partitioning questions

[Derick Centeno]

Why thanks John.  That was very kind.  I'm sure the others who also  
share their talents here are also appreciative of your thoughts.

Regarding Linux distros, they are all pretty much the same unless your  
own skill level is vast enough to utilize the slight nuances where they  
are different.  This is unclear to many because many others are  
confused regarding what "ease of use" actually means in a Unix like  
environment.  Any Linux environment or any user with sufficient skill  
in Linux has an option to use, build and install at least 10 different  
and powerful competing desktop interfaces Gnome and KDE are only 2  
which because they have decided to unify can count as 1, even so think  
of that a moment and multiply just those options per each Linux distro  
you say you have, that comes to 50 possible desktop variations for EACH  
distro.  I could go on but I'm sure you get the point.  What are you  
doing?  Do you need 5 distros?  Are you a tech writer for several Linux  
magazines?

What I'm saying is that yes, you have a marvelous computer with an  
outstanding processor, but any one of those distros would be fine for  
you in what you really do or are good at already.  One distro is quite  
sufficient.  Which one is really up to you, and would certainly save  
your hardware and make it last longer.

The strongest argument for Yellow Dog Linux versus all the others is  
that only Yellow Dog Linux was designed specifically for the PowerPC  
universe AND it is tied to the Red Hat family tree from the ROOTS, not  
the branches or the twigs.  IT therefore shares the solidity and  
reliability of what Red Hat can do.  The other argument is an  
engineering based argument for the PowerPC processor, what is it that  
is unique as opposed to Intel and other Intel wannabes.  The argument  
makes a difference because it can help you figure out how deep you want  
to go with us down the PowerPC road.  The PowerPC can do processing at  
128 bits.  Implementing the possibilities however, means a strong math  
and programming background.  What matters is not what you know but are  
you willing to work to surpass and go beyond that level?

This is really a matter of one's personal philosophy, as usual how far  
and deep will one go?

It has been said that with Intel's dual core technology the advantage  
of the Altivec is surpassed.  This can be studied sufficiently closely  
by those of us with solid experience and training, but many like  
yourself are just coming into exposure of what the PowerPC can do  
within Linux.  If you are going to come up with a reasonably tested  
answer for your own reason to stick with the PowerPC or not, you need a  
tool and environment strong enough to do the examinations and  
explorations you may care to do.  For me, that testing environment is  
Yellow Dog Linux.  There are people who preach and harp and cajol and  
beg and go on and on about ease of this and that for the user.

Well Linux wasn't designed for users brought up on the milk or beverage  
of your choice of either Windows or Macs.  It was designed for those  
users who wanted a Unix like environment on their home computers, and  
that is exactly what Linux gives you.  Any one of them.  But, again  
only one was designed from the beginning to address the needs of the  
PowerPC for serious work and that is Yellow Dog Linux alone.

This is a very interesting time to be a Mac user.  Apple will move onto  
Intel and many have to really think very carefully what one is using  
G4's or G5's from IBM for.  One needs to understand enough of the  
engineering and various sciences, including math, to begin to address  
the question why based on sensible logical reasoning.  From what I've  
seen
so far, not too many people are really considering that issue deeply  
enough, eventually it is about cost of time and investment also.  In  
another sense, this is also a greatly exciting time because finally  
there is Open Source code AND Open hardware... for the PowerPC which is  
something Apple has never done.   But as powerful as that design is,  
anyone looking at it knows that an era of beautiful design matched to  
elegance of utility is pretty much over.  That makes the PowerPC Macs  
now especially unique, and precious all at the same time.  Tools, par  
excellance!  The same way a tool from Leonardo Da Vinci was exquisite  
in his time and priceless in ours.  That's what a Mac is, a wonderful  
tool.

So what can you do with it?  Well, that depends on you.

But before any of this is done, one must begin where one is at, in  
reality.  You described that you "partitioned (your Mac) into 5  
separate drives".  You don't have to answer me or even the list, but  
allow a little exploration of just this one statement in your own  
privacy.  The iMac G5 has ONE hard drive.  Did you mean you have 5  
separate hard drives for a total of 6 comprising your system?  Or did  
you mean you partitioned (means divided) your ONE hard drive into 5  
partitions.  5 partitions on one hard drive do NOT make 5 hard drives.  
Using any of Apple's tools in creating and removing any partition will  
affect all the remaining partitions; this is not a good idea if there  
is any data on the other partitions.
Yes, there are programs which can do non-destructive partitions but  
they are not from Apple, and these other products can be themselves  
confusing.  What can be uniquely done on separate hard drives in  
profoundly different than what should be done with partitions.  That  
management and individuals don't pay attention to the differences is  
always the cause of havoc.

Of course, understanding the differences and the nuances goes a long  
way to preventing confusion AND disaster in the first place.  So go  
ahead take your time.  Don't jump into the pool.  Determine first  
whether you are looking at the deep side or the toddler side.  Or maybe  
it isn't a pool at all but a wondrous beautiful breathtaking lake with  
a tributary open to the ocean where sharks feed.

So, John, are you ready?  If not, study and use one distro as your tool  
and learn and get skilled and solid in all these areas.  It's just  
challenging and exhilarating!  And who isn't looking for that, well  
maybe those who want to cruise may really want something else.  A good  
set of references to begin with are at: www.fatbrain.com

ALSO REVIEW THIS PAGE:

http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/installation/ 
guide2.2.shtml#install

Best wishes...

On Aug 11, 2005, at 1:41 PM, John wrote:

> Derick,
>
> As a real newbie, I wish to thank you, along with perhaps a number of  
> others on this list who obviously are pros, for taking the time and  
> making the effort to help those of us who are linux and computer  
> amateurs.
>
> I have an iMac G5, my first Mac ever,  which I partitioned into 5  
> separate drives when I first got it about 8 months ago  with the idea  
> of installing several different linux distributions for PPC, among  
> them YDL and Ubuntu.  ( I refuse to purchase Tiger on the grounds that  
> I don't really need more bells and whistles than are already on  
> Panther if I intend to make a deep commitment to OSS.)
> Frankly, though, I haven't yet tried to install either YDL or Ubuntu  
> because after joining this newbie list many months ago I've been  
> somewhat intimidated by the many problems others have had.  ( This  
> applies in spades to the Fink-beginner list which I'm also on.)  I'm  
> like the guy at the edge of the pool who keeps hesitating to jump into  
> even the shallower side.  In time, and with further reading, perhaps  
> I'll summon up the courage to take the plunge.
>
> Until then, my appreciation to you and others on this list for sharing  
> your knowledge and experience.
>
> John Di Stefano
>