Hmm.. What If?

[MysticCow]

I thought Firefox was still supported.

On PowerPC? HELLS NO! That's the big reason why we use a port called TenFourFox. It is Firefox under the hood, but enough changes are made that it is forbidden from being called Firefox.

On Intel, there are certain Mac OS-es that are going down with this ESR of Firefox. I want to say it's 10.8 and below. That's why there were rumors of a TenSixFox, but that isn't happening.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

On PowerPC? HELLS NO! That's the big reason why we use a port called TenFourFox. It is Firefox under the hood, but enough changes are made that it is forbidden from being called Firefox.

On Intel, there are certain Mac OS-es that are going down with this ESR of Firefox. I want to say it's 10.8 and below. That's why there were rumors of a TenSixFox, but that isn't happening.

Oh that changes everything. I was gonna get a cheap intel Mac but if there isn't a supported web browser, there's no point.

And I knew about TFF

 

[MysticCow]

Oh that changes everything. I was gonna get a cheap intel Mac but if there isn't a supported web browser, there's no point.

And I knew about TFF

This version of Firefox is supposed to be the last ESR they officially support on 10.6-10.11. It's only with the next ESR that everything 10.8 and below dies. Even still, it'd work as a good browser for a long time and there's always the Flash spoof if Flash decides to ever stop support.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

This version of Firefox is supposed to be the last ESR they officially support on 10.6-10.11. It's only with the next ESR that everything 10.8 and below dies. Even still, it'd work as a good browser for a long time and there's always the Flash spoof if Flash decides to ever stop support.

So you're saying using a 2006 iMac as a kodi server with Firefox to browse the news is still possible

 

[MysticCow]

So you're saying using a 2006 iMac as a kodi server with Firefox to browse the news is still possible

Shouldn't be an issue yet. And if it does, it runs Windows 10, which has lots of Firefox support. If you're using it for home theater (which I would argue is the reason why you're wanting to install kodi), I'd suggest a model with a HDMI port in there. That's 2010 and later.

Or you could wait until fall and you'll see the 2009 minis crash in price within a day of 10.12 hitting the market. At least they'll run 10.11 and be supported quite longer than one from 2006.

When I retire this mini, I plan on hooking it up and using it as a Channel Pear streamer. So long as there are HDMI plugs, it should work just fine on a TV.

 

[Hrududu]

On PowerPC? HELLS NO! That's the big reason why we use a port called TenFourFox. It is Firefox under the hood, but enough changes are made that it is forbidden from being called Firefox.

On Intel, there are certain Mac OS-es that are going down with this ESR of Firefox. I want to say it's 10.8 and below. That's why there were rumors of a TenSixFox, but that isn't happening.

I think he may have been talking about Mountain Lion.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Shouldn't be an issue yet. And if it does, it runs Windows 10, which has lots of Firefox support. If you're using it for home theater (which I would argue is the reason why you're wanting to install kodi), I'd suggest a model with a HDMI port in there. That's 2010 and later.

Or you could wait until fall and you'll see the 2009 minis crash in price within a day of 10.12 hitting the market. At least they'll run 10.11 and be supported quite longer than one from 2006.

When I retire this mini, I plan on hooking it up and using it as a Channel Pear streamer. So long as there are HDMI plugs, it should work just fine on a TV.

I'm sorry but sometimes Apple seems like a load of bs. I can still get a 32 bit version of Firefox on Linux and will be able to so as long as it is supported. Which is probably at least the next 5 years. I think these old macs will see a giant migration to Linux or windows soon

 

[swamprock]

If only it were that simple. I tried both Opera and Chrome (now unsupported) and they both have graphical issues on my hardware (24" white iMac with 7600GT and 2.33 GHz C2D). What I really need is Leopard Webkit for Mountain Lion (or Snow Leopard), Chromium-based is a no-go.

Opera just became unsupported under ML with the latest version. Bummer. Might be time for me to migrate my last unsupported machine to Linux, as the rest of them are.

 

[lowendlinux]

I'm sorry but sometimes Apple seems like a load of bs. I can still get a 32 bit version of Firefox on Linux and will be able to so as long as it is supported. Which is probably at least the next 5 years. I think these old macs will see a giant migration to Linux or windows soon

People have been saying this in some form or another for a decade, the only great migration there was to Linux was on cell phones.

 

[MagicBoy]

Or you could wait until fall and you'll see the 2009 minis crash in price within a day of 10.12 hitting the market. At least they'll run 10.11 and be supported quite longer than one from 2006.

The main issue with the 2009 for HTPC use is lack of audio output from the DisplayPort. You have to use optical digital on the 9400M machines. It was enough of a pain after I upgraded to an HDMI AV amp that I've retired that Mac mini from XBMC/Kodi duties.

 

[swamprock]

People have been saying this in some form or another for a decade, then only great migration there was to Linux was on cell phones.

It's a shame, really. Linux is soooo much easier to install and configure on Intel machines these days; MUCH easier than the days of Red Hat and Mandrake. It takes just a little bit of education and research, but due to these days of convenience, instant gratification, and "Woo... new shiny!", many just aren't willing to undertake the minor bit of work needed to migrate to Linux and would rather just buy new machines. This is one point where I'm in total agreement with zen over at PowerPC Liberation, although I'm not as blunt as he is about it

Misinformation and FUD play a part as well. I hear a lot of, "I don't want to spend time constantly configuring and tweaking my system", which really isn't needed much with certain friendly distros. For instance, I'm running Ubuntu 16.04 on my 2008 white Macbook, and other than some theming, I haven't really done any tweaking to the system, as I haven't had to do so. My Blackbook is going to get Debian running Openbox, and that machine WILL be tweaked and configured to death, but that's by my choice as I enjoy doing that (and making it a zippy system, using what I learned from my PowerPC installs).

It still takes a minor bit of research and work, but I think anyone could take one of the easier, more friendly distros and run with it.

 

[lowendlinux]

It's a shame, really. Linux is soooo much easier to install and configure on Intel machines these days; MUCH easier than the days of Red Hat and Mandrake. It takes just a little bit of education and research, but due to these days of convenience, instant gratification, and "Woo... new shiny!", many just aren't willing to undertake the minor bit of work needed to migrate to Linux and would rather just buy new machines. This is one point where I'm in total agreement with zen over at PowerPC Liberation, although I'm not as blunt as he is about it

Misinformation and FUD play a part as well. I hear a lot of, "I don't want to spend time constantly configuring and tweaking my system", which really isn't needed much with certain friendly distros. For instance, I'm running Ubuntu 16.04 on my 2008 white Macbook, and other than some theming, I haven't really done any tweaking to the system, as I haven't had to do so. My Blackbook is going to get Debian running Openbox, and that machine WILL be tweaked and configured to death, but that's by my choice as I enjoy doing that (and making it a zippy system, using what I learned from my PowerPC installs).

It still takes a minor bit of research and work, but I think anyone could take one of the easier, more friendly distros and run with it.

Before I'd welcome a mass migration to Linux I'd like folks to learn to research first ask second. I spend as much time on LQ and the Arch BBS as I do on here and the trend over the last few years (since W8) has been to start a thread over the silliest stuff and IRC is even worse.

 

[Imixmuan]

I'm sorry but sometimes Apple seems like a load of bs. I can still get a 32 bit version of Firefox on Linux and will
be able to so as long as it is supported. Which is probably at least the next 5 years. I think these old macs will see a giant migration to Linux or windows soon

Another option for useless old macbooks and intel imacs, if your model is compatible, below. Downsides: no webcam on some models, no mp3 or mp4 or H.264 support (though there are some workarounds, and as of last week Netflix and Hulu now work).

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Another option for useless old macbooks and intel imacs, if your model is compatible, below. Downsides: no webcam on some models, no mp3 or mp4 or H.264 support (though there are some workarounds, and as of last week Netflix and Hulu now work).

I've had Ubuntu on a MacBook for a month now. I had Netflix on chrome.

 

[Imixmuan]

I've had Ubuntu on a MacBook for a month now. I had Netflix on chrome.

Of course you can go the full on Linux route too. But ChromiumOS is lighter and will probably run slightly better and will likely have fewer headaches for average users. Plus in the near future most Android apps will run on ChromeOS, presumably they will work on ChromiumOS as well but that remains to be seen. Another Youtube reviewer of Neverware's Cloudready has installed the Android versions of Netflix and Angry Birds apps with Twerk, but struck out with Skype.

I'd say for some people (though not you, clearly you are more than a little Linux savvy after watching your Ubuntu MATE PPC on a Powerbook vid) this has a slightly lower entry bar than installing and running a full Linux distro. Your comment was we'd see a migration of early Intel macs to Linux, I agree, but it just might be Neverware's Cloud Ready and the ChromiumOS, which is a highly modified and stripped Gentoo Linux.

 

[Adamscomputerrepair]

Of course you can go the full on Linux route too. But ChromiumOS is lighter and will probably run slightly better and will likely have fewer headaches for average users. Plus in the near future most Android apps will run on ChromeOS, presumably they will work on ChromiumOS as well but that remains to be seen. Another Youtube reviewer of Neverware's Cloudready has installed the Android versions of Netflix and Angry Birds apps with Twerk, but struck out with Skype.

I'd say for some people (though not you, clearly you are more than a little Linux savvy after watching your Ubuntu MATE PPC on a Powerbook vid) this has a slightly lower entry bar than installing and running a full Linux distro. Your comment was we'd see a migration of early Intel macs to Linux, I agree, but it just might be Neverware's Cloud Ready and the ChromiumOS, which is a highly modified and stripped Gentoo Linux.

I have tried cloud ready, and honestly if android apps come to chrome OS, I might buy a Chromebook. That would mean KODI Netflix and Hulu. The three things I really want. Not to mention access to Microsoft office for free, and if Google releases the app that connects android users to iMessage, then it would almost be like having a Mac. I can prove that too.

As for me being Linux Savvy, everything I learned, I did so online. I found out that MacBuntu works on all versions of MATE and is hardcoded into their packages (Noobslab). That's all. I just figure if you run something on a Mac, it should look like MacOS. Ubuntu is very noob friendly. They even have an App Store.