (if it even works) is it even worth it to install it? It would be cool to have a brand new OS and Firefox 52 on this thing

Ask yourself this, if you think TFF is too slow on a G3 what chance will FF 52 have on an even more demanding OS?

I put MintPPC on my G3 iMac in around 2012....and installed Tiger back the next day.

 

[z970]

Ask yourself this, if you think TFF is too slow on a G3 what chance will FF 52 have on an even more demanding OS?

I put MintPPC on my G3 iMac in around 2012....and installed Tiger back the next day.

When compared against each other, TenFourFox has been shown to be significantly slower than FF 45.9 on Linux. It's not the version, it's that there's something wrong with TFF that makes specifically it extremely heavy and bloated.

@Appleuser201 Last time I checked, I think the iMac G3 worked OK, while there was something about the eMac's CRT that didn't work. If you think it's worth it, then just go for it. Tell us all about it so we know specifically how Debian 10 fares on an iMac G3.

Although Arctic Fox is heavily recommended over FF 52.9 on a 600mhz G3, just use a light desktop environment, or maybe even a window manager.

Tell us how it goes.

 

[Dronecatcher]

Tell us how it goes.

Yes, by all means try it and see - it's a fun experiment if you have the time and patience but I've yet to hear of anyone installing contemporary Linux on a low end G3 with any objective that was realised - other than the POC of installation.

 

[pochopsp]

I know it's a whole different story but, I installed Debian 10 on a 1.6 ghz single core Acer netbook and it flies. I didn't upgrade the RAM (which is still 1GB) nor change the HDD. I think that it is worth a shot.

 

[Dronecatcher]

I know it's a whole different story but, I installed Debian 10 on a 1.6 ghz single core Acer netbook and it flies. I didn't upgrade the RAM (which is still 1GB) nor change the HDD. I think that it is worth a shot.

Linux on X86 is a whole different story

 

[Appleuser201]

When compared against each other, TenFourFox has been shown to be significantly slower than FF 45.9 on Linux. It's not the version, it's that there's something wrong with TFF that makes specifically it extremely heavy and bloated.

@Appleuser201 Last time I checked, I think the iMac G3 worked OK, while there was something about the eMac's CRT that didn't work. If you think it's worth it, then just go for it. Tell us all about it so we know specifically how Debian 10 fares on an iMac G3.

Although Arctic Fox is heavily recommended over FF 52.9 on a 600mhz G3, just use a light desktop environment, or maybe even a window manager.

Tell us how it goes.

What browsers will I get with the Debian 10 installation? (besides Arctic Fox and FF52)
After watching some Firefox PPC Linux videos, I don't think I'll be using FF52 as my main browser... just wanted an up to date browser

 

[z970]

What browsers will I get with the Debian 10 installation? (besides Arctic Fox and FF52)
After watching some Firefox PPC Linux videos, I don't think I'll be using FF52 as my main browser... just wanted an up to date browser

SpiderWeb, NetSurf, and Links2, off the top of my head.

I particularly recommend NetSurf and Arctic Fox for your machine. Ultra lightweight.

 

[Appleuser201]

SpiderWeb, NetSurf, and Links2, off the top of my head.

I particularly recommend NetSurf and Arctic Fox for your machine. Ultra lightweight.

Are they up to current web standards and secure?
Particularly Arctic Fox... is it as current as TenFourFox?

 

[timidpimpin]

No one can know if you should install any OS. You need to install it and use it to know if it's right for you.

Just download and install it. It won't cost you anything but a bit of time.

 

[wicknix]

Are they up to current web standards and secure?
Particularly Arctic Fox... is it as current as TenFourFox?

Arctic Fox is on par with TFF when it comes to web standards. Security-wise that's hard to say. Probably similar.

SpiderWeb on the other hand is built on current UXP code (52.9-60.9) used for Pale Moon 28. Meaning it's much newer, more compatible, and more secure.

Cheers

 

[Appleuser201]

Arctic Fox is on par with TFF when it comes to web standards. Security-wise that's hard to say. Probably similar.

SpiderWeb on the other hand is built on current UXP code (52.9-60.9) used for Pale Moon 28. Meaning it's much newer, more compatible, and more secure.

Cheers

So... more secure, up to date, but much faster and lighter? I've really been underestimating other browsers besides Firefox

 

[wicknix]

I don't own a g3, just g4/g5's, but both are quite snappy on those machines. @juancarlosonetti would know better. He prefers spiderweb on his g3.

Cheers

 

[rafark]

If you expect to use a modern browser without enough ram, forget it. Unless you disable JavaScript, which makes more than half the Internet unusable.

Sites like quora or gmail use half a gigabite each!!

 

[z970]

If you expect to use a modern browser without enough ram, forget it. Unless you disable JavaScript, which makes more than half the Internet unusable.

Sites like quora or gmail use half a gigabite each!!

I've been using Camino 2.1.2 on OS X 10.4, and NetSurf 3.8 on OpenBSD 6.5 on my Power Mac G3 w/ 512mb RAM, and browsing most websites are pretty tolerable.

Especially the lighterweight ones, like MacRumors, Macintosh Garden, LowEndMac, Wikipedia, MSN News, etc...

Just make sure you use a light browser (like the above) ...

 

[Fcr-900]

I've been using Camino 2.1.2 on OS X 10.4, and NetSurf 3.8 on OpenBSD 6.5 on my Power Mac G3 w/ 512mb RAM, and browsing most websites are pretty tolerable.

Especially the lighterweight ones, like MacRumors, Macintosh Garden, LowEndMac, Wikipedia, MSN News, etc...

Just make sure you use a light browser (like the above) ...

I just tried researching Linux for my eMac and Debian 10 doesn’t support ppc

 

[wicknix]

The PowerPC Debian Wiki

Mac OS X Tiger was released in 2005, its final security update being in 2009. Mac OS X Leopard was released in 2007, given its very last security update in 2011, and is the ultimate version of Mac OS X compatible with the PowerPC architecture, effectively marking the entire family EOL, even for...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Jeroen Diederen]

I just tried researching Linux for my eMac and Debian 10 doesn’t support ppc

Not true, although it won’t be easy...
[automerge]1588666787[/automerge]

Installation Debian sid on eMac

I found this post on FaceBook. Decided to bite the bullet and attempt to install debian sid on my emac yesterday. After fighting KMS and the strange...

www.u58733p55594.web0093.zxcs-klant.nl

Note: in the post he refers to an old image. The new installer can be found here:

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/2020-04-19/debian-10.0-powerpc-NETINST-1.iso

Booting USB is also different now, see installation instructions MintPPC.
Good luck.

 

[z970]

Not true, although it won’t be easy...

It's very easy. There is no digging around the net, looking for resources...

The whole thing takes about an hour to set up, from start to finish.

 

[Jeroen Diederen]

The eMac is special in the sense that X won't work out of the box.

 

[z970]

We were talking about Debian 10 here; will MintPPC work on an eMac out of the box?

 

[Jeroen Diederen]

No it won't.