FAQ
From Mactel-Linux
Can I already run Linux on the Intel Macs?
- Yes.
Why Linux? OS X is so great!
- Sure OS X is great. But this is fun.
Why Linux? Why not Windows?
- Windows isn't fun.
Why not OS X on non-Apple PCs?
- That's way uncool.
The Intel-based Macs are standard PCs, aren't they?
- They share many characteristics with PCs, yes. Though, their firmware is EFI, not the old 1982 PC-BIOS.
Then what took you so long??
Is this project Apple-supported?
- No.
Is this project illegal? Does Steve Jobs hate you?
- People are running Linux on PowerPC-based Macs already, and this is even commercially supported by third parties. There is no reason Apple should be opposed to Linux on their hardware. Apple stated that they never intended to prevent users from doing that.
- To emphasize this again: There is no protection in Intel-based Mac hardware to prevent users from running non-Apple software - this is how it is done on gaming consoles. There is only a protection in the Mac OS X software to prevent it from being installed on non-Apple hardware - but this issue is unrelated to Linux on Intel-based Macs.
Did you use Apple confidential information?
- No, and this wouldn't have been necessary.
Will it run X ?
- Yes, but with no 2D/3D acceleration. ATI didn't release specifications or a version of their proprietary fglrx driver for the x1000 graphic cards. However, it looks like a newer version of the drivers should support these cards in the near future (during spring). And at this point nothing should prevent us running X, with 3D acceleration.
- How long until the X1000 series will be supported by ATI's proprietary fglrx drivers? Well, earlier this morning we had spoken with Matthew Tippett from ATI's Linux department for a public comment and he has simply said that the supportive drivers are indeed coming and they will be out eventually, and he also said it will likely not be for a couple of releases at least. With the department's present strategy of releasing monthly Linux drivers as of late, these drivers will likely not be in the hands of the public until sometime this spring, unless of course a miracle was to occur with their development process... [1]
