Development version of Mandrake Linux 10.1 alpha PPC

[nixgeek]

Originally Posted by WeeZer51402

gentoo takes long enough on a new x86 machine i would never want to do that on a 68k mac

Neither would I...I would have lots of trouble trying to get Gentoo compiled on 68K...probably because it doesn't exist for 68K.

When referring to "OldWorld Macs", it's usually in reference to older generation PowerPC Macs ranging (chronologically) from the Power Mac 6100 up to the Power Mac G3 Beige, and the PowerBook 5300 up to the PowerBook G3 "WallStreet II." The reason is because these Macs used a hardware ROM chip from Apple. Without this ROM chip, I don't think you could do much with these Macs except for using as a large paperweight.

"NewWorld" Macs, beginning with the Bondi Blue iMac, Blue and White Power Mac G3, and PowerBook G3 "Lombard," are Macs that have the ROM in RAM architecture...there is no hardware ROM chip in these Macs. The nice thing about this is that if you so chose to run another operating system other than Mac OS, you could. OldWorld Macs still required the Mac OS to be installed to function...they didn't support booting directly into another OS thanks to the ROM chip. NewWorld Macs comply to the OpenFirmware spec, which is basically like a BIOS on PCs but much more flexible. This OpenFirmware is used by many non-x86 computers as well. I believe that Sun was the first to implement this in their systems, but I'm probably wrong.

"OldWorld" doesn't include 68K Macs, which are Macs that run on the Motorola MC680x0 processors, such as my Quadra 650. Yes, they use a ROM chip as well, but since they are 68000/68020/68030/68040 CISC machines that have been superceded by PowerPC RISC Macs, they are referred to as 68K Macs.

Forgive me if you already know this and the above was just a joke, but I thought it woulf be good to explain this for those that don't know. That, and I'm too tired from hurricane preparations to notice.