Ubuntu – Xubuntu or Lubuntu on a Mac mini

lubuntuppcxubuntu

My Mac mini doesn't have sufficient hardware for Ubuntu 11.04 (specifically Unity I think), and so I have to use the classic environment, which is fine, but it seems to run slower on 11.04 (I'm upgrading now to 11.10).

However, I heard on PowerPCFAQ that if it runs slow I should use Xubuntu or Lubuntu.

So my question is:

  • What is the best way to upgrade from Ubuntu 11.10 to Xubuntu or Lubuntu and which one would be better for a late 2005 model Mac Mini PPC?

Best Answer

I warmly recommended either xubuntu or lubuntu, given that you are at v11.10 together with the age of your PC.

Looking at packages.ubuntu.com, no PowerPC packages are described either for the xubuntu-desktop or lubuntu-desktop metapackages. They have been subsequently released - details of 11.10 PowerPC packages can be found on LaunchPad.net - for example the xubuntu-desktop package.

Since these meta packages have been now pushed into the standard repositories you can install the xubuntu & lubuntu desktops via

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

or

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

Looking forward, it appears there will be a PowerPC ISO available for Lubuntu. At the time of writing there doesnt appear to be an equivalent xubuntu PowerPC daily build though although this may change. Please consult the PowerPC FAQ for more details.

If you want to give the daily build a test, remember to image your partitions first as per the dd answer as per the linked question. Do remember, this is alpha quality software.

Linked Questions:

  1. How to make a disk image and restore from it later?
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