Linux on Power Mac G5

On Intel white boxes, the structure of the chipset is well understood and documented, however on the Apple Power Mac G5, Linux cannot be fully implemented and has many gaps in service. As of today, neither audio nor Mac-on-Linux work. I do not believe the latest crop of dual 2.3 GHz is supported at all through the GNU GPL, and only through Terra Soft Solutions paid subscriptions to Linux, currently priced at $30 with no manual, or $60 with a manual but without support, and finally $90 with 60 days support, can it install at all.

This makes Linux very price prohibitive to even attempt to run on my test bench. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger costs at retail around $115 on an individual license, and just $180 for a five seat license (just $36 a seat) for a family. If compared to a full blown Mac OS X Server 10.4 Tiger model, then Linux would make a financial difference ($430 each license for 10 client Mac OS X Server). In my analysis, even though the operating system originates as open source, your ability to install and support that OS may make the initial “free” license very expensive. This does not include the niceties of having a multi-billion dollar company further developing the OS and bundling excellent applications for free like iTunes, iDVD, iCal, and GarageBand.

I will stay with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and Mac OS X Server 10.4 Tiger until Linux is fully support on my test bench platform. It was a very short test, that ultimately ended without any experience in the Linux operating system.

apple dual power mac G5
apple dual power mac G5

Welcome to Cloak Media

With the recent announcement that Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server will slowly transition from the PowerPC to the Intel chipset platform, I foresee worldwide customer interest in Apple products and solutions. For the first time in a long while, Apple revealed its upgrade trajectory, without the need of broad speculation and unabashed query. I am interested in the very high end of Apple product lines like:

Xserve
Xserve RAID
Xsan
Mac OS X Server

These solutions in the wireless communications (WiMax, Zigbee, GSM, etc.), direct advertising to mobile devices and flat panel displays (AVC enabled equipment like Sony playstation portable and 4G handsets), and the growth of high definition image acquisition (Panasonic AG-HVX200 camcorder and MPEG-4 H.264) will change the planet, if customers know about them and how they can benefit. The Macintosh is aptly positioned to make great industry and market advances, if the Apple Consultants Network, which Cloak Media is a member of, can bring in talented technologists that understand the Apple product line and how it can save customers money, time, and effort through a total cost of ownership model.

I know how Apple solutions can penetrate these new marketplaces. I can help you make the leap and be successful.